440 West 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
Travis County
Phone: (512) 236-8020
Fax: unknownWebsite: Visit our websiteEmail: Send us an email
Food Available (view food info) Happy Hour Specials Available Hours: Mon-Sun 11 am - 2 pm Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm Fri-Sat 5 pm - 12 am
Malaga Tapas & Bar - About Us
As Executive Chef and Co-Owner of one of Austin’s most beloved restaurants, Alejandro Duran’s beginnings in his family’s home in Madrid, Spain and throughout Mexico may seem a distant past. Yet that past, rooted in the rhythms of the seasons, produce fresh from the fields and fine home cooking, as demonstrated by his grandmother and mother, paved the road to Duran becoming one of Austin’s leading culinary powerhouses.
After graduating with a degree in Business Administration and Finance from the University of San Diego and pursuing a lucrative career in real estate investments, Duran became disenchanted with the business world and longed to return to his roots and his passion, cooking.
Initially honing his skill at business ownership in the bar industry in Dallas, Texas, Duran relocated to Austin in 1997 after he fell in love with the beautiful Texas Hill Country and the laid-back atmosphere of Austin. He quickly immersed himself in the culinary scene, joining the team at Heart of Texas Gourmet foods where he played a key role in evaluating, sourcing and procuring gourmet and specialty foods for chefs in the Austin and Central Texas region. In 1998 he was recruited by serial restaurateur Greg Schnurr to serve as General Manager of Good Eats Café, a well known Austin eatery, specializing in American Comfort Food.
In 1999 Duran left Good Eats to open a gourmet barbeque and grill restaurant, Five Star Barbeque & Grill, where he earned the rating of 2nd best barbeque in Austin (a truly prestigious ranking in Central Texas) as documented in Richard Troxell’s Barbeque Around Texas (aka “the barbeque bible”).
2000 was an important turning point for Duran, the year in which he realigned with Greg Schnurr and took over the kitchen and the operations of the newly established restaurant, Malaga Tapas & Bar in Austin’s Warehouse District. Here, the foundation on which he has continued to build his career, his inspiration, has been the traditional Spanish ingredients supplied fresh daily by dedicated local purveyors and served in true Spanish tapas style. Since its opening, Malaga Tapas & Bar has been the recipient of numerous accolades including “The Best Of” by Tribeza, Rare Magazine, Citysearch, Austin Chronicle and Yahoo. Further, for the past eleven years, Chef Duran, also a Sommelier, has received Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence” for his 300 plus wine list, and the restaurant has been designated as “One of Austin’s Top Destinations” by Food Network, Zagat Guide Book, Bon Appetit, Texas Monthly, and many more.
In 2008, the chef-restaurateur relocated Malaga Tapas & Bar to the 2nd Street District, adjacent to the W Hotel and the Austin City Limits Moody Theater, a location that has given Duran ever greater national attention and accolades.
Duran is a highly coveted personality and guest chef at such local gourmet food venues as Central Market, Williams Sonoma, Crate and Barrel and Whole Foods. He’s a regular crowd pleaser at annual venues such as the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival and the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas.
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Drinks
Cantele Rosato Negroamaro (Rose)
Covey Run Gewürztraminer
El Hada (Verdejo / Viura)
Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio
Loosen Bros “Dr. L” Riesling
Zolo Torrontes
Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc
Little James’ Basket Press (Viogner / SB)
Martín Códax Albariño
Newton Red Label Chardonnay
Riva Rey Tempranillo
Lapostolle Carmenére
Wrongo Dongo Monastrell
d'Arenberg "The Stump Jump" Shiraz
Menguante Garnacha
The Velvet Devil Merlot
Finca La Estacada Tempranillo
Dona Catalina Pinot Noir
Louis Latour Pinot Noir
Altocedro “Año Cero” Malbec
The Crossings Pinot Noir
Volver Tempranillo
Schild Estate GMS
Ramón Bilbao Limited Edition Tempranillo
Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava
Alan Christopher Blanc De Blancs Brut
Zonin Brut Prosecco
Food
Sopa (Soup)
Bisque de Gambas 6
A creamy shrimp bisque served with fresh baked bread
Cocas (Spanish Flatbreads)
Coca de Pato Ahumado 10
Smoked duck breast, caramelized red onions, fresh seasonal fruit and Cabrales blue cheese
Coca de Alcachofas 10
Artichoke hearts, grilled Portobello mushrooms, sautéed arugula, Mahón cheese and white truffle aioli
Bocatas (Spanish style grilled sandwiches served with a choice of soup, salad or spicy potatoes)
Bocata de Cordero “Bella” 10
Grilled lamb, caramelized red onions, Iberico cheese, baby arugula, and curry aioli
Bocata de Portobello 8
Grilled Portobello mushrooms, Garrotxa cheese, and sautéed spinach