El Palangre — Restaurant in Estepona

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It's not too easy to find, but well worth a little exploring, so I'll explain.

The easiest way (!!!) is climbing steps . . .

Starting from the Marina, go along the main road until you get almost to the Pharmacy on the other side of the road. Cross on that zebra, and continue to the little roundabout with the olive tree in the middle, then turn left and immediately right in front of the Bar-Hermandad Virgen del Carmen.

This is the Calle San Roque, part of the original fishermen’s quarter of Estepona. As you start to walk along here you’ll come to, on the right, a pretty little square, and on the left, a chapel devoted to Nuestra Señora del Carmen, whose feast day is July 16th. She’s the patron saint of the fishermen, and if you are in Estepona on that date there is a very moving and spectacular procession in the evening, where young men carry the statue into the sea on a sort of float or barge.

Anyway, to get to the Palangre you go past the chapel, then take the second street on the left (Calle Salazones) which turns immediately into a set of steps. From the bottom you can see the Palangre at the top. Breathe deeply before you start the climb.

Coming from the town, you walk along the Paseo Marítimo seafront promenade until you reach the beginning, on your right as you walk, of the high wall round the little viewpoint square (Mirador) with the cute flowerpots - El Mirador de los Maniseros. You can’t see the viewpoint from the Paseo, but when you reach the wall, walk up to the main road, you’ll see the viewpoint, named Mirador de los Maniseros, who were a local pop group back in the days of the Beatles.

When you get to the Mirador, cross the road, go up the steps to the little row of houses, walk along in front of the houses and the second street on your right is Calle Salazones with the steps at the end. Up you go!

If you insist on coming by car to save your lungs those steps, then drive either from the port or the town to the little roundabout with an olive tree by the pharmacy, turn inland, drive up the hill and take the 3rd road on your right (the 2nd is no entry), drive to the end, turn right and you’ll see a carpark. Leave the car there, walk right towards the sea in the distance, turn left and the Palangre is along there.

Having got there you will appreciate the sea views, spoilt somewhat by the remains of the rubble from when they demolished an illegally-built hotel in 2007. The rumour is that they are going to build a Parador-hotel there. Wait and see!

Once arrived at the Palangre, you can sit outside to get full benefit of the sea sparkling down below, or go inside to a very pleasant dining room with wide windows so you can appreciate the view here too. Nicely-laid tables, real tablecloths and napkins, and pleasant waiting staff who will be very patient with your attempts to order in Spanish. Probably patient because they know you will need to be patient with their attempts at English!

The menu has a lot of choice, with local fish being the starring item. But be warned – the portions are enormous! An avocado and prawn salad for one came with two halves of avocado – who can eat a whole avocado? The monkfish skewer also could have fed a family of four. The food is all presented on what are not dinner plates but serving dishes, presumably because it wouldn’t fit onto a normal-sized plate. Order with care, therefore, unless you have a couple of teenagers who will eat their meal and everyone else’s too.

A very pleasant meal in good surroundings. We left on foot and walked back through the nearby Parque del Carmen, where the waterfall was illuminated for our delight. A gorgeous end to an...

To the Owner's response: There was still no apologies for what happened to my friend due to their staff's carelessness. My little dog was NEVER on the table, not ours or anyone else. He did not disturb anyone, never once barked or a whimper. He was in MY LAP all the time, since 1.45 pm when we entered your restaurant. Nothing could have been less hygienic than having dirty plates, food leftover, oil and salad dressing all over your trousers. The man just came up to me, invaded my space and shouted in my face!

Please don't pretend you are courteous and respectful of your customers. Because you are not. Just check the comments on your Facebook page!

We live in Marbella and have been coming to this restaurant for a few years now. We have never had any issue. We accepted that service might not always be good especially during busy times. But this lunch just went from bad to hell.

First, they lost our booking for 6 people and tried to tell me that I called the wrong Palangre. Luckily I have the call history to show to them. When I called, I specifically asked for a table on the terrace so we can get some air. This was very important because I knew how hot it could get in the middle of August. But because they lost my booking, we ended up with a table further in that was really hot. Because it was sunday afternoon in the middle of August, we mostly likely couldn't find anywhere else to go, we stayed. That was a big mistake.

Throughout our meal, our waiter was great. He was friendly and efficient. Our food was also good as usual. Then when they collected our plates after the first course, one of the other waiters dropped a pile of them onto my friend, olive oil, prawns pil pil oil, mayonaise all over his trousers. No apologies from the management and we had to ask before they would give us something to clean my friend's clothes. My friend to his credit took it all very graciously.

While my friends were having coffee at the end of the meal, a man from inside the restaurant ( maybe the owner or manager ) came up to me and told me I was not allowed to have my little doglet in my lap. That was very strange and weird. My dog had been sitting in my lap on his blanket for the last two hours ( as he usually does when we go to restaurants). He was quiet and never once barked or jumped onto the table or misbehaved. I refused to put him on the floor because I saw no reason why I couldn't have whatever I want in my own lap.

He shouted in spanish and my spanish friends said not to waste breath with people like that. So we just paid our bill and left.

Having lived in Marbella for 5 years, we have always made a special effort to support local family businesses. Despite all the years that we have been coming to Palangre ( even when they had no other tourist business during covid times ), we will now never return nor will we recommend them to any of our friends who live here or visiting. Their food while good, is not the best and there are many other restaurants equally good and even better! We will take our business there instead.

To the kind waiter who served us, I am sorry you didn't get the tip that we planned on...

A timeless local gem — still one of Estepona’s best fish restaurants

El Palangre has kept its soul intact over the years. Despite all the changes around, this place continues to deliver the same honest, flavourful cooking it’s always been known for.

The seafood is always fresh — really fresh — and you can tell it’s prepared by people who care. The quality of the ingredients and the way they’re cooked speaks volumes. Grilled fish, octopus, paellas — everything is spot on.

Service is excellent, the staff are friendly and relaxed, and the atmosphere is peaceful — tucked away in a quiet part of town that’s still central. The prices are fair, especially for the quality you get, and we really appreciate that.

It’s not overcrowded like some other places, but it’s always wise to book in advance. That’s part of what makes it special — it still feels authentic.

We’ve been coming for years and it’s still one of our absolute favourite places in Estepona. A proper local restaurant that gets it right, every...