+22

El Apartamento Gastrobar

A rootsy eatery with a relaxing terrace in the heart of town

Spanish Mediterranean Middle Eastern Tapas Bistro Cafe

Have a relaxed sundowner snack and drink on the terrace before heading into the frenetic old town

El Apartamento is a friendly, laid-back, bistro style gastrobar offering a tempting menu to suit all occasions. It is the perfect place in the centre for respite from the crowds and packed streets of the old town. It is very central, located on Calle Carretería, on the very edge of the medieval heart of the city. Located facing onto a small square, it has an ample terrace and plenty of space inside, so it never feels crowded or claustrophobic as some places can around here. It is close to the theatre of Cervantes, and many of the central nightclubs and entertainment spots, so it is an excellent place for a dinner before the serious business of the evening. It's actually open all day, from 9.30am until 2am, so it is all things to all people; breakfast and morning coffee, lunch and snacks, tapas at any time of the day, a la carte dinner, drinks, cocktails, craft beers and the best of Spanish wines.

All of this in ambiance that is distinctly modern and definitely laid back. Natural woods, happy colours and boho chic artwork and decoration make it a welcoming and comfortable place. Everything has a touch of art and craft, whether it's the modernist themed wall paintings redolent of Joan Miro and the Surrealists, or the customised and distressed paintwork on stools, chairs and tables, its decor is a world away from corporate design, chain store branding and off-the-shelf tat: this cafe has serious soul.

So does the food. Using the traditional Spanish tapas and raciones as a starting point, its gives most of them an extra twist of flavours with herbs or dressings, then takes you on a tour around the mediterranean. Classic coroquettas are hand made with various riffs on classic Andalucian ingredients, such as stewed pig cheek, , or pil-pil prawns, Malaga salami suasage (known as salchichón), or the vegetarian option. There's a veggie cous cous, endamames with a touch of chilli and Pan Bao with pumpkin. Seafood treats abound with black ink noodles and prawns, prawns pil-pil and pesto toast, fried cod or snapper nuggets with alioli.

For meals, you can create a table full of raciones (full plates as opposed to tapas) to share. A full cous cous with lamb, mousaka, a rich pig cheek stewed down in a rich honey-glazed gravy, plates of grilled entraña (Argentine cut skirt steak), a variety of meat and fish pinchitos (chunks on skewers), huevos rotos (fried eggs served piled up on grilled meats or veggies). There are soups, wether Spanish or Thai hot soup, vegetarian options of Tofu burgers, cous-cous, vegan frankfurters, plus fresh salads of goats cheese, Ceaser salad, or tofu and rockette. You can have a snack of toasts with toppings such as camembert and onion marmelade. smoked salmon and avocado or the deluxe Iberian free range pig cuts of serrano ham and secreto.

El Apartamento has a menu that is versatile and inclusive. The bistro ethic is at its best here, with something for everyone, and for any time of day. It's full of fresh produce, wholesome cuts of meat, plenty of vegetarian options and can be finished off with some classic deserts: sorbets, brownie fondant, carrot cake and banoffee pie. There's a dish for every hour of the day, any occasion, for all palettes and tastes, and for any form: snacking, tapas, breakfast, teatime, dinner, shared meals, parties, late-night and long lazy lunches where you can sit on the terrace and watch the world go by.

El Apartamento is from the Grupo Destino, the brain child of a young Malaga entrepreneur, Oscar Bernal, and is part of a stable of similar businesses in the old town, each with it's own singularity, characterised by agreeable environments, great affordable food and a welcoming team. In addition to El Apartamento, they offer a dining restaurant Clandestino, a smaller cosy gastrobar de Entibo, which serves the fabulous boutique hostel upstairs, the Malaga Hostel Boutique.