World4Traveler

Now that the cooler weather is just around the corner, there is no better meal at the weekend than a traditional English Sunday roast.

Yes I know we live in Spain, but sometimes you just fancy a taste of home, and there are some fabulous restaurants on the Costa del Sol which serve up this tasty Sunday treat.  If you want a change from the beach bars, and fancy some good home-cooked grub, some of the best English restaurants are situated on the Costa del Sol

Irvings is situated in Calahonda.  Take the Mcdonalds exit from direction Marbella and go under the road as if to change direction.  Take the second exit at from the roundabout in the direction of Lidl, and you will find this delightful restaurant 50 metres up this road on the right hand side.  Small but intimate and comfortable, this great little restaurant is open evenings during the week and Sunday lunchtimes between 2 and 6pm.  The roast beef here is to die for, and there is an excellent choice of starters to choose from including home-made soup, delicious salads and probably the best paté you will taste in the area.  The desserts are also fantastic, and the baileys cheesecake is something else.  If you are planning to visit, you are recommended to book as Sundays get very busy.  We also spent one Christmas Day Lunch here, and it was the best traditional Christmas lunch I have ever eaten – either here or in England.  The turkey and the vegetables were cooked to perfection, and the friendly welcome and service makes it an extra special venue.  Prices for Sunday roast vary depending on whether you have starters and desserts, but you would normally expect to pay around €20-€25 per head for three courses including wine.  You can usually park outside, or further up the road in the Lidl car park if not. For reservations telephone:- +34 670 668 957.

Staying in Calahonda, Bogarts is one of the most well established restaurants on the ´strip´, and is always packed on Sundays.  With a large, sunny terrace and ample room indoors, the restaurant is comfortable all year round, and early booking for the Sunday carvery is recommended.  A great choice of starters including the old favourites such as prawn cocktail, tasty salads and soups and some of the best roast lamb, beef and chicken you will find on the Costa del Sol.  Orders are taken for starters and desserts, then you can take your own plate up to the carvery and enjoy a choice of meats, fresh vegetables, Yorkshire puddings, home-made gravy, apple sauce and even crackling with the pork.  Most of the puddings are home-made, and the bread and butter pudding and apple pie is fantastic. From the El Zoco exit of Calahonda, just after the Mcdonalds exit from direction Marbella, at the main roundabout go directly up the hill and bogarts is the first restaurant you will see on the right hand side.  We normally pay about €20-€25 per head at Bogarts, with three courses and a bottle of house wine.There is ample parking on the street outside the restaurant or on the side-streets close by. For reservations telephone: +34 952 934 840.

Not too far up the road in La Cala de Mijas is the excellent Newmarket Restaurant, which is known around the area for serving one of the best Sunday lunches on the coast.  You are always recommended to book here for Sunday lunch, and the quality of the meat, fresh vegetables and all the trimmings is second to none.  We always enjoy a walk along the seafront promenade before lunch, and a couple of drinks overlooking the beach.  La Cala de Mijas has evolved into one of the prettiest resorts on the Costa del Sol and the Newmarket is one of the best restaurants in the area.

You are assured a friendly welcome and excellent food whenever you visit, and the large selection of starters and desserts attract Sunday lunch fans from all over the coast.  We have tried all of the roast meat dishes at the Newmarket but my favourite is the lamb – tender and succulent as lamb should be – and served with delicious mint sauce, fresh vegetables and the best crispy roast potatoes.  If you are driving into La Cala de Mijas from Marbella direction, at the first roundabout, where you see the Farmacia on the corner, turn right.  Turn right at the church and carry on for about half a kilometre.  You will see the Newmarket on the left hand side.  There is plenty of parking nearby or on the adjacent streets.  For reservations telephone: +34 952 493 342.

If you fancy a drive inland at the weekend, there is no better place to take the family for lunch than Aguamania on the Coin-Cartama road. Only 25 minutes drive from the coast, this great bar-restaurant has entertainment during the week, live music and great views over the surrounding countryside.  There are plenty of areas for the kids to play, and the menu offers visitors a great choice of dishes.  The Sunday roast carvery is fantastic.  Try the roast pork with apple sauce and stuffing – it is well worth the trip on its own.  Open since 2001, Aguamania has gained an enviable reputation, and many regular diners think nothing of travelling up from the coast for the excellent food and friendly service.  With plenty of room inside and out, this busy restaurant is popular all year round, and  several events take place here including a Farmer´s market every Friday. For reservations or more information call:-+34 952 420 028 or check out www.aguamaniaspain.com for accurate directions to the restaurant.

There are many restaurants on the Costa del Sol, but you will be hard pressed to beat the food and service and any of the above-mentioned.