Malaga Tapas & Bar

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440 W 2nd St (at Btwn Guadalupe & San Antonio)
Austin, TX 78701

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(512) 236-8020
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Malaga Tapas & Bar - Austin, TX
Malaga Tapas & Bar - Austin, TX
Malaga Tapas & Bar - Austin, TX
Malaga Tapas & Bar - Austin, TX
Malaga Tapas & Bar - Austin, TX
Malaga Tapas & Bar - Austin, TX
Reviews
( 17 )
( 10 )
( 4 )
( 3 )
( 14 )

Best

This restaurant is located in the warehouse district downtown. I was very impressed and would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a little Spanish flair! Fantastic fo...

Worst

Malaga I (old location): Nearly everything about this place is perfect so it is easier to get the only ""con"" out of the way. The food selection is somewhat limited, or should ...

Really? 3/11/2008

Wait was looooong and we had called ahead. Bar staff were snippy whenwe were trying to order drinks. STAND OVER THERE (I am not five, thanks, and I did not realize I was standing where I should not be. Waitress was nice but elusive and the tapas were just okay. It was pricey and I will not go back unless every other restaurant in Austin suddenly closes. Decor/atmosphere was beautiful. So I will summarize for those who are unclear- if you want to go somewhere with so/so food, elusive wait staff, great decor and get bossed around, go to Malaya. more
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out-of-towners beware! 2/15/2008

I was really looking forward to enjoying some tapas. At first my hopes were high based on the restaurant?s wonderful decor. But they were quickly lowered after I tried to order my first drink at the bar. When I ordered a martini from the drink menu (with word YUM next to it) the bartender abruptly stated that it wasn?t good and I should select something else. Now I thought that maybe the food will revive my hopes. Unfortunately this was not the case. The tapas were sub par. For my fellow out-of-towners, please stay away from this place. Austin offers so many better restaurants more
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Good food, terrible host 11/3/2007

Although the food is good in Malaga, remember to be very patient and not to trust what the hostess tells you. They told us there was a 20 minute wait, and one hour later, still waiting, the told us at least we would have to wait another 30 minutes. Every time we asked, they changed the time and the number of parties waiting before us. I love the food, but I hate that the host lied. If she would have said 1 hour wait, it would be my decision to wait or not, but I found it very very rude that she told us a time and changed it, and changed it. So, if you want to go there, either be there at 5 pm, maybe there will not be a waiting list or be ready to wait... Pros: Great food and wine Cons: The hostess and her neverending wait time more
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not fine dining, but absolutely great 10/12/2007

Malaga is fantastic. After reading the reviews on here I have to correct a few statements however. As far as how many pieces are on a plate, that's really hard to answer since the chef loves to just pile on the food. The portions are tapas, but unlike places in Spain where tapas are literally just a bite, here two tapas is almost enough to fill you up. The servers are friendly, and fast for the most part, though they do get really busy on the weekends. Every waiter I've had there seems to actually care whether or not they are giving you good service. Music could be a little better, I think last time we heard Ricky Martin playing. Not the best choice. Overall, the food is good, though a bit pricey, the service is good, and I absolutely love the atmosphere. Pros: wine, food, service, atmosphere Cons: cheesy music more
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Very Good Tapas 1/31/2007

Excellent tapas and a good happy hour recommendation. Pros: Good Tapas Cons: Staff and service need improving more
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Fantastic Tapas Great Wine prices 11/4/2006

I'm not sure as why other members have been dissapointed with Malaga! I love their food! The sea scallops are my favorite, but the fried goat cheese is also the best I've had. They do get busy at times, and sometimes the wait is a little long, but it's worth it. They have some really great wines by the glass too....I like to try the wine flights...they let me taste a little of everything and I like that. Great atmosphere too...I recommend going in on Wednesday or Thursday....it's not too too busy...ask for Lauren...she's my favorite waitress there! more
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Save your money and head to somewhere else. 10/6/2006

We(8 of us) tried about half of the items on their tapas menu. We were not impressed with the taste and quality of the food, having tried other tapas places across the country. The only selections we found to be good were the fried goat cheese, the calamari and the peppercorn encrusted raw tuna with creamy horseradish sauce. One of the usual tapas favorites, the shrimp in aioli (a yummy medley of garlic, olive oil and spices) was not even worth ordering. The sangria was a poor imitation of the real thing, with their version based on rum. The restaurant itself had a cozy, upscale decor with hardwood floors and dark paneled walls lined with wine racks, probably the best part of the evening. Pros: nice decor Cons: rude service and over priced food more
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Tapas were served cold and order was incorrect 8/20/2006

We came in and had to wait for a seat since it was a Sunday it wasn't very busy the waitress decided to sit us down after 18 mins standing and was close to leaving and going to Truluck's. Pros: LINKS TO CEDAR STREET wine lists Cons: HORRIBLE SERVICE AND FOOD IS FAIR more
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Tantalizing Tapas! 8/9/2006

I am an avid wine drinker and vineyard visitor and always love going to Malaga. The food is simply delicious -- try the prosciutto and watermelon salad -- perfect for summer. Service has always been impeccable -- the bar staff is very attentive and the servers can always recommend a selection, very knowledgeable. They also have a great selection of Spanish wines that are very coolly displayed in the wall shelves, and there is always something new and fun to try. One suggestion: add a few Texas wines to the list and support the local winemakers! more
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Absolutley Fabulous! 7/16/2006

OMG, I'm in love with this place. This was my first visit to Austin and I really wanted to try something new. I had never gone to a tapas bar before, but I'm so happy we went. The atmosphere is amazing, dim lit and very romantic. The hostess was very nice, we got a table right away. They have a huge wine selection which the staff knows a lot about, if your not a wine drinker don't worry they have anything you want to drink. The food is wonderful, now you don't get a lot at all I guess that's why they call it tapas, but it is so good. The prices are at little high, but it's worth every penny just to go. The best time to go is during happy hour, you get wine with a paring of tapas for 6.00, at night the prices are like 6.50 to 8.00 for tapas without wine. Happy hour is from 5-7. This is my favorite place in austin I will definetly return again. Cons: pricy more
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never a bad experience 5/15/2006

After reading all the reviews I reccomend that those looking for better service go eat at a four-star restarant where they crack your pepper and place your napkin on your lap....Clearly they have not visited Spain. I have gone to Malaga for almost 4 years now and leave completely satisfied every time. The ahi tuna and sea scallops are some of my favs and the goat cheese stuffed peppers are classics, but when are you guys going to bring back the watermelon salad and the salmon tartare? If you are willing to give Malaga another chance...request Mary's section, she will never steer you wrong when selecting wine and gives wonderful service. Pros: wine list, ambiance, sandia salad more
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Tapas, vinos and good times 5/4/2006

Since the moment you walk in this place you'll get immerse in a very interesting atmosphere, that will take you somewhere else, to a place that you've never been before, far away from the Tex-mex surroundings. That's what Malaga is all about, a very casual but five stars dinner, with flavors that will delight your palate, a good variety of tapas that with a right wine on the side will make you night unique. Chef Alejandro will be pleased to assist you at any time to every single one of his creations or to recommend one of the hundreds of wine options that will match your meal. Staff is trained to perfection, knowing how to read every customer's need, and making your spaniard style experience complete : get your food, keep the wine flowing, and enjoy your night. Pros: wine list Cons: small balcony more
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what service? 4/15/2006

I have been to Malaga a few times. My last visit on Friday was just that. It was pretty slow and we couldn't even get the bartenders to acknowledge us. The drinks were weak too. The waitress seemed too busy to help us with water etc. even though they weren't full. Terrible paper napkins too and the table are uncomfortably small. Austin is known for poor service but this was bad. I don't want to take anymore dates there. Pros: Wine List, Mood and Art Cons: Bad Service, Low Quality Food more
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Extremely awful service 3/7/2006

To be honest, I really liked the concept and ambience of the place. They have decent drinks and food. Unfortunately, the service from the hostess and waitstaff has completely turned me off this place for good. Pros: ambience Cons: service, hostess, waitstaff more
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Amazing 10/19/2005

Malaga is amazing! The ambience is great, its dark and elegant. The service was exceptional our waitress was very helpful with the wine list and delicious menu. Food was great, lots of diffrent flavors. I recommend Malaga to anyone looking to have a romantic date. more
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Visiting from San Antonio 5/4/2005

My girlfriend and I arrived at happy hour. Malaga had excellent drink/food pairings at a great value. We ordered the Rumtini, which was watered down, along with tasty, tangy portabella mushrooms. The spinach empanadas had an inspiring crust, but not enough filling. The patatas bravas were fair and the ravioli with manchago cheese was very tasty. For dessert, we narrowed down our choices to tiramisu or tres leches. Since we were in a Spanish restaurant and my girlfriend is a tres leches connoisseur, we opted for the tres leches. It was a mistake. Though nicely soaked in milk, the cake's consistency was birthday-like and topped with too much icing. We should have tried the tiramisu. Overall, the food was decent. However, the service was excellent. Our waitress was attentive, but not intrusive. I recommend at least giving Malagas a try after visiting clubs on 4th Street. Pros: Service, Price Cons: Tres Leches, Parking more
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Good wine bad food 4/23/2005

The wine list is great but the tapas are not worth your time. The food is bland and it taste like something you would get from the frozen foods isle. more
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Food and Drinks Wonderful- Service Bad 9/27/2004

Been to Malaga on many occasions, but not recently. The food/drinks/ atmosphere are terrific and a real bargain. Unfortunately, my friends and I have had more than a few bad experiences with the hostesses and waitstaff. When you walk in they look you up and down (literally) in a judgemental manner, sit you down as if doing you a favor, and half the waitstaff is the same. We love the food there, but the service is so bad, it has kept us from coming back time after time- after the third time- we actually wrote the owner! Saba has equally good food, better drinks and prices, atmosphere, and the waitstaff is usually wonderful. Will try Malaga again soon, to see if the waitstaff has lost the attitude. Pros: Food, Drinks, Ambience Cons: , Many servers, parking more
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In love... 9/14/2004

I am in LOVE with this place! The wine list is spectacular, 50 by the glass and 200 by the bottle. The food is authentic and I was really surprised how much our server new about wine. They also have cooking and wine tasting classes that are fabulous and a riot! Pros: valet parking, wine list more
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Below Average Happy Hour 2/26/2004

First, the hostess asked us to sit down on the lobby bench while she got our table ready so that her manager wouldn't think that she was ignoring us. (Rude, and why do I need to accommodate the restaurant when I am the paying customer?) Next, when she got a table for our party of 6 she didn't bother to tell us until we asked after waiting 15 minutes. Our waitress seemed rushed, annoyed and was not focused on her customers. The tapas happy hour menu, which is why we went there in the first place, is conditional--meaning that you must order wine with your tapas and you only have about 5-6 tapas to choose from. The tapas were just okay, and the portions were small. Cool venue, but the food and service need work. For more bang for the buck, Cuba Libre does a much better job. Pros: Ambience, location Cons: , customer service, portion size more
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Menu for Malaga Tapas & Bar


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European haven tucked into one of the most popular & historical blocks of Austin

Owner Message

  • A European haven tucked into one of the most popular & historical blocks of Austin, Malaga Tapas & Bar is a cozy and welcome escape from the ordinary. Let the creative menu and knowledgeable staff be your guide through a Spanish-style culinary adventure. Wine also plays a starring role when dining at Malaga Tapas & Bar. Together, food and wine allow us to celebrate nature's bounty in a manner that entices all the senses. Our wine list is thoughtfully selected and exhibits Chef Alex Duran's impeccable taste for all things edible. Enjoy gourmet tapas and discover amazing wines at Malaga Tapas & Bar.

Editorial

  • Come here for lazy Sunday brunch Spanish style. Enjoy tapas and $3 mimosas and bloody Mary's with front row seats to the action on 2nd St.

  • 4/15/2012 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Lunch: Monday-Friday 11am to 2pm Brunch: Saturday and Sunday 11am to 2pm Dinner: Everyday 5pm-10pm
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Master Card, Discover
  • Neighborhoods: Downtown
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