WITH such a wild and wonderful coastline it is fitting that Manilva has such a great range of restaurants.

Starting in Duquesa port you have a warren of great places to eat including Parapiros, one of the longest running Italian restaurants on the coast. Set up in 1985, it has a fantastic range of pastas and pizzas, as well as one of the best veal chops, stuffed with ham and parmigiano, while a beef carpaccio starter was delicious loaded with fresh mushrooms and celery.

Also in the port, look out for the excellent Casablanca and its neighbouring joint, the Mexican Grill and Bar, which is authentic to the extreme. Meanwhile the Ocean Cafe and Cafe, American Bistro are among the most popular places to eat for tourists and expats alike.

For fish and chips though, you’ll have to seek out Tim, a Devon boy, who knows a thing or two about fish and has been keeping the port punters happy for years. Meanwhile, the Penguin Bar is a splendid traditional pub, Coast with the most Manilva has a great mix of places to eat, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke which shows all the big football games and is a great meeting spot.

Another great place for fish and chips is nearby institution Marlows, on the main road, which first plied its trade in Gibraltar in the 1960s. A true institution, owner Steve Marlow, has run restaurants around the world and is a classically trained chef, with a good knowledge of the business, having learnt everything from his father. Punters drive for often over an hour – from Ronda, for example – to sample the amazing cod and chips.

Up the coast in Sabinillas, the beach is lined with restaurants, but one of the best is Miel, run by friendly Dutch boss Kaat. An institution with high standards for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it is hardly surprising it is usually fun.

Another fine place to eat is Marengo, just two years old, but with a distinctly different feel to its nearby rivals. Run by Isabel, from Madrid, and with amazing artwork on the walls from her partner, it has a great range of tapas and dishes to share. Another emblematic place is Café Nenit, where Jose and his team serve breakfasts and pastries from early morning, tapas for lunch and bar snacks into the evening. And don’t forget to ask for Ana’s special, which changes by the day.

And don’t forget Pollo Pronto, which is a long time institution for take away roast chicken and chips on the main N340 drag. Finally, the most exciting launch of the year so far has been Floria Rustico, which is where Peter and Karen are now plying their trade, with fantastic fresh fish and the best ‘pil pil’ prawns on the coast. PS… it would be impossible to write about Manilva without mentioning the amazing Roman Oasis, just inland on the road to the Roman Oasis, of course.

Over three decades old, it was here that legendary UK chef Keith Floyd came to spend some of the last few weeks of his life. A massive fan of the eclectic, original spot, he and owner Paul were close buddies and this is obvious by the amount of photos of Floyd on the walls. It goes without saying, this is one of the most original and unusual places to eat on the coast, when open in the summer months.