Antigua Casa de Guardia — Restaurant in Málaga

Stepping into Antigua Casa de Guardia feels like traveling back in time. This historic bar, established in 1840, is hands down the best place to try local sweet wines in Malaga. The moment you enter, you’re greeted by the charm of an old-world tavern, with barrels lining the walls, dispensing some of the finest sweet wines you’ll ever taste.

The atmosphere is unique — busy yet inviting, with a constant buzz of locals and tourists alike. Despite the hustle, it remains incredibly intriguing. There’s no frills or modern trappings here, just an authentic, down-to-earth feel that draws you in. The way they keep track of what you’ve ordered is an experience in itself. Using white chalk, the staff scribble the prices directly on the wooden bar counter next to you, creating a truly old-school method of tallying your bill.

The wines are the stars of the show, with the sweet ones being truly the best of the best. Every sip feels like a celebration of Malaga’s rich winemaking tradition. If you love fortified wines, you’re in for a treat here.

To pair with the wines, the tapas are simple yet delicious, perfectly complementing the drink selection. Each bite is a reminder of the authentic flavors of the region, making it the perfect spot for a true taste of Andalusian culture.

Overall, Antigua Casa de Guardia is more than just a bar; it’s a cultural experience. If you’re in Malaga, this is the place to go for exceptional sweet wine, great tapas, and an atmosphere you won’t find...

We have been passing by this place on several occasions but never have had the courage to step inside. Primarily due to crowds standing around the counter. But one evening we have decided that it would be nice to see what is offered in there and I have to admit that the decorations we have seen through the widely opened door were rather intriguing. So there we went and we were not disappointed at all! The crowd turned out to be a mixture of locals and tourists looking to try some local wines. Every barrel contains different wine from the Malaga province. The staff were very friendly and seemed to be enjoying their job. When we ordered our wines the amount due was written with chalk on the countertop right in front of us, so when we decided to leave there was no need to wait for a bill. Just pay the amount shown and you ready to go! If you have enjoyed your visit you may leave a tip which then goes to the bucket hanging on eye level attached to one of the barrels. And every tip added to the bucket is announced by the bell (yup - they grab a hand bell and ring). I highly recommend a visit there (or two or maybe three - depending on how many wines you would like to try) as the atmosphere you will experience is a unique one. They also sell wines by the bottle so if you found something you liked you can take a bottle...

I absolutely do not recommend the Antigua Casa de Guardia in Malaga. Their wines are good but this is not the only one place with wines in Malaga. I visited the bar at 9.35 pm. I ordered a glass of wine. At 9.45 pm. the waiters started bustling around, cleaning up, etc. Suddenly, one of the waiter came up to me with a plastic cup and wanted me to pour the rest of the wine from my glass into a plastic cup. I was surprised at the very beginning and refused because I am not used to drink wine from plastic cups and what is more, I was already finishing my wine. From that moment on, the waiter started urging me rudely. With a raised voice, he was repeating "Fast, fast, fast!", and pointed at the plastic cup. Once again I refused and showed him the time which was 9.45 pm. The bar closes at 10 pm, so I had time to finish my wine. Unfortunately, my explanations did not help, and the waiter was still pushing on me, and tried to simply throw me out of the bar! What is more I contacted the owner with that issue, however he did not reply at all. This is a scandalous situation. I have never experienced such a rude treatment...