10 Must-Try Craft Beer Bars in Málaga for 2026
I first stumbled into Málaga's craft beer scene back in 2018, jet-lagged and craving anything beyond watery airport lagers. The sun dipped behind the Alcazaba, bathing the old town's narrow streets in golden light, revealing a quiet revolution in hidden cellars. Now, plotting my 2026 return, I'm excited about the top 10 craft beer spots in Málaga—places honed from countless evenings chatting with brewers who treat hops like liquid gold.
What sets these must-try craft beer bars in Málaga apart is the mix of salty sea air and citrusy brews, locals debating fútbol over hazy NEIPAs, and discovery amid ancient ruins and modern tanks. The scene has exploded with new breweries, festivals, and beach pop-ups by 2026. I've skipped tourist traps for these gems, perfect for a day on the playa or deeper exploration. Pace yourself—these pack flavor.
1. Edge: Where the Old Town's Edge Meets Hoppy Perfection
Picture my third night in Málaga: feet sore from Calle Santa María's labyrinth, a friend pulls me into Edge at C. Santa María, 6, 29015 Málaga. This spot pulses as one of the craft beer bars near Málaga old town. No flashy signs—just a wooden door opening to 20+ taps under Edison bulbs, air thick with malt and citrus zing.
I claimed a scarred oak stool; tattooed bartender Paco slid a flight: crisp Edge Brewing lager, pineapple-packed DDH IPA, soul-warming barrel-aged stout. Paco, a moonlighting brewer, tweaks for Málaga's humidity. We bonded over a sour collab with Barcelona's Edge crew. Hours: Tue-Sun 6 PM-1 AM (check Insta for events). The vibe sparks conversations—locals post-work, tourists learning. Pair with croquetas for dinner. It mapped my trip; ideal kickoff for the best craft beer tasting in Málaga 2026. Ruins mass-market forever. C. Santa María, 6 Tue-Sun 6 PM-1 AM
2. Victoria 66: Jazz, Jams, and Juicy Pale Ales
Down a Plaza de la Constitución alley, Victoria 66 at Plaza Constitución, 6, 29015 Málaga, stands as one of the hidden craft beer gems in Málaga locals whisper about. I found it on a rainy 2022 evening, drawn by upright bass on cobblestones. Inside: yeast aroma, woodsmoke fireplace, mismatched chairs around scarred tables.
Taps pour Victoria pale ale—resinous mango finish—plus hazy IPAs. Thursday jazz night sealed it: nursing an IPA as sax wailed, crowd swayed. Owner Ana, ex-musician, curates sets, crafts mood-based flights. Only 40 seats; arrive early. I left with seasonal amber growler and tales of a flamenco guitarist crashing. Hours: Daily 7 PM-2 AM (Thu jazz). Passionate, unpretentious Málaga essence—linger for memories. Plaza Constitución, 6 Daily 7 PM-2 AM, jazz Thu
3. El Búnker: Underground Vibes in a Literal Bunker
Expat brew nerds at a beach paella spot tipped me to El Búnker via Málaga's whisper network—a WWII bunker taproom at Pasaje de Chinitas, 29015 Málaga. Down creaky stairs: concrete walls, fairy-lit picnic tables.
House experiments: Brut IPA fizzing like cava, coffee porter with port roast notes, fig-fermented sours. Tasting event: €12 for six 10cl pours, heavenly charcutería. Founder, a history buff, found it during lockdown. Hours: Fri-Sat 8 PM-3 AM, weeknights via Telegram. Raw weekends with DJ vinyl, quiet midweek for deep chats—these are solid Málaga craft beer pub recommendations. Cash only; my €25 tab: four beers, endless stories. Adventure in ale. Pasaje de Chinitas Fri-Sat 8 PM-3 AM
4. La Buena Pinta: Neighborhood Dive with World-Class Wits
A wrong turn on Calle Vélez Málaga, 10, 29001 Málaga, led to La Buena Pinta—no-frills gem with cask ales flowing like post-rain Guadalmedina. Faded sign hides hop hygge: velvet stools, towering chalkboards, glass clinks amid laughs.
Witbiers shine—orange-coriander against summer heat, in tulips. Post-beach paddle: wit, session IPA, saison. Barman Miguel sources Spain/Belgium rotations. Hours: Mon-Thu 6 PM-midnight, Fri-Sun to 2 AM. Surfers challenged blind taste; I nailed saisons, scored free olives. Affordable authenticity in Centro Histórico. C. Vélez Málaga, 10 Mon-Thu 6 PM-midnight, Fri-Sun to 2 AM
5. Malabrew Taproom: The Brewery Heartbeat
Malabrew's taproom at C. Córdoba, 5, 29001 Málaga (old town pop-up vibes), immerses in brewery soul. Steel tanks behind glass, industrial chic with beach murals.
Core IPA piney-balanced, barrel-aged barleywine like oloroso. €10 flights for five, Q&A Thursdays. Tour revealed almond stouts using local nuts—transcendent epiphany mid-pour. Post-tour, hazy sour cut beach heat perfectly. Hours: Wed-Sun 5 PM-1 AM. Essential for brew geeks; stories flow freer than taps. C. Córdoba, 5 Wed-Sun 5 PM-1 AM
6. Random Beer: Eclectic Taps and Eccentric Nights
After a dusty market day, I wandered into Random Beer at Calle Carretería, 78, 29008 Málaga—curated chaos with 50 taps of global oddities: Japanese rice lagers crisp as tempura, American barrel-aged monsters thick as molasses. Dim lights, board games everywhere; I lost three hours to Jenga collapses and a passionfruit gose that burst tropical fireworks on my tongue, cutting the day's spice overload.
Bartender trivia night hooked me deepest—quiz on Trappist monks, I guessed Westvleteren 12 blind (from a hazy memory of Bruges), won a free imperial stout that lingered like velvet. It's established but feels like one of the new craft beer bars opening in Málaga, ever-evolving with guest taps from Denmark to California. Sensory bliss: hop bitterness mingling with laughter echoes off exposed brick. Hours: Daily 7 PM-2 AM. Crowd skews creative—designers sketching, musicians jamming. Grab a corner table; nights blur into dawn discoveries. C. Carretería, 78 Daily 7 PM-2 AM
7. Cerveza Arte: Artistic Ales by the Beach
For affordable craft beer bars on Málaga beach, Cerveza Arte at Paseo Marítimo Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 23, 29016 Málaga blends sea breezes with local murals on walls. Taps favor crushable sours, fruit blondes—guava Berliner Weisse at €4/pint washed away my sandy feet after kite-surfing wipeouts.
Sunset session peaked watching Med fireworks, beer foaming in hand while chatting fishermen-turned-brewfans about squid inks in porters (they swore by it). Air salty-sweet, waves crashing rhythm syncing with chill electronica. Pop-up art shows rotate; last was hop-infused collages. Hours: Daily 5 PM-1 AM. Effortless: towel-dry, sip, repeat. Locals share ciggies and secrets; I scored a private brewery tour invite. Magic without pretense. Paseo Marítimo Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 23 Daily 5 PM-1 AM
8. Hop House: Hop-Heads' Hideaway
Tucked at C. Alcazabilla, 12, 29012 Málaga, Hop House obsesses over IPAs—15 varieties: DDH hazies juicy as mango, West Coast crushers bitter pine blasts. Cozy candlelight, vinyl spinning flamenco-hop fusions; their Brut IPA collab bubbled prosecco-light, perfect palate cleanser.
Stumbled in for my birthday post-Picasso Museum; bash overflowed with strangers belting "Cumpleaños Feliz," barleywine shots flowing like tears of joy. One guest, a hop farmer from Granada, dissected dry-hopping science over doubles—mind blown amid cheers. Hours: Thu-Sat 8 PM-3 AM. Raw energy pulses; quiet corners for notes. By night's end, new friends, hazy head—pure hop catharsis. C. Alcazabilla, 12 Thu-Sat 8 PM-3 AM
9. The Fat Cat: Plush Pints and Pub Grub
Plaza Uncibay, 2, 29008 Málaga hides The Fat Cat's cat-themed nook—stouts purr smooth, velvet booths cradling weary wanderers. Fish 'n' chips paired milkshake IPAs (vanilla-nebula dreams), sliders with coconut porter evoked Thai beaches amid Andalusian chatter.
Rainy night solo: demolished platters laughing at cat-meme coasters (one depicted grumpy tabby judging lagers). Bar cat "Señor Ronroneo" curled on my lap, purring approval of imperial oatmeal stout. Staff spun UK footie tales; bonded over Leicester miracles. Hours: Mon-Sun 6 PM-midnight. Comfort haven for beer souls—grub elevates pours, memes seal joy. Left stuffed, smiling, plotting returns. Plaza Uncibay, 2 Mon-Sun 6 PM-midnight
10. Playa Brew House: Waves, Wits, and Wildcard Brews
Cap at Playa Brew House, Av. Juan Sebastián Elcano, 48, 29017 Málaga beachfront—terrace overlooks surf, taps sessionals/radlers for endless sunsets. Hazy pale with patatas bravas hit bliss after bike detour (rental guy swore by it).
Live acoustic under stars: guitarist strummed "Wonderwall" into Spanish folk, crowd danced barefoot sand-to-skin. Radler lemon-shandied the heat; wildcard wild ale fermented beach herbs zinged unexpected. Fishermen shared dawn hauls, beers clinking waves. Hours: Daily 4 PM-2 AM. Ultimate unwind—body salty, soul buzzed, stars witnesses. Stories born here last lifetimes. Av. Juan Sebastián Elcano, 48 Daily 4 PM-2 AM
Stitch your ultimate craft beer crawl in Málaga 2026: Edge to Victoria 66/El Búnker (old town), Random/Malabrew afternoon, beach-hop Cerveza Arte/Playa dusk, Hop House nightcap. 5km walkable bliss.
Málaga's scene evolves; expect new craft beer bars opening in Málaga to thrill. These picks pour my heart—sip deep, craft stories. ¡Salud!
