crellston

We are going to be housesitting in Villanueva del Trabuco, a small town 30 Kim's north of Malaga during April and May. While we are there it will be our wedding anniversary and we would like to spend it in Malaga. I have been scouring booking.com for somewhere nice to stay in Malaga for 2-3 nights without much success. Just looking for somewhere smallish, comfortable, quiet and central so as to make the most of the amazing food opps in the city without having to resort to taxis. Any thoughts, suggestions or recommendations would be much appreciated.

Also, whilst we spent many months in the region a few years ago, we only really visited Malaga on day trips so and suggestions for great places to eat, tapas bars, restaurants etc. and "don't miss" places to visit in the city would be greatly appreciated.

ribeirasacra

anything that is not in Booking is not serious about business. There are actually 560 properties of all classes in the centre of the city.
You will not get quiet and central in any Spanish city.

kimhe

We use to stay in great value Don Curro, right in the heart of the city, and relatively quiet, tucked away on narrow C/Sancha de Lara just off the main pedestrian C/ Márquez de Larios. Many great options in this area: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hote...rro.en-gb.html

Here are the eight restaurants in Málaga city that are listed in the Guia Repsol, the Spanish counterpart to the Michelin guide: https://www.guiarepsol.com/es/la-gui...locality=|7367

Affordable cuttting edge dining in Óleo at the Contemporary Arts Center by the river. Excellent terrace, atmosphere and the most friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating waiters. Best food experience in more than a year, and that includes several days in food mecca San Sebastián: http://azahar-spain.com/azahartapas/oleo/

You'll get the freshest typical Málaga style fish and seafood in very popular Chiringuito Cachalote right on the Malagueta beach. Also several other excellent chiringuitos (beachfront restaurants) along the long and wide Malagueta beach, for example more upscale Chiringuito Tropicana and more laid-back Chiringuito La Jabega where you eat the freshest grilled fish and seafood with your feet in the sand. http://chiringuitoelcachalote.com/

According to a friend who lives in Málaga, recently opened and cutting edge Eboka, on the other side of the cathedral, is very well worth a visit: http://ebokarestaurante.com/
Gets raving reviews in Spanish: https://www.tripadvisor.es/Restauran...Andalucia.html

I recommend hole in the wall Wendy Gamba with the gourmet bulltail burger with au jus mayo and havarti cheese (and lots of other goodies) plus vermouth on tap. A great food find on our latest trip here in early October. http://azahar-spain.com/azahartapas/wendy-gamba/

For the best traditional Málaga tapas and meals, go to El Cortijo de Pepe on lively and local atmosphere Plaza la Merced: https://www.cortijodepepe.com/

For the best steaks, lamb etc., go to El Botijo a 5-7€ and 5-7 min taxi ride from Hotel Don Curro and the heart of town. Had the most juicy and tasteful lamb leg here, and the solomillo with the house mushroom sauce was also spot on. Genuine and popular place with no molecular gastronomy pretensions, and not many tourists find their way out here. http://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant...Andalucia.html
Home page: http://www.restauranteelbotijo.com/M...tacion_ma.html

The new Gastro-market, next door to the Picasso birth-house. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...odie-traveller

The great food scene is much thanks to the fabulous Atarazanas food market right in the city center. My favourite food market in Spain after thirty years of travel around the country. Also a couple of fabulous tapas bars in here with excellent seafood: https://eastofmalaga.net/2014/07/25/...ry-perception/
Café Bar Mercado Atarazanas: http://azahar-spain.com/azahartapas/...do-atarazanas/

And in a short time Gran Hotel Miramar from 1926 reopens right on the Malagueta Beach. Will be one of the finest hotels in Spain, and 25% opening discounts. Also five "gastronomical spaces" within the hotel:
http://www.granhotelmiramarmalaga.com/en/

bilboburgler

Another vote for Atarazanas food market

Christina

I wonder how you cannot find anything in booking.com and what is the issue as to why nothing on there suits you, is it price or what.

In any case, I really liked the NH HOtel Malaga when I stayed there, and it was certainly quiet--I requested a room on an upper floor facing the rear of the building (the front faces the empty "river" where sometimes skateboarders play, and there are some major roadways along that side, also). It was very reasonably priced I thought, and the buffet breakfast was very very good (I can't recall if it was included in my rate or I opted for it, but in that location it was worth it).

I never used a taxi, it was only a fairly short walk to the main pedestrian street, cathedral, etc. I walked all over to do whatever sightseeing I wanted, and to eat dinner at night.

But it is not "smallish", it's a modern larger hotel. But it WAS quiet and central, reasonably priced and very comfortable.

IMDonehere

anything that is not in Booking is not serious about business.

Not true Ribe. One of the nicest places we ever stayed was in Cappadocia in Turkey, Esbelli Evi, and the owner wanted to communicate directly with the people to screen nasty sorts. Very reasonably priced anything but a snobby atmosphere.

ekscrunchy

I stayed at the NH for about three nights. Nice enough; good location:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-malaga.cfm

ribeirasacra

Esbelli Evi not in Booking?
http://bit.ly/2k5hmL9
or do you mean one of the other 382 in Cappadocia that are making business of it?

SusanInToronto

We will be spending only 1 night in Malaga in September (on our way to Granada) and I ended up booking La Casa Azul B&B. I had been quite interested in La Siesta Malaga, which is more my price range, but we would have had to book 3 nights. Both of them look to be centrally located.

kimhe

La Casa Azul looks excellent, just behind the luxcury Gran Hotel Miramar and the Malagueta beach, and almost just across the very inetresting English Cemetery, the first in Spain (from 1830). http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/la-c...ul-malaga.html

I like this area very much, but it's a 15-20 min walk or a short bus-ride into the heart of town which is around Plaza de la Marina, Plaza de la Constitución and Plaza de la Merced.
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/mala...-la-merced.htm
http://www.malagaturismo.com/en/tour...onstitucion/69

About the Cementerio Inglés, well worth a visit if you read a bit up on the history of the place: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/mala...ry-history.htm

crellston

Many thanks for all the suggestions. Special thanks to Kimhe, your summation of the food options in the city is fantastic. Thank you for taking the time, I am sure we will visit a number of those places."Wendy Gamba with the gourmet bulltail burger with au jus mayo and havarti cheese" is definitely on my list! I would put money on my wife going for Óleo..

Susan- I took a look at La Casa Azul and La Siesta. Both exactly the sort of place I was looking for - sadly both are fully booked for our dates!!

I think I am going to book Don Curro as a standby (even though recent reviews don't seem that positive) and maybe go with that and maybe keep an eye on the other two for vacancies that may arise.

kimhe

Don Curro is perfectly fine, nice and spacious rooms, but don't bother with the hotel breakfast, over-crowded and poor quality. Good to know then that you have a great typical breakfast place (Cafeteria Oliver) ten meters to the left from the hotel entrance, much more affordable, the best coffee, freshly pressed orange juice, pastry, sandwiches, regular clients and in general this kind of place is ten times more interesting to start any morning in Spain in than with a hotel breakfast. http://www.visitcostadelsol.com/food...feteria-p51961

And 20 meters to the left you have one of the the best gin bars in town, more than 60 types of gin and some 20 types of tonic and a GT menu from here to the sky ;-) http://gintonicbar.es/?lang=en

And a little more than 100 meters to Antigua Casa de Guardia from 1840, nothing much has changed in here since then, and the best place to try the great variety of Málaga wines from the barrel: http://antiguacasadeguardia.com/

SusanInToronto

Nice to read that La Casa Azul looks good! 15-20 minute walk sounds ok to me, and we'll only be there the one night before heading to Granada. Cementerio Inglés looks interesting, maybe we'll check it out.

Crellston, I hope you're able to find something good.