I would absolutely NOT recommend this restaurant after having what I can only describe as a truly appalling experience there just over a week ago.

If you want a pleasant eating experience in Malaga, definitely best to avoid La Deriva.

On arrival, we were told that no tables were free but that our names would be added to their waiting list. We were then instructed to take a seat in the bar and wait for our name to be called. So far, so good.

I went to the bar and ordered a drink while my companion popped back to our apartment directly above the restaurant to freshen up before shortly returning. Meanwhile, I was present in the bar for the whole time I had the misfortune to be on this premises.

As we waited and waited, it became obvious that customers who had arrived after us were being called by the waiting staff and shown to tables. I caught the attention of a waiter and explained the situation. This was the same waiter who had initially spoken with us on arrival. He was to make inquires and come back to us. This never happened and we continued to be ignored, even as staff passed by constantly. At this point my companion went out to the tables area to query the situation herself.

Enough was enough. We were not going to receive a meal in this restaurant. HOWEVER, the worst was yet to come...

As we left, I calmly but firmly expressed my unhappiness over what had transpired to the waiter who had met us upon arrival. At this point, another waiter came over. In a rude and argumentative manner, he said they had given away our table as our names had been called but we had left the bar/restaurant and so had lost our place on the list. He even showed us the list where numerous names below us had been crossed off while my name near the top of the list was still unmarked (The same ‘response’ my companion had received).

Rather than apologise for the way we had been treated, this abrupt waiter was trying to tell me I had left the bar, which I knew to be complete nonsense. From the time of being directed to the bar, I had not left the premises once. I was seated prominently in the small bar, staff passed by me frequently, and at NO POINT during that time was my name ever called. Rather than apologise for their mistake, they were subjecting us to mistruths. The waiter was only becoming more rude to the point of actually sneering at us. I was disgusted by this completely unacceptable behaviour. It was clear there was no point trying to engage with these people any further and so a shocked companion and I left the restaurant to go somewhere where we would be treated with some courtesy and respect, in addition to actually getting a meal!

After having a very pleasant meal in an eatery just around the corner called La Fabrica (Which I would certainly recommend), we returned to our apartment which shares a building with La Deriva. As it was our last night, my companion decided to take some pictures of the beautifully lit building outside while I went inside. As I went to open the door, the rude and argumentative waiter we had the misfortune of dealing with earlier passed by and sneered at me while muttering something which I didn’t catch. My companion was to have a much worse experience as she attempted to take pictures in this public place. Suffice to say, she has made a formal complaint to management and is contemplating taking the matter even further.

What a truly appalling way for staff to behave in a commercial business dealing with the public.

There are far nicer and more reasonable eateries in the same area of Malaga and who actually treat their customers with fairness and respect.