If you love fish and seafood, Andalucia is your destination. Both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean bathe and lap the shores of this land of seafood which is famous worldwide. Andalucian cuisine has a huge reputation and its most characteristic specialties come from the water. If you have a select palate and want to try the seafood delicacies of southern Spain, we recommend you come to these places below. This excellent cuisine will leave you with your mouth open. Here you have some of the best places for fresh seafood in Andalucia.
1. Huelva prawns
Prawns from Huelva are unrivalled. The Huelva coast is recognized internationally for the quality of its seafood, and especially its star product. You can try them grilled, with pil pil sauce or with salad. In the bar El Condado in the city centre, they have a long tradition of preparing white prawns. And in beautiful coastal locations in the province such as El Rompido, you can find this succulent dish at the restaurant La Parra or at the restaurant El Rincón de Pecadores where you will also enjoy the beautiful views that this place has to offer.
2. Barbate Market
If you want to try the best tuna, don’t hesitate to come to Barbate. The tuna caught in this area is one of the most delicious dishes around, healthy and rich in Omega 3, which is beneficial to the body. At the Market, you can get good pieces you can cook yourself. If you don’t want to start cooking, there are routes which are organised for tasting this dish. Conil de la Frontera is one of the municipalities where this route passes through. We recommend the restaurant Fuerte Conil -Costa Luz, el Chiringuito El Huerto, and the restaurant La Fontanilla.
3. Sardines in Málaga
Málaga’s beaches are filled with boats equipped for grilling sardines strung up which are cooked over a fire and keep the taste of the sea, typical of the Costa del Sol If you come through this area, go and sit at a beach bar with a cool drink and a sardine while enjoying the sea. They are usually eaten with a squeeze of lemon and they can be found at any beach restaurant. We recommend you visit Marbella and try the sardines at the Beach Club Restaurant Grill in Fuerte Miramar and either the Restaurante Santiago or El Chiringuito de la Playa de El Faro.
4. Roe in Huelva
The quality of the fish and shellfish in Huelva makes their eggs very popular in Spanish cuisine. A real taste of the sea, grilled with a little mayonnaise will delight any lover of seafood. It is also widely consumed in this area with oil, garlic and parsley. Restaurants like Acanthum and El Vaquero, in the same capital, specialise in cooking this product. Come and try roe and remember that they are similar to caviar, so every bite is guaranteed to be delicious.
5. Fish in Conil
One of the most widespread traditional in the Costa de la Luz and especially in Conil de la Frontera is the cones of fried fish. They give you a portion in a brown paper cone and you can walk around the city while you’re eating it. You can also sit al fresco on a bench or wait for nightfall and eat your fish for dinner while facing the sea. To try this fried fish, you can go to the Cervecería Almadraba, the Friduría Zapola or many other establishments both at the Puerta “Cai” and on the street Cádiz.
6. Fried anchovies in Málaga
Fried anchovies from Málaga are one of the most typical dishes in the area. The Costa del Sol is famous for its fried fish but anchovies are consumed more often by locals and visitors. At the restaurant El Tintero, in the Málaga area of El Palo, the waiters walk around with plates in hand and whoever wants any can ask for them. Anchovies are always eaten first. We recommend that you try this place or the Pimpi Florida in the same neighbourhood, where you can also taste this speciality although in a more festive atmosphere.
7. Shrimp Cakes in Cádiz
If you travel to the province of Cádiz this summer, try the shrimp cakes. This Cádiz specialty is unique and has its own personality. This small crustacean has an intense flavour and it’s almost like eating the sea. Despite being smaller than the prawn, they have a strong presence in any dish. This seafood is often cooked with wheat flour and chickpea, forming the famous cakes. This is a delicacy that you will like and which will leave you with an exquisite memory. Visit the restaurants Elcano, Arte Serrano or La Bodega in the capital to try it.
8. Punta Umbria Market
The market at Punta Umbria in Huelva is an ideal place to get the best and freshest seafood. The fishermen go out to sea and return with goods for sale and consumption. If you’re in the area on holiday, come and see the environment and buy something if you want to eat some of the best food around. You can take advantage of your visit to explore the city and take a dip on one of its beaches. In the local restaurants you can try this seafood without having to touch a pan. Delightful Mediterranean cuisine.
9. Fried Cuttlefish in El Rompido
Huelva, the province of seafood, has another of its specialities in El Rompido, fried cuttlefish. The good thing about this place is that, in addition to this food, it has a natural landscape and a unique setting to enjoy. This mollusc is so famous in the Huelva province that they are known affectionately as “choqueros”. This mollusc is smooth in texture and you will love it. We recommend trying it in the Beach Club del Hotel Fuerte El Rompido and bathing in the clear waters of its pristine beaches.
10. Fried snakelocks anemone from Cadiz
Although not a fish or seafood correctly speaking, anemones are something you shouldn’t miss if you go to the province of Cádiz. This species of marine animal is eaten a lot in the capital of the province and its surrounding towns. If you want to try it, we recommend Casa Tino in Cádiz or the restaurant La Fontanilla in Conil. An original dish that will surprise you.
11. Clams, from Isla Cristina
The fresh Wedge clams from Huelva are another delicious mollusc that the sea offers. Thanks to the texture of its flesh and its taste, juicy and delicate, one could say that it is the most highly valued seafood. They are rich in good quality proteins, thus providing the majority of essential amino acids.
They can be prepared in various ways, with garlic, steamed, or, if you prefer, as a great ingredient in any other dish. Either way, it will delight all palates.
12. Dogfish in Malaga
It may not be well known in other areas, but on the shores of the Mediterranean the captures of dogfish are frequent which is nothing more than a small shark. This shark has a firm texture white meat, very suitable for marinades and sailor stews.
Specifically, in Malaga, the dogfish stew is served in many places, a comforting hot soup served in a cup, with a hint of lemon.
13. Tiger Prawns from Sanlúncar de Barrameda.
If we were to tell the exact source to find the best tiger prawns, we would certainly say Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Chipiona and Isla Cristina.
These prawns are characterized by its spots on the shell, and it is clear that for this reason this species is nicknamed “Tiger”. To cook it, one of the most used technique is to boil it for
14. Clam or striped venus from Punta Umbría.
o be fair it must be said that you can also find them in other places of Huelva and Cadiz. Both species are very similar, the striped venus tend to have a more oval shape than the clams. Both are perfect to have a balanced diet since they are very low in fat and calories, with high levels of phosphorus.
15. Purple dye murex from San Fernando
The purple dye murex is a kind of sea snail that lives in warmer areas of the Mediterranean, one of the areas where they are found is San Fernando de Cadiz. For those who have never tried them, its flavour is pure sea. They are a sadly unknown delicacy but very characteristic for its texture, flavour and appearance.
They are also known as sea snails and often compared with other varieties such as the banded murex and periwinkles, although each one has its own characteristics.
We can serve them along with a few slices of lemon to water them with a few drops and to accompany the ideal is a cold beer or a good Sherry.
Conil de la Frontera Tuna Fish Route
Espetos. The sardine ones are a Malaga cuisine classic
ACCOMMODATION
Restaruante El Buche – Fuerte Conil Resort
If you want to try these popular fish and seafood dishes in Andalucia, we recommend a stay at the hotel chain Fuerte Hoteles. They feature excellent service, are leaders in quality according to Tripadvisor, and are supported by over 60 years’ worth of experience, so they are the best choice for your holidays. Marbella, Conil, Grazalema, El Rompido or Torrox are some sites where you can find these great places to eat and buy fish and seafood.