Best Ice Cream Shops in Malaga: Where Locals Actually Go (2026)

Malaga takes ice cream seriously. With over 300 days of sunshine, you'll find heladerias on almost every corner.

But not all are created equal. Some have been perfecting their craft for over a century, while others are quietly making some of the best artisan gelato in Spain.

This guide covers the best ice cream shops in Malaga, from the historic institution where locals queue for turron ice cream to hidden gems in the suburbs. We'll also explain what Malaga ice cream actually is, because yes, this city has its own signature flavour.

The Best Ice Cream Shops in Malaga

1. Casa Mira (The Historic Institution)

Casa Mira is Malaga's most famous heladeria, and for good reason. This family-run business has been serving ice cream since 1890, making it one of the oldest in Spain.

The story: Severino Mira arrived in Malaga from Alicante with donkeys carrying homemade turron (Spanish nougat).

The sales were so successful that he brought his entire family. Since turron is traditionally a Christmas sweet, the Miras needed something to sell year-round. Using snow brought from the Sierra de las Nieves mountains, they produced Malaga's first ice cream.

What to order:

• Turron (their signature): Rich almond nougat flavour, the recipe unchanged since 1890
• Blanco y negro: Crushed iced coffee served with turron ice cream
• Helado de Malaga: Their version of the local specialty

2. Heladeria Inma (The Local Favourite)

This is where Malaguenos go for serious ice cream. Heladeria Inma has been operating since 1972 and is known for its exceptional nut-based flavours.

Why locals love it: Inma sources ingredients obsessively.

Their pistachio comes from Sicily, their pine nuts from Valladolid. The result is intensely flavoured ice cream that tastes like the real ingredient, not a synthetic approximation.

What to order:

• Pine nut with caramel: Their most celebrated flavour
• Pistachio: Made with Sicilian pistachios, bright green and intensely nutty
• Any nut-based flavour: This is their specialty

3. Kalua (Best Variety)

If you want choice, Kalua delivers. With over 40 flavours made in-house with natural ingredients, there's something for everyone.

What to order:

• Death by Chocolate: For serious chocolate lovers
• Strawberry sorbet: Fresh and fruity, a summer favourite
• Seasonal specials: They rotate creative flavours regularly

The central location in Plaza de Uncibay makes it easy to stop by while exploring the shopping streets.

4. YUMMY (Best for Dietary Restrictions)

Everything at YUMMY is gluten-free and vegan. Yes, even the cones.

What to order:

• Pistachio: Creamy despite being dairy-free
• Kinder Bueno: Their take on the chocolate bar
• Strawberry: Simple and refreshing

5. Conico (Best Location)

For ice cream with a view, Conico at Muelle Uno is hard to beat. Sit on the waterfront terrace and watch the yachts while you eat.

What to order:

• Mango and cheese: Unusual but works
• Pomegranate yogurt: Refreshing with a tart finish

The ice cream is good (part of a quality chain), but the location is the real draw. Perfect for an evening stroll along the port.

6. Helados Cremades Pedregalejo (Best Beachside)

Combine your ice cream with a walk along Pedregalejo's chiringuito-lined promenade.

What to order:

• Helado de Malaga: Made properly with local sweet wine and raisins
• Horchata: Traditional tiger nut drink, perfect for hot days

This is an excellent stop after eating espetos at one of the nearby beach restaurants.

7. Heladeria Mardels (Best for Families)

With unusual flavour combinations and excellent dietary options, Mardels is popular with families.

What to order:

• Emperador: White chocolate, vanilla, Nutella, and chocolate chips
• Any sugar-free option: Good for those watching sugar intake

8. Martonela (Best Toppings)

Martonela lets you customise with fresh fruits, nuts, and biscuits on top.

Popular with younger crowds and tourists exploring the shopping streets near Calle Granada.

9. Heladeria Bajocero (Worth the Trip)

If you have a car or fancy a cycling adventure, Bajocero offers something different: a semi-rural location on the edge of the Montes de Malaga.

What to order:

• Avocado: Made with locally grown avocados from eastern Malaga province
• Gold caramel with white chocolate: Rich and indulgent
• Banana split with dulce de leche: For serious appetites

Quick Comparison

What Is Malaga Ice Cream?

If you see "Helado de Malaga" on a menu, you're looking at the city's signature flavour.

It's not named after the city arbitrarily. This is a distinctive ice cream with a specific recipe.

What's in it:

• Cream and egg yolk base
• Raisins soaked in sweet Malaga wine
• Honey
• Brown sugar
• Sometimes toasted almonds

The raisins are the key.

They're marinated in Malaga's famous sweet wine until they're plump with flavour. When folded into the ice cream, they create little pockets of boozy sweetness.

Think of it as: Rum and raisin's Spanish cousin. More refined, less obviously alcoholic, with the distinct character of Malaga wine.

Where to try it: Almost every heladeria offers helado de Malaga, but for an authentic version made with proper local wine and raisins, try Helados Cremades in Pedregalejo or Casa Mira.

Can You Make It at Home?

Yes. You'll need:

• Malaga sweet wine (available online or in Spanish specialty shops)
• Quality raisins
• Time to soak them properly (overnight minimum)
• A good ice cream base recipe

The wine is the most important ingredient.

Malaga wine is a fortified sweet wine made from Pedro Ximenez and Moscatel grapes. It has notes of honey, dried fruit, and caramel. Without it, you're just making rum and raisin.

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