Ayo — Restaurant in Nerja

What a great experience!! Easy walk from the bus stop (arrived from Malaga) and worth it to get away from the crowds near the Balcon de Europa.

We arrived on a Saturday at about 2. No problem getting a table but it did start to fill up fast.

We were waited on immediately by the nicest, funny, best personality gentleman ever! How does he stay so happy when it's so busy here?!

Ordered a beer and a tinto verano and it came right away. We ordered the house salad and two orders of seafood only Paella. They will dish up your servings without the chicken. Our salad arrived and was large enough for three. It was only 4,65!!

Then came the Paella! Oh my what generous servings too!! We had no idea that for 7,50 you get UNLIMITED plates of Paella. Yes you do. Ours came with a generous amount of fresh shrimp (whole, you peel). It was very flavorful.

We sat near the fire pit and was able to observe the cook and the servers. And watched the fire being stoked. So fun. And the added bonus was we got to see AYO himself cutting lemons, stirring Paella and serving up numerous plate full of his goods!

Such a fun place. Great location RIGHT ON THE BEACH!

This is a must do when in Nerja! AYO is an icon. Been here cooking...

We were tempted to try this restaurant because of the idea of paella being cooked over a fire, but don’t be fooled – avoid this place. The sangria was watered down, and the medium-sized juice was only 200ml. That wasn’t even the worst part.

The paella itself was a huge disappointment – no vegetables at all, and the shrimp were undercooked.

The décor was terrible – or rather, completely absent. Plastic chairs and tables just placed on sand, and the entire restaurant was extremely dark because of the covering they use. The atmosphere felt dirty and unpleasant.

After receiving our drinks, we waited 30–40 minutes for food without being informed about the waiting time. In the meantime, another waiter took our condiments and gave them to a different table that arrived later but got their food earlier.

Finally, when paying the bill (30.40 EUR), we gave 50.40 EUR. The bill was taken away without a word, and no change was returned. My husband had to chase the waiter to get the money back.

Overall, a terrible experience. Definitely not...

Ayo is a no-frills, bang-for-the-buck outdoor restaurant right on the beach, which makes it a must visit during any trip to Nerja. I first ate here over ten years ago when I was studying in Spain and give it another visit last week while on vacation. I was sad to learn that they discontinued their one-of-a-kind endless paella special, but their paella was just too good and memorable to pass on.

For just 9.5 euros, you get a hefty plate of amazingly seasoned and incredibly fresh paella, that is made right in one of the largest paella pans you've probably ever seen in your life. The paella comes with chicken, shrimp (gambas) and even a couple of scallops (vieiras) if you're lucky. Highly recommend you grab a plate with a nice cold Alhambra beer before...