Casa Aranda: churros, tradition, and the smell of mornings in Málaga
If you wake up in Málaga and you don’t end up at Casa Aranda… are you even doing it right?
☕ Where churros are not a trend—they’re a way of life
Since 1932, Casa Aranda has been serving churros long before Instagram turned breakfasts into photo shoots. Hidden just a few steps away from Calle Larios, this legendary café is as essential to Málaga mornings as sunshine and street music.
Walk down the cobblestone alleyway and you’ll smell it before you see it: fried dough, coffee, and nostalgia. This isn’t just breakfast. This is a ritual.
🍫 The golden standard of churros
Forget the oversized “porras” from Madrid. Málaga does things its own way.
Casa Aranda’s churros are thinner, crispier, and dangerously addictive. Fried to perfection and served in generous portions, they’re made to be dipped — ideally into a cup of thick, velvety hot chocolate that could double as building material. Or, if you’re feeling local, pair them with a creamy café con leche.
Crispy on the outside, tender inside. Every bite is a warm handshake from southern Spain.
🥐 More than just fried dough
Yes, the churros are the headliners. But the rest of the cast? Worth your time.
You can also get:
- Tostada con aceite y tomate, for those who prefer savory mornings.
- A sweet ensaimada straight from Balearic dreams.
- Fresh-squeezed orange juice, bright enough to wake you up without caffeine.
Casa Aranda is proof that simple doesn’t mean boring. It means done right.
🪑 A café that refuses to age
With its marble tabletops, wooden chairs, and waiters in crisp white aprons darting between tables, Casa Aranda feels frozen in time in the best possible way. Sit outside and watch Málaga yawn into the day while locals argue about football and politics between churros.
And despite the fame, it’s refreshingly unpretentious. No gimmicks. No rebranding. Just good people, good coffee, and dough that’s been fried the same way for nearly a century.
🧓 A local tradition with global fans
Ask a Malagueño where to get churros. Most won’t answer — they’ll just point.
Casa Aranda has hosted politicians, painters, poets, tourists and taxi drivers — all with the same smile and the same plate. It’s the kind of place where your neighbor might be sitting next to a Hollywood star, and no one’s making a fuss because the churros are more important.
Come after exploring Atarazanas Market, or start your day here. Just make sure you go hungry.
🕗 When to go, what to expect
📍 Location: Calle Herrería del Rey, 3 – a quick stroll from Calle Larios or Alameda Principal.
🕒 Opening hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 8:00 am – 12:30 pm / 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
- Sunday: 8:00 am – 12:30 pm
💶 Prices:
- Churros: €2.50–€3.50
- Hot chocolate: €2.80–€3.50
- Coffee: €1.50–€2.50
- Full breakfast: around €7–10
📸 Don’t just visit — pause, dip, and smile
Casa Aranda is not about fast food. It’s about slow mornings, the comfort of knowing that some things are better unchanged, and the quiet rhythm of Málaga before the city fully wakes up.
So take your time. Dunk the churro. Sip the chocolate. And when you leave, you’ll carry the flavor of Málaga with you—on your fingers, in your smile, and probably on your shirt.
