El Refectorium Malagueta

Francisco Ramírez opened El Refectorium in 1973, and at the Malagueta door plates of ensaladilla rusa (Russian salad) still circulate along the high tables of the bar beside the Plaza de Toros.1

Why go

Come for the Russian salad and stay at the bar. The Academia Gastronómica de Málaga calls trying it obligatory, and lists what else goes past with it: anchovies, red mullet, squid, Iberian ham, small shellfish, clams, skewers and little chops.1 Rachel McCormack picked the same dish out of the whole city's tapas bars for Great British Chefs in 2023, alongside the cold prawns and barrel wines of La Antigua Casa de la Guardia.3

The house explains itself in one phrase, quoted by the academy as its own: sensible cooking based on the best seasonal produce.1 Behind the bar, a dining room takes the longer and slightly more formal lunch, off a classic wine list.1 The academy tells you to pay attention to the gazpachuelo there, and calls the fried fish excellent.1 Guía Repsol recommends the room without giving it a Sol.6

El Refectorium grew to five premises under its founder, and his successors Belén, Curri and Sergio Ramírez took it on.1 Málaga runs an annual championship for the Russian salad, and Curri Ramírez sits on its jury.2 Eme de Mariano won the 2025 edition.2

Order this / avoid

Order: the ensaladilla rusa, at the bar, at one of the high tables.1
Order: the gazpachuelo and the fritura (fried fish) in the dining room.1
Order: the meat there too: solomillo, entrecôte, presa ibérica.1
Avoid: the wrong door. Three restaurants trade under this name and the other two are elsewhere in the city.1 This is the original, on Calle Cervantes beside the bullring, and the academy calls it the one with the deepest patina.1

What locals & experts say

Guía Macarfi (read 2026): Next to the bullring stands this classic among the classics of good malagueño eating. Its card also names a large dining room, a sunny terrace and service at the bar.4
The house, on its own page: Held to be so by the people of Málaga, El Refectorium Malagueta is a landmark among the best restaurants of all time in Málaga.7
Award: recommended by Guía Repsol in the 2025 Soles edition, without a Sol, with the Malagueta door named.6

Good to know

Where: Calle Cervantes 8, beside the Plaza de Toros de La Malagueta. Phone 952 21 89 90.5
Price: the academy puts the room in the mid band and Guía Macarfi at two euro signs.1 4 I haven't found a price list or the opening days, but the house publishes its carta as a PDF, in Spanish and in English, on elrefectorium.es.7

Verdict

could-visit — Plates of ensaladilla rusa have been going along the high tables of this bar since Francisco Ramírez opened the place in 1973, and the Academia Gastronómica de Málaga calls trying it obligatory. Behind it there is a quieter dining room that takes the longer and slightly more formal lunch, off a classic wine list. Three restaurants trade under this name and this is the original, on Calle Cervantes beside the bullring. Nobody publishes a price list, so the carta on the house's site is the place to look before you go.