We have previously visited Café Tambalache in Los Montesinos, the first time being well over 2 years back when we first ventured into the town and parked up next to the bar. We sat outside and had a coffee on that first visit. Since then we’ve been twice on the tapas routes here.
The advantage this place has mainly is it is easy to find. As you drive in from this end of town, it’s the first bar on your left and there is car parking options available too.
What We Had At Bar Cafetería Tambalache
To keep things simple, we had a drink each and a tapas dish each.
Drinks.
I asked for a tanque and a Coke Zero. The beer here is Estrella and the Coke is served in a large bottle, so slightly bigger than a standard can.
Tapas.
Magra and Boquerones in vinegar were the tapas selected. There was also a small plate with some bread on.
The Boquerones were nice, quite meaty but enjoyable.
The magra, I thought was pretty decent; it had some taste to it, but Soph found it quite bland, she said. The meat was very lean, which was a plus point.
The bread was as seen.
What We Liked
Prompt service throughout. I ordered, and the drinks were quickly brought out, followed by the bread, then the tapas dishes. Plenty of shaded seating to avoid the hot sun.
Here we actually got a receipt.
What Could Be Improved
There’s nothing relating to the service etc that needs improving.
What Did It Cost
One drink each, 1 tapa each and the bill was 14.30€ . Yes, you read this right. Double what we paid yesterday for 2 drinks and 2 tapas dishes, read this page for details.
The beer was an eye watering 4.50€ for a pint. The Coke was still 2.50€, which is restaurant prices. Tapas was 3.80€ for magra con tomate and the boquerones were 3.50€.
Would We Return To Café Tambalache Los Montesinos
As much as I have liked the authentic-ness of this place when doing the tapas run, the beer here is expensive, and it’s hard to justify coming back. Possibly for a coffee if we were passing,
I know when we visited Cafeteria Las Ninfas, I commented about the beer being expensive there, but it’s even more expensive here.
Considering the day before we were in a different town, in a traditional Spanish bar/restaurant and we paid 13€ for 2 drinks and 3 tapas, as we wrote about here, the impression here is that tourists will pay these prices, as it’s still cheaper than the UK.
We have lived in different areas of Spain, mainly away from the tourist / expat areas and we adore a traditional Spanish bar. In recent weeks I have paid 2.00€ for a pint of Mahou, available as a promotion after 5pm, normal price is only 2.80€ in the Torrevieja area. In Catral I paid 2.50€ for Amstel pints, yesterday I think I paid 2.50€ at a couple of bars for a pint there. This is one reason I struggle to pay 4.50€.
How To Find Bar Café Tambalache
Follow AP-7 to CV-940 in Algorfa. Take exit 745 from AP-7, then take the first right off the roundabout.
next roundabout where the fuel station is, take the second exit, up past Zoco market
Follow CV-940 and CV-945 to C. Via Augusta in Los Montesinos.
Drop down the hill and at the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto CV-945. You’ll see the destination on your left.
Address: Avda. del Mar, 108
Zip code: 03187
Municipality: The Montesinos
It is easy to see, there’s on street parking up the side street as well as a small car park. Across the main road is another small car park area too.
