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Love letter to Frigiliana.
We stumbled upon Frigiliana (Free-he-lee-ah-nuh), but you should go out of your way to add this Spanish town to your list. It might just be one of the prettiest villages in all of Andalucia, offering views of the mountains and the ocean for those of us who don’t like to choose.
Explore on foot
We packed our family of five into one European car and drove the 1.5 hours from Marbella on a Saturday in December. For reference, the weather was great—60s and sunny. You can park for free right in town and set out on foot, in no particular direction other than up. Route yourself to the Vista Panoramica using Maps, and you’ll come upon a viewpoint that combines the whitewashed village with the Tejeda Mountains and the Alboran Sea. We’re suckers for a great view—and this one left us a bit speechless.
We all know the whole package is Great Food AND a Great View (like Good Looks and a Great Personality).
Frigiliana does not disappoint in either department. Try The Garden Restaurant, which is ideally located just around the corner from the Vista Panoramica. This eatery offers Mediterranean cuisine with local and home grown fruits and vegetables. We recommend grabbing a table for a sunset dining experience.
- The Garden Restaurant Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 12:00-16:00
A picturesque street in Frigiliana
Stunning views over Frigiliana
El Adarve Restaurant
More food – what else?
Explore just a bit further beyond the viewpoint and you’ll come upon El Adarve Restaurant. It’s tucked away on the left hand side of Calle Santo Cristo, so blink and you just might miss it. You’ll duck under a narrow passageway, following the signs to the entrance, which is a single, unassuming door.
We know that table settings are an important element of the dining aesthetic–so the lime green place mats may make this eatery look like a deal breaker (i.e. a dreaded tourist trap) at first glance. But the terrace views of the countryside are impressive enough to serve as the backdrop for any proposal, so we stuck it out, and you should too. At El Adarve you’ll find friendly service; fresh, traditional cuisine; and hands down some of the best GF bread you’re ever going to get your hands on.
After your meal, set out to explore the steep streets of the town. You’ll find an abundance of cats roaming around and quite a few quaint shops. Be sure to check out the local artist’s gallery just across from El Adarve.
Wander back down toward the lively town center, or hike further up for the views from the ruins of Castillo de Lízar (if it’s not too dark).
Parting words
This town is a perfect day trip, close to the cities of Malaga (45 minutes via car), Granada (1 hour via car), and Marbella (1.5 hours via car). It’s also a great place to shack up and stay awhile—close to the beaches and the mountains.
If you find yourself in Andalucia, don’t let Frigiliana be the one that got away!
A Note on Nearby Nerja:
We chose to combine our day in Frigiliana with a visit to Nerja to see the Balcon de Europa, a cliff-side overlook offering expansive views of the Mediterranean. While the overlook was stunning, we found Nerja to be a bit of a deal-breaker. There was a tacky children’s fair set up in the plaza, a faint odor, and a series of tourist-y restaurants we weren’t all too excited to try. We came and left hungry, unable to find somewhere we felt would be worth the money (and we walked a lot of streets..). Make a pit stop on your way out of Frigiliana if you want to catch the sunset at the viewpoint, but we advise eating beforehand.
