10 things to taste, 10 things to eat – and 10 places to visit

10 things to taste

1. Tinto de verano – red wine with lemon soda and ice. This is what the Spanish drink in summer; sangria is mostly for tourists.
2. Una caña Alhambra – a small draught beer from the brewery in Granada, founded in 1925. Also try the green bottle, Alhambra Reserva 1925.
3. Vino de la Costa – the rosé country wine from the mountains of Contraviesa-Alpujarra east of Motril, where wine has been cultivated for centuries.
4. Ron Montero – rum from Motril, made since 1963 by a family that has cultivated sugar cane for generations. The distillery can be visited.
5. Málaga dulce – the sweet moscatel wine from La Axarquía west of Nerja. Perfect for dessert.
6. Rebujito – dry sherry (fino or manzanilla) with soda and ice. The drink of fiestas.
7. A proper coffee – café solo (espresso), cortado (with a dash of milk) or café con leche. Order at the counter like the locals.
8. Granizado de limón – ice-cold, crushed lemon slushie on a warm afternoon.
9. A cherimoya or mango smoothie – the fruit is grown just a few kilometres up the valley.
10. Water from Lanjarón – the spring water from the spa town in the Alpujarras is famous throughout Spain. You will find it in all supermarkets.

10 things to eat

1. Espetos – skewered sardines grilled over hot coals, preferably on the beach. In summer, people hold moragas: sardines grilled over bonfires on the beach.
2. Pescaíto frito – small, crispy deep-fried fish and squid rings served with lemon.
3. Berenjenas con miel de caña – crispy, fried aubergines drizzled with sugar cane syrup. The syrup comes from Frigiliana, where the Nuestra Señora del Carmen factory still makes it.
4. Remojón granadino – Granada's orange and salt cod salad with olives and olive oil.
5. Migas – fried breadcrumbs or semolina, an old peasant dish for cold days, preferably served with melon on the side.
6. Plato alpujarreño – the hearty mountain plate: potatoes, fried eggs, chorizo, blood sausage, and ham.
7. Jamón de Trevélez – air-dried cured ham from the village of Trevélez high up in the Sierra Nevada.
8. Cherimoya – the Costa Tropical's very own fruit. Cut it in half and eat the creamy, sweet flesh with a spoon – but mind the seeds.
9. Churros con chocolate – crispy dough pastries dipped in thick, hot chocolate. Sunday morning breakfast.
10. Pizza and spaghetti carbonara at Sapori – Italian, yes, but our own recommendation right around the corner. See Pizzeria Sapori.

10 places to visit

All are within walking distance of Playa Tropical. View them on the map below and find them all under Eat and drink.

1. Pizzería Sapori D'Italia (140 m) – 4.8 out of 5 from over 1,500 reviews. Try the carbonara and look at the wall adorned with the family's diplomas.
2. Antiguo Mesón Cabrera (40 m) – your neighbour with the wine barrels on the pavement. The classic Spanish mesón just to your right as you walk out.
3. Freiduría de Pescado Lute y Jesús (250 m) – the place for pescaíto frito.
4. The chiringuitos on the beach – Primera Ola (260 m) and El Callejas (490 m). Enjoy lunch with your feet in the sand and ask for the espetos of the day.
5. Heladería Jamaica (170 m) – ice cream parlour and café offering a wide selection of ice cream.
6. Churrería P4 (approx. 1.2 km) – churros with hot chocolate. Head there in the morning.
7. Mesón Herrera (approx. 1 km) – Andalusian cuisine a little way into town. Try the local dishes from the list above.
8. El Árbol Blanco (250 m) – restaurant and bar by the bend near the water park, serving Mediterranean cuisine.
9. Bar Crepería L'atelier (150 m) – sweet and savoury crêpes accompanied by a coffee in the shade.
10. Club Danesa – Dansk Spansk Samvirke – Friday gathering with Danish smørrebrød, billiards, and a chat in Danish. See The Danish Club.

Bonus: Visit the Ron Montero distillery in Motril (Tuesday–Saturday, call ahead to book), and buy fruit, fish, and cheese in Almuñécar's new market hall.

Map of the 10 places

Red star = Playa Tropical. Click on a point for the name and distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap.