De Huelva – a fish and seafood paradise

De Huelva – a fish and seafood paradise

Regular visitors to Guide to Malaga will know that we like getting off the beaten track. This goes for things to do as well as restaurants in Malaga. In the search for quality, value and good service where better than where the locals go?

This time we’ve gone to Huelin, a neighbourhood famous for its fish and seafood, and wallet-friendly prices. The fish served on at restaurants in Huelin tends to be locally-caught, but at De Huelva it comes from a bit further down the road. From the southeastern corner of Andalusia in fact, from Huelva, a province renowned for its seafood and Iberian black pig ham. And last year’s gastronomic capital of Spain.

As you might have guessed, De Huelva’s proprietors are from Huelva. This family-run business brings the best of the Huelva fish and seafood caughts to the table in Malaga. They cook shellfish to perfection – boiled just for the right time and with the perfect amount of salt. They fry and grill fish and seafood just as it should be. And make some pretty mean rice dishes too.

What’s on the menu

De Huelva is mostly about seafood and in Huelva, that means shellfish from the prawn family. White prawns (gambas blancas, famous throughout Spain) star on the menu and are joined by tiger prawns, langoustines, crayfish and crab. Try the Barquita de Huelva that comes in a boat-shaped platter and includes white prawns, tiger prawns, crayfish and crab legs.

Other seafood such as scallops (giant and juicy), razor clams and regular clams also feature high on the menu. They’re joined by squid (grilled), cuttlefish (grilled or in delicious ‘meatballs’) and octopus, that Malaga favourite. At De Huelva, the 8-legger comes grilled, in the Russian salad or in the mixed seafood salad (salpicon de marisco).

Tuna isn’t left out either. Try it as a steak, dried (when it tastes exquisitely like pork and comes with salted almonds) or with garlic and olive oil. If you’re not sure which to try, get a tapa of each and pick your favourite.

And then there are the rice dishes. Order your paella, creamy rice or black rice in advance (minimum 4 people, €9 each) or ask for a plate of whatever’s in the enormous paella pan on the day.

The wine list isn’t extensive but it does feature some fresh whites from Huelva that pair perfectly with seafood and are often overlooked on the Spanish wine scene.

Location

As we mentioned earlier, this one’s off the beaten track but en route to the Russian Museum and Car Museum or if you’re exploring the western seafront. It’s also right next door to the lovely Huelin park with two lakes and a couple of excellent play parks.

Ambience

De Huelva is small – think 10 or so tables with a smattering on the terrace. There are also a couple of barrels with bar stools at the entrance. Giant photos of fishing boats, fishing nets and other maritime bits make the main décor that’s mostly white.

This restaurant is a firm favourite with locals. So, if you’re going at the weekend, book in advance and be prepared for it to be noisy.

Service

Excellent. The waiters are attentive and remember everything you’ve asked for. More importantly, service comes with a smile and they make you feel welcome.

Prices

Malaga ranks as one of the cheapest city-break destinations in Spain and eating out is surprisingly cheap. We’ve been several times to De Huelva and I’m always surprised at the final bill – are we really just paying this for all we’ve eaten?
Tapas – €2.50-€4
Half-portions – €4.70-€7
Full portions – €8-€12
Prawns, crab legs and crayfish – €8-€9
Barquita de Huelva (enough for 2/3 people) – €23

Why put De Huelva on your list of restaurants in Malaga

• Excellent seafood, particularly the prawns.
• Excellent value for money.

Opening hours

Tues-Thurs 12.30-5pm; Fri & Sat 12.30-5pm & 8pm-midnight; Sun noon-5pm

Contact

C/ Antonio Soler 5, Local 3
Tel: 951 770 074
Facebook page

How to get there

Walk from the centre of Malaga to the seafront and continue until Huelin Park (2km, 26 mins).

Or get the No 3 or No 7 bus from the Alameda Principal and get off at the Jardín de la Abadía stop and walk (5 mins) in the direction of the seafront.

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Note: we always go incognito to the venues included in our Malaga restaurants reviews section and we always pay in full for every item on our bill. This way we guarantee that we receive service and food just as any other customer does. And if they don’t make our criteria for the best in Malaga, they don’t make the section. It’s as simple as that.