Only YOU Málaga is blessed with knockout views that’ll have you spitting out your mid-afternoon piña colada. From the small rooftop infinity pool, guests can gaze out to the sun-dappled port, busy with ships, or inwards to trace the old walls of the Alcazaba against the cityscape.
It’s also possible to enjoy sweeping views while tucking into a lavish breakfast, served on the 7th floor at Lola. Lola is a popular spot for non-hotel guests keen to try its expertly crafted cocktails (the Sakory Sour is top-notch) and locally inspired cuisine – many of its dishes are cooked in a charcoal oven, including a divine grilled duck with glazed pears. Downstairs at Carmen, there’s a more casual vibe. The contemporary bar attracts a mix of hotel guests and important-looking locals who huddle around tables talking business.
However, the bedrooms are where this boutique hotel excites most, thanks to tasteful, calming interiors designed by studio Proyecto Singular. All 93 well-soundproofed rooms are finished in soothing creams, greys, and beiges, complemented by blonde wood, Art Deco-inspired furniture, and black contemporary light fittings. Pull back the sliding doors beside the bed to reveal on-trend concrete-effect bathrooms with deep tubs – perfect for a post-sightseeing soak.
Address: Alameda Principal, 1, Distrito Centro, 29001 Málaga, Spain
Price: From about £130 per night.
Almost a century ago, renowned architect Fernando Guerrero Strachan was commissioned by the then king of Spain, Alfonso XIII, to design the Hotel Príncipe de Asturias. The hotel has had a colourful history ever since, serving as a field hospital during the Spanish Civil War and later as a government building. Yet, this majestic grand dame still found time to host famous figures, like Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor and Ernest Hemingway. (Is there a grand dame in Europe he didn’t visit?)
More recently, the now Gran Hotel Miramar – an original member of the Leading Hotels of the World – has featured in The Crown, having been rescued from the brink of decay by Hoteles Santos. Today, its brilliant white Art Deco façade remains reminiscent of how it looked in 1926. Guests enter through manicured gardens – home to over 100 species of plants and flowers – before being greeted at reception with a chilled glass of cava.
Head through an elaborate Mudéjar archway to find the hotel’s glorious internal patio, now The Royal Lounge Coffee & Bar. The striking space sits beneath an original stained-glass ceiling and is guarded by grand, palatial columns and dotted with plush mocha sofas that looks like giant bear paws. The surrounding walls are covered in beautiful azulejos tiles in homage to Granada’s Alhambra Palace (a favourite of Strachan, the original architect).
The Moorish theme is carried through to rooms on levels one, two, and six. The other floors contain rooms in differing styles, from leafy garden doubles and neoclassical suites with ornate frescos to whitewashed Mediterranean spaces with coral ornaments.
Outside, a sprawling pool area sits within a stone’s throw of La Malagueta beach, and upstairs there’s a trendy rooftop bar with a clubby atmosphere. Other facilities include a compact gym and spa, two bars and three restaurants, including its flagship high-ceilinged fine-dining restaurant, Príncipe de Asturias, which overlooks the Med.
Address: P.º Reding, 22, 24, Málaga-Este, 29016 Málaga, Spain
Price: From about £170 per night.