I first discovered El Gecko Beach Shack bar in Benalmadena on one of my winter walks – at that time it was closed and looked like never meant to be open. ds
This weekend, I finally got a chance to visit it when it was back in business.
The bar sits on top of a hill just outside of Fuengirola (by the exit towards Benalmádena) and has some of the best sea views I’ve seen.
Unfortunately, after my first visit, I have to say that’s all there is – a pretty spectacular view.
The bar is hidden behind a wooden fence by the main road and presents itself as a shabby chic type of place with a cool vibe. In reality, that’s really not what it is.
I arrived just after they opened up, shortly after 2 pm, on a fairly quiet day.
The outside terrace doesn’t have too many tables, and the few available are very small, with very uncomfortable chairs to sit on.
In the summer heat, there is zero coverage from the sun as they have only a handful of umbrellas.
Even though I really like the shabby beach look, the furniture and some of the structures (like the rail by the cliff) were in really bad shape. Instead of being replaced with new quality wood, they’ve been just painted.
There is no table service, so you have to order at the bar inside.
If you happen to order a cocktail or a smoothie, they will give you a beeping device that you take to your table and it will alert you when your drink is ready. I’ve never seen that before, as far as I know, it’s been only used for food. I can imagine it’s a practical solution for the management, but very poor customer experience.
Considering the type of place and location, I found the drinks to be very overpriced.
My husband got a bottle of Corona beer which was 5 euros, small beer (Cana) costs 3 euros and normal beer 4 euros – while it’s a fraction of the price down by the coast. Cocktails are around 7 euros each. Everything is served in plastic glasses.
The bar doesn’t offer any food, only some snacks that you can order on the other side of the terrace.
All of that wouldn’t be too bad, because you can still enjoy the gorgeous views and nice breeze from the sea.
The thing I didn’t like the most was the music. They had loud club type of music playing there – call me an old lady – but I just felt like it didn’t fit the surroundings at all, and I found it impossible to relax with that music banging all the time.
Needless to say, we left after a round of drinks and agreed it’s not a place we’re likely to return to.
If you want to enjoy a similar view, but with great service and food too – I would recommend driving a bit further down the road to visit Yuca’s Restaurant!
Most Popular Activities & Day Trips in Benalmadena
Here is a selection of some fun activities and day trips from Benalmadena – these are independently organized tours with pick-up from the town. To see available dates and check the prices please click on the link for each activity.
- Caminito Del Rey Guided Tour – with pick up from Benalmadena, a guided tour of the famous walkway along the El Chorro Gorge, with transportation, entrance fees and tour guide included.
- Dolphin Watching Boat Trip in Benalmadena – explore the coast of Benalmadena from a boat, enjoy a trip that includes spotting dolphins in their natural habitat, swimming and sunbathing on the boat.
- Day Trip to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas – see one of the wonders of Andalusia, the Puente Nuevo in Ronda with one of the oldest bullrings in Spain, and admire the houses built into massive rock formations in Setenil. Includes pick up from Benalmadena, a tour guide, a glass of Ronda wine, and entry to Palacio Mondragon.
- Day Trip to Granada with Tour of Alhambra – see one of the most famous monuments in Andalusia, the palace complex of Alhambra with a tour guide with a pick up from Benalmadena.
- Day Trip to Gibraltar – enjoy a trip to the UK territory with free time for shopping and an optional visit to the Nature Reserve with a guide.
Explore More in Benalmadena
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10+ Exciting Things to Do in Benalmadena
Mariposario de Benalmadena (Butterfly Park)
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Where is Benalmadena? All Your Questions Answered
Castillo de Colomares: The Fairy Tale Castle in Benalmadena
Southern Spain Travel Tips
BEST CAR RENTAL
To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, an award winning price comparison site for car rentals.
BUS & TRAIN TICKETS
To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
LOCAL TOURS
Local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
HOTELS
I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and it’s the best place to book your hotel.
LUGGAGE STORE
If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage in all the destinations in Spain.
LOCAL SIM CARD
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.
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