Vertical — Wine bar in Málaga

Vertical is the wine bar of Julio Barluenga, a Barcelona sommelier with an impressive track record: he worked at elBulli, Azurmendi and Gastón Acurio's Peruvian restaurant, among others, before returning to Spain in 2017 and, via Noor and Kaleja, eventually opening his own place in the historic centre of Málaga. This isn't a place where you just order a glass: the sommelier (often Julio himself, sometimes the equally skilled Estrella) first asks about your taste and then brings you a bottle to try. Expect a personal, relaxed evening in which you learn a lot about lesser-known, small producers. Booking is almost essential, as the place is small and fills up quickly.