Flavor, fire, and the sea: that’s Malva Beach by Txema Palacio on La Rada Beach
The Costa del Sol welcomes a new culinary landmark with Malva Beach by Txema Palacio, a restaurant located right on La Rada Beach in Estepona, where the Mediterranean sets the tone for an elegant, balanced, and ingredient-focused cuisine.
Malva Beach is more than just a beach bar; it is a beachfront restaurant with a clear culinary focus and a special attention to detail. Facing the sea, the space is designed so that everything flows naturally, integrating landscape, design, and cuisine; and it conveys a sense of harmony reflected in every element: from its warm and sophisticated interior, featuring fine wood furnishings, to an inviting lounge area designed for calmly enjoying the surroundings.
Txema Palacio’s concept exudes the sea. It is a cuisine built around fresh, live ingredients, with impeccable traceability, precise technique, and no unnecessary frills. His career has resulted in a cuisine with Basque roots—marked by absolute respect for the ingredients, the importance of stocks and sauces, and a constant pursuit of flavor—and an Andalusian present, evident in the light, the freshness, the garden, and a more open and vibrant approach to dining.
A menu designed to entice
The Malva Beach menu is designed to whet your appetite from the very first glance. Familiar, appealing dishes with their own distinct character that blend tradition with a modern twist without feeling forced. Top-quality ingredients treated with respect, featuring premium fish, seafood, meats, and vegetables, along with recipes that strike a balance between the classic and the contemporary.
Flavor, Technique, and Fire
In Txema Palacio’s kitchen, flavor is the starting point. From there, everything revolves around the juices, the sauces, the cooking temperatures, and the balance of each dish. His approach is grounded in a solid classical foundation that evolves into meaningful contemporary cuisine.
The grill and charcoal play an essential role. Fire adds character, depth, and an immediate emotional impact, becoming one of the chef’s primary languages. It is a direct, honest, and nuanced way of cooking.
Between North and South
The identity of this cuisine is built upon two regions. From the north: rigor, technique, and respect for the ingredients. From the south: light, olive oil, fortified wines, the vegetable garden, and the sea. A duality that defines a personal, balanced, and coherent culinary vision.
Cuisine to Savor
Malva Beach was founded on a clear philosophy: to create pleasure. To invite guests to share, to dip bread, to recall flavors, and to want to return. Cuisine that is sophisticated yet approachable; elegant yet vibrant; technically precise yet unpretentious.
Furthermore, the project approaches the restaurant business from a holistic perspective: a menu that excites, yet is also designed to be profitable, dynamic, and consistent.
A six-course journey
To discover its essence, the chef offers a six-course tasting menu—a measured yet intense journey that encapsulates his story: Basque roots, an Andalusian present, respect for the ingredients, the prominence of fire, and an obsession with flavor.
The Chef, Txema Palacio
Txema Palacio was born in Bilbao and has built his career around ingredient-driven cuisine, culinary craftsmanship, and a respect for the cooking process. He trained at various restaurants in Spain and the south of France, developing a vision rooted in learning the fundamentals from the ground up.
His philosophy took root at Mesón Luna in Zorrotza, where he discovered authentic cuisine through stocks, stews, and respect for the ingredients—an essence he has maintained throughout his career in eateries, hotels, and high-volume projects. Today, as a culinary director and brand chef, he develops concepts where cuisine must be honest, consistent, and profitable without losing its identity or emotional appeal.
Wine Cellar and Cocktail Bar
The experience is rounded out by a carefully curated wine cellar with its own distinct character, featuring a wide selection of Spanish wines—with a special focus on Andalusian and fortified wines—alongside an intriguing selection of international labels and champagnes.
The beverage selection is expanded with a cocktail menu that combines timeless classics with original creations such as the Santorini Spritz, Matcha Martini, Spice Alexander, Venus, and La Marquesa, designed to accompany and prolong the seaside experience.
At its core, Malva Beach by Txema Palacio offers a personal, flavorful, and elegant dining experience, blending Basque soul with Andalusian light and the sea as a backdrop, in a space where every detail is designed for unhurried enjoyment.
📍 Malva Beach by Txema Palacio
📌 Address: Av. de España 2, Playa de la Rada, Estepona
🕒 Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM (kitchen open until 9:30 PM)
🔗 Reservations: malvabeach.es
📧 Email: reservas@malvabeach.es
📞 Phone: +34 952 11 35 56
📲 Instagram: @malva_beach
