Did you have a good time? Absolutely!

Would you recommend? Definitely! And here’s why:

Malaga sits very pretty on the sunny Andalusian coast of southern Spain. Positioned perfectly between dramatic hills and the Mediterranean Sea; it’s surrounded by olive groves and lemon trees.

Often dismissed as just the airport gateway to the resorts of Marbella or classic 1980s inspired package destinations of Benidorm & Torremolinos. But it rewards those who stay awhile.

So plan a mini trip (flights are oh-so-easy from London) or delay the transfer a night or two. This is a city worth a linger.

We visited last week under clear April skies and a perfect 21°C. With no strict plans and a very chilled 13-year-old travel companion (who it turns out is top notch at restaurant recommends on a smart phone), we had the most gorgeous, sun-soaked mini break.

So why did we love it? Malaga’s historic centre is a maze of beautifully kept streets filled with independent shops, cafés, markets, renowned museums, and a striking cathedral. Add bike paths linking city to coast, swimmable beaches lined with restaurants, leafy parks, and a hilltop castle, and there’s something for every type of holiday seeker. We also left the city as part of our stay and recommend that too. We took a car through the beautiful hills behind the city to tackle the Caminito del Rey – more on that in Part Two – I fought the vertigo and won – it’s the little things…

Let’s chat food

For now: let’s chat food. In Andalusia, that matters. From almonds and citrus to seafood, rice dishes, and salmorejo (a gorgeous take on gazpacho), the tapas scene can be overwhelming. My advice: book a couple of spots in advance to avoid restaurant FOMO – maybe you don’t suffer but I really do. But listen your inner holiday chilled out self and leave time for spontaneous finds. Here are our highlights:

Bookable Favourites

• Bodega El Pimpi — A beautiful historic setting with a terrace (always worth it). Classic tapas with creative touches; don’t miss the aubergine with molasses or silky salmorejo.
• La Cabrera — Tucked on a side street, known for excellent steaks, generous starters, and warm service. Great for relaxed, street-side, stylish bistro dining.
• La Ristobottega — A charming spot beneath the cathedral serving homemade pasta and Venetian-style “pinsa.” A welcome break from tapas with lots of Italian charm. Book ahead as it’s very popular.

Walk-in Stars

• El Tintero – Lively, chaotic, and brilliant. No menu: waiters parade freshly grilled dishes, calling them out, and you grab what you like. It’s part theatre, part feast—go early or late to beat the crowds and be prepared to decompress into total holiday mode.
• Esquina Granada – Casual, friendly, and excellent. Standout tapas include gambas pil pil, richly flavoured paella, and perfectly balanced meat ball croquetas. Simple, authentic, and deeply satisfying and the staff were the best.
• Casa Mira – gorgeously authentic ice cream shop that first opened it’s doors in 1842. Flavours are outstanding, coffee is fabulous. The little bistro tables outside are perfect for that last night time linger under the stars.

So there you have it! A taste of some places to explore. Don’t forget the pleasure of a bar stool at one of the mini bodegas in the food markets. Perfect for lunchtime snacking with a beer. Or deviating because you see a sunny table just begging you to sit down and stay awhile.

Part Two comes shortly with some activities to make some holiday memories. My plan? To entice you into just enough activity to make room for the next plate of tapas…