Fresh summer breeze, the smell of the sea, sand under your feet, and delicious food on your table.
How does that sound?
If you’re intrigued, let me introduce you to Chiringuito La Cubana!
The Location
I first spotted in on one of my long walks alongside the Fuengirola promenade, La Cubana is right at the very end of Paseo Maritimo, in area called Carjaval.
Techincally it’s right on the border of Fuengirola and Benalmadena (check below the post for map location).
You would think that thanks to the more remote location it won’t be very busy, but it’s the opposite – it’s so popular it feels impossible to get a table at times!
The Restaurant
Even though it has ‘chiringuito’ in the name, it’s very far from what you would expect chiringuito to look like and the food menu is also a vast improvement compared to the traditional chiringuitos alongise the beach.
The access to the restaurant is through a wooden pathway straight from the beach – you can’t miss it thanks to the coloured umbrellas, chairs and even some of the plants have been painted in vibrant colors.
The colors instantly lift your mood and the location right next to the sea makes for a wonderful view (if you don’t mind the occassional sunbathing tourist in front of you).
There are some larger tables by the main building, but most seating is available right on the beach, with your feet in the sand. The chairs can be somewhat uncomfortable and unstable, given that you’re sitting in sand, but the food and view makes up for it.
As far as I could see, they also provide food service to the sunbeds in front of them.
And what about the main bit – the food?
Scroll below to find out.
The Food
I ate here on three different occasions and each time was left impressed with the food.
It’s simple food but done well, with good quality ingredients.
The menu is also full of delicious options and innovative, compared to most of the restaurants in Fuengirola.
My favorite is probably the patatas bravas, not with one but three delicious sauces.
I also tested their vegan burger which was very tasty and I’m yet to try their breakfast menu.
They also have a good selection of salads, pasta dishes, fish and meat. I’m sure you will find something you love and the flavours won’t let you down.
Overal Impressions
I’m a big fan of this place for a number of reasons – the setting, the views, delicious food and innovative flavours. They also have a very friendly service, always willing to accomodate requests, and with good English.
If I had to say anything negative, it would be probably the fact that it’s quite popular and in most cases you can’t just walk in and expect to find a free table. It also gets very busy, which translates in longer wait for food and sometimes it’s hard to get the attention of the waiters.
Having said that, I can’t wait to return and give a test run to the breakfast menu, or pop over later in the afternoon when its hopefully less busy.
If you want to give it a try, let me know in comments or on Instagram how you liked it!
More Information:
Location:
Opening hours: 10.30am to 10pm
Menu: check on their website here
Food service: breakfast 10.30am to 1pm, kitchen noon to 6pm, snacks 6pm to 7.30pm (kitchen closes 8pm)
Contact: tel. (+34) 951 66 35 96 and email: [email protected]
More Restaurant Options in Fuengirola
Best Restaurants in Fuengirola: A Guide by a Local Expat
Vinea Restaurant, Fuengirola: A Review
Picoteo Restaurant, Fuengirola: A Review
For Drinks: Panda Bar in Fuengirola
Gastro Bar Del Mar, Fuengirola
Eating Healthy at Go Green Cafe, Fuengirola
El Higueron Restaurante, Fuengirola
Dinner at Las Islas Boutique Hotel, Torreblanca
Southern Spain Travel Planning Guide
Is it safe to drive in Spain?
YES! The roads in Southern Spain are generally in very good condition, with modern highways connecting the biggest cities. To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, which will get you the best deals on your car rental for your trip.
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO DRIVE?
PUBLIC TRANSPORT — Southern Spain has a well-established and modern network of trains and buses. To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
DAY TRIPS — If you don’t like the hassle of using public transport, local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
WHERE SHOULD I BOOK MY ACCOMMODATION?
BOOKING.COM — I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and have never had any negative experiences. Their reviews are very accurate and you get the best deals even on apartments, not just hotels.
ARE THERE LUGGAGE STORE OPTIONS IN THE CITIES?
YES — If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, before heading to the airport, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage options in almost all the destinations in Southern Spain.
DO I NEED TO BUY A LOCAL SIM CARD FOR THIS TRIP?
YES – You can, of course, use your own card if you have roaming data available. If you want to avoid surprising extra charges from your operator, you can use a service like Airalo, where you can buy digital packs for e-sim cards, avoiding the hassle of sourcing local physical sim cards and extra roaming charges anywhere you go.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.
