One day in Malaga
 

I'll be dropping off my rental car at the Malaga train station, and stay one night before taking a bus to Granada the following morning. My time for sight seeing will be very short. I would like to have a walk on a beach and enjoy some fresh seafood at a chiringuito. IOW, something different from Seville, Granada and Cordoba. Pedregalejo is supposed to have many chiringuitos, but it is quite far away. So I may have to settle for Playa la Malagueta. Any suggestions?

Which area should I stay that has convenient public transportation from the train station and to the bus station? On the map, they are quite near each other.

That bus station is for long distance buses, but there are buses that stop there as well as some other points around the rail station.

A taxi to the central area wouldn't really cost you that much, it's not far. But if you want to take the bus, it would be real convenient to take bus 4 which goes right from that bus station towards the river (it stops at avenida de Andalucia (Correos) just before crossing the river) and then goes up Alameda Principal a ways until around calle Cordoba. That would only a a few minutes by bus and there are several hotels within walking distance of Alameda Principal in the first several blocks from the river, and also a short walk to the main old town central area.

I stayed in the NH Malaga which I really liked a lot which is right next to the river (on the side of the train station) and you could walk to it in about 5 minutes from that bus stop at ave de Andalucia, if you really want a place. There is another bus that goes by it closer (91) but I'm not sure of its route to the station.

I don't know about beaches, didn't go to any.

This is the bus company website, if you know some Spanish and can figure it out. At least it shows you routes (eg go to Lineas y Horarios and put 4 into the line box and you can see its route)

http://www.emtmalaga.es/

You can have the freshest typical Málaga style fish and seafood in very popular Chiringuito Cachalote right on the long and wide Malagueta beach. Had an excellent lunch here a few weeks ago, open fire grilled fish, the Málaga coast pride Conchas finas etc. etc. Also other excellent chiringuitos here, for example more upscale Chiringuito Tropicana (with white tablecloths...a friend use to have his Sunday lunches here) 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/
https://foursquare.com/v/chiringuito...b1bac0d99720f7

These three chiringuitos are just below the luxcury Gran Miramar Hotel from 1926 which is about to open: http://www.granhotelmiramarmalaga.com/en/

All chiringuitos are close to the excellent Pompidou Centre: http://www.andalucia.com/malaga/pompidou-centre.htm

And close to the largest museum in Andalucía which opens this month in the magnificent old tobacco factory and later customs building. One floor with Picasso, Velázquez etc, the second floor with artefacts dating back beyond Phoenician times and restaurants on the third floor.
http://www.malagaturismo.com/en/tour...ana-palace/446

Just behind the Museo de Málaga you'll find the Roman theater: http://www.malagaturismo.com/en/tour...tro-romano/413

And the Moorish Alcazaba palace fortress, hundreds of years older than Alhambra: http://www.malagaturismo.com/en/tour...ail/alcazaba/6

We use to stay in great value Don Curro, close to "everything" (right in the heart of the historic center, close to the sea, three minutes walk to the Museo de Málaga, the Roman theater and the Alcazaba, ten minutes walk to the Pompidou center and 15 minutes walk (two bus stops) to the chiringuitos mentioned above). Also many other great hotel options in this area (click on the map to see other options with confirmed guest reviews). http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hote...rro.en-gb.html

The bus to the train/bus station (they are next to eachother) leaves 100 meters from Don Curro and here you also find a taxi stand. About 5-6€ to the train/bus station.

AND:
I highly recommend dinner in Óleo at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) by the river (five mins walking from Don Curro). Excellent terrace, atmosphere and the most friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating waiters. Mediterranean/Asian fusion, fabulous starters (the jurel ceviche on lime was to die for), steaks (Rubia Gallega meat) etc. etc. Best food experience in more than a year, and that includes several days in food mecca San Sebastián. Reservations is a must: http://azahar-spain.com/azahartapas/oleo/
The menu: http://www.oleorestaurante.es/carta-...index_eng.html

And you should have a taste of some Málaga wine on barrel in Antigua Casa de Guardia from 1840. Not much have changed in here since then and three minutes walking from Don Curro:
http://antiguacasadeguardia.com/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/m.../421757/360734

Wish you a great day in wonderful Málaga city!
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/malaga

Thanks for the responses. Your suggestions will keep me busy and well fed :-) No vacancy at Don Curro, booked a nearby hotel instead. Seems like a good location.

I have seen pictures of combination platters of chilled fresh seafood, with (raw?) clams on half shelves, etc. Are they available at the chiringuitos, or elsewhere?

The raw clams you mention are probably Conchas finas, tastes pure heaven and pure sea, highly, highly recommended. Sprinkle with lemon and a little pepper. They also come grilled. No day in Málaga is complete without some conchas finas, you find them in all chiringuitos and many tapas bars and restaurants. Seafood is king in Málaga: http://www.gastronosfera.com/es/tend...donde-comerlas

Conchas finas, mouth watering! On a menu, what is the name of a combination platter of fresh seafood? Are raw seafood safe for an US visitor?

Good idea to want to make the most of Malaga - it gets maligned by many but certainly has its points of interest!

The aforementioned Alcazaba is a MUST! And when you come down on foot, you end up at city hall, a fantastic building you should check out.

There is much more to Malaga, and public transport around the city is easy, inquire right at the (very modern) train station!

No set combination of a seafood platter in most places, just ask for what you want, and I don't understand the question if raw seafood is safe for a US vistor. Some of the finest seafood around, not much raw (usually fried or grilled), and everything is the highest quality.