On our first foray down to Malaga’s beachfront, we walked along the promenade and having got hot, stopped for a drink on the opposite side of the road. El Gallo Rojo was a tiny place with a few tables indoors, but around 12 tables at the front, fortunately under an awning. I had two medium sized bottles of agua con gas (fizzy water) as the first didn’t touch the sides, and with a large beer, the bill came to €6.70. This was good value anyway, but it also included a complimentary tapa of a slice of bread with cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
The following day, when we were going to spend the day on the beach, we decided to stop for breakfast. There was a simple menu in English showing three different set breakfast options ranging from €3.20 to €5.20. The first had coffee and a pitufo with a choice of simple fillings, whilst the most expensive included freshly squeezed orange juice. My husband only wanted coffee, which came to the table with a jug of hot milk, but I opted for the middle ground which included a coffee and a pitufo of choice from a wider variety of fillings, and I opted for tortilla. The bread was warm, and it was enough to share. Whilst pitufo literally translates as smurf, it means a small bread roll.
Having packed up from the beach we returned and ordered agua con gas and a small beer, followed by a second round of a glass of wine and large beer. The drinks came with complimentary saucers of crisps and at €10 was incredible value, bearing in mind that in London, you’d pay around £7 each for wine and a pint.
On a second visit to the beach, breakfast was a must and this time, I went for the most expensive option and a tuna pitufo.
Service, from a range of ladies was always good, and whilst English was a little limited, we always got by. The value for money was incredible and it was easy to see why it was always full, with people often waiting for a table, whilst the bar next door, remained empty.
