There are so many bars and restaurants in Benalmadena it would be difficult to recomend any unless we knew which area you are staying in.

We have recently got back from Bonanza area and our favourite restaurants are Giorgios Itallian, they serve great food and have been there for years, you normally have to book to get in, menu of the day starts at €8 for 3 courses or you can eat off the A La Carte, we also loved Maison el Cordero, we had 3 courses and a bottle of wine for €11 each.

For bars - well there are thousands and it depends what you want, music, sport, quizzes or entertainment, and you can pay anything from €3 to €1.20 for a pint of lager. We found a great little tapas bar in Plaza Espana where the tapas was 3 for €5 and the lager was only €1.20 but I can't remember what it was called, one of my favourite bars is Lounge, beside Giorgios, hubby watched a football match there one night while I used their free internet access, they also have free phone calls to UK landlines, great bar, very clean and tidy and very cheep, they have a courtyard if you don't want to watch TV.

We didn't use any entertainment bars, it's not really my thing but I did see pleanty advertised in the free advertising magazines that go round.

That 5-euros-for-3-tapas bar is called Cafe Bar Plaza Espana, and well worth a visit. Lager on draught is Cruzcampo, likely to be brought to your table by either Pedro or Loly, the owners.
Adjacent Fountain Bar, owned by big Terry, is very popular, too, thanks to its solid English fare.
http://www.benalmadena-arroyo.com/plaza-espana.php

You may get tapas in the Tres Delices and Coma y Punto on Ave Bonanza

Aberdeen Chinese... Palm Tree Avenue... best in the area... Fuengirola end of the front.. past Windmill roundabout and Benal Beach, your marker for Palm Tree Ave is McDonalds.
Booking essential at peak hol times... 00 34 952 562946

Endorse the post about Giorgio's, he's been there, consistently good, in the 22 years we've been going and for excellent home cooked tapas, The Wine Bar, up the steps along Av Gamonal, heading towards Arroyo, opposite the Hercules apts