Our history
José Puerto Galveño founded the historic restaurant “Lo Güeno” in Málaga in 1967, with its well-known and distinctive name. It’s a half-century story that you can now be a part of.
Since 1967, we’ve been offering the best of our traditional gastronomy to locals and visitors at our restaurant on Marín García Street. In 2002, we expanded our facilities by opening a dining room on the same street.
In 2010, Lo Güeno de Strachan opened, a new establishment located on the bustling Strachan Street, just a few meters from Larios and Málaga Cathedral. This new venue specializes in grilled meats and quickly earned a place in the local culinary scene.
Half a centuryof history
On February 18, 1967, José Puerto Galveño and Francisco Ríos joined forces to establish a hospitality venture in the heart of Málaga’s Historic Center, specifically on Marín García Street. They named it “Lo Güeno,” amidst renowned establishments that have since vanished, like La Hostería, El Boquerón de Plata, La Manchega, and La Alegría. The beginning was challenging, and just a few months after opening, José Puerto became the sole owner.
A narrow bar occupied almost the entire modest 60-square-meter space. Despite the tough start, José Puerto quickly emerged as the sole proprietor of Lo Güeno.
He introduced a new menu of tapas and dishes, reinventing traditional dishes from local, regional, and national gastronomy. He brought excellent Manchego cheeses and Iberian cold cuts to Lo Güeno, establishing it as a haven for fine dining and drinking.
In a short time, Lo Güeno became an essential destination for visitors to Málaga throughout the year. Shrimp skewers, baby eels, Iberian ham, meatballs, asparagus scrambled eggs, flamenquines, baby broad beans with ham, cod dishes, and much more composed a menu that was a symphony for the most discerning palates. But undoubtedly, what brought national and international fame to Lo Güeno was the tapa. This peculiar Spanish way of sampling various foods in small portions, defined by the Royal Spanish Academy as “any portion of solid food capable of accompanying a drink.”
The culture of tapas, an invention almost as well-known abroad as the popular siesta, became an art form at this establishment. In 1977, Lo Güeno was mentioned in ‘Newsweek’ as the place in Spain where “they turn tapas into an art.”
Some of the waiters who have served at this establishment are legendary figures in the bar scene. This includes retired figures like Miguel Retamar, Juan Puerto, Pepe Ruiz, and David Moreno, the latter still active today.
Following José Puerto Galveño’s death in 1998, his daughter Lidia Puerto Vadillo took over Lo Güeno, with her husband Mariano Reche Plaza at the helm. Under his leadership, the business has achieved new milestones, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2017 as a well-established institution of culinary excellence.