3 Things to Do on the Costa del Sol This Week (14–20 April 2026)
The Costa del Sol doesn’t slow down for spring — it accelerates. This week brings one of Málaga’s biggest annual celebrations alongside two of Marbella’s most beloved local spots that deserve far more attention than they get. Whether you’re heading into the city for the day or simply looking for where to eat this weekend, here’s where your time is best spent.
Soles de Málaga — A Full Day of Music and Solidarity in the Heart of the City
Date: Saturday 18 April 2026 | Location: Málaga City Centre
If you only do one thing in Málaga this spring, make it this. The Soles de Málaga Festival returns on Saturday 18 April for another marathon day of live music driven by the Fundación El Pimpi — one of the most beloved cultural institutions the city has. Over twelve straight hours of performances, major artists take to the stage in an event that’s as much about community as it is about music.
What makes Soles de Málaga special is the spirit behind it. This isn’t a commercial festival — it’s a solidarity event, built around the idea that great music and a good cause belong together. The crowd reflects that: locals, families, expats, visitors — all sharing the same space and the same afternoon. It has the kind of atmosphere that reminds you why you chose to live on the Costa del Sol in the first place.
It runs from 10:00 in the morning through to the evening, so there’s room to build an entire day around it — walk the city, find a table for lunch somewhere you’ve never tried, then let the music take over. Entry is free, so there’s genuinely no reason not to go.
Taberna Gaspar — Marbella’s Best-Kept Secret Since 1996
Location: Calle Notario Luis Oliver, 19, Marbella Old Town
If someone who knows Marbella well whispers the name Taberna Gaspar to you, consider yourself lucky. This is the kind of place that survives entirely on word of mouth — no flashy branding, no social media presence to speak of, no attempt to appeal to anyone other than the person sitting in front of a plate of honest, beautifully cooked food.
Open since 1996, Gaspar is a family-run tavern tucked away on a quiet street in Marbella’s old town. The menu is handwritten fresh every day based on whatever came in from the market that morning. There’s no freezer full of ingredients — only what’s fresh, only what’s good. The kitchen leans into traditional Spanish cooking done with real care: think meatballs that have been perfected over thirty years, a rabo de toro that falls apart exactly as it should, and a tortilla de patatas that has a genuine claim to being the best on the entire coast.
That tortilla deserves a mention of its own. Gaspar are unapologetically team cebolla — onion included, no debate — and the result is a slow-cooked, juicy, properly golden tortilla that tastes the way tortilla is supposed to taste. Order it for the evening sitting if you can.
The atmosphere is warm and unhurried. The tables fill with locals who have been coming for years. Reservations are essential — this place is consistently fully booked, which tells you everything. If you haven’t been, put it at the top of your list.
Book ahead: tabernagaspar.es
El Kiosko Kite Surf — The Chiringuito Los Monteros Locals Don’t Want You to Know About
Location: Calle Realejo, 24, Los Monteros Beach, Marbella
Every stretch of coastline has that one chiringuito that locals keep quietly to themselves. On this part of the Marbella coast, that place is El Kiosko Kite Surf. Tucked onto Los Monteros beach east of the city, it sits in one of the most unspoilt stretches of coastline on the whole Costa del Sol — wide open beach, clean water, kites in the air on a good wind day, and the kind of relaxed energy that reminds you that the best beach bars never try too hard.
The food here punches well above what you’d expect from a beachside kiosk. The menu runs Argentine and Spanish, with a grill that does serious work — milanesas, mixed grills, empanadas, and proper burgers made with actual meat. Prices are genuinely reasonable, the atmosphere is casual and friendly, and the Mediterranean views are the kind that make you forget whatever you were supposed to be doing.
This is the ideal spot for a long, unhurried lunch with your feet near the sand, or an afternoon drink as the kite surfers come in off the water. No dressing up required. No booking needed. Just turn up, grab a table outside, and remind yourself what life on this coast is actually for.
Instagram: @elkioskokitesurfmarbella
Your Weekly Guide to Life on the Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol offers something for every kind of week — a cultural day in the city, a hidden restaurant that’s been doing things properly for thirty years, a beach bar that hasn’t sold out to the Instagram crowd. This is the version of the coast that residents know, and the one that people who move here fall in love with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Soles de Málaga Festival?
The Soles de Málaga Festival is an annual charity music event held in Málaga city, organised by the Fundación El Pimpi. The 2026 edition takes place on Saturday 18 April and features over twelve hours of live performances from major artists. Entry is free.
Do I need to book Taberna Gaspar in advance?
Yes — Taberna Gaspar is one of the most in-demand restaurants in Marbella and books up quickly, particularly at weekends. Reservations can be made via their website at tabernagaspar.es. They hold tables until 14:00 for lunch and 21:00 for dinner.
Where exactly is El Kiosko Kite Surf in Marbella?
El Kiosko Kite Surf is located at Calle Realejo, 24, on Los Monteros beach, east of Marbella city centre. It is a beachside chiringuito with no booking required — simply walk in and enjoy.
