When I was in Malaga with Trine and her friends, we more or less stumbled into Mesón Ibérico by accident. It was dinner time, the tiny tapas bar was completely packed, and with very modest expectations and some broken Spanish, we asked if they happened to have a table for four. The host smiled and told us that if we were happy to wait, he could make room for us at the bar in about 20 minutes.
Waiting was not exactly a hardship. We were served glasses of wine in the windowsill along with a few slices of sausage, and honestly, that was all it took. Time flew by.
Once we were shown to our seats at the bar, we went all in on the menu. We started with Pulpo a la Gallega, octopus with potatoes and paprika, which was absolutely delicious. Tender, juicy, and full of flavor. That was followed by a plate of beautiful jamón ibérico, cheese, croquetas, and gambas al ajillo, shrimp in garlic oil. Gambas al ajillo is Trine’s favorite, and it is also one of those dishes I almost always order at a tapas bar.
The place was buzzing all evening. I genuinely do not think they could have squeezed in a single extra guest, yet the service was excellent from start to finish. The staff had everything under control and still took the time to answer our questions about the different dishes on the menu, without ever seeming rushed.
When the bill arrived, it came with a small plate of profiteroles. A lovely little gesture that wrapped up a truly great evening. If you are in Malaga and looking for real local atmosphere, seriously good tapas, and warm, professional service, Mesón Ibérico is the place to go.
Mesón Ibérico, C. San Lorenzo, 27, Distrito Centro, 29001 Málaga, Spain
