2 Best places to stay in Malaga

This handsome palace, built in 1776, is on a quiet pedestrian street in the old Jewish Quarter, near some of the city’s top restaurants and tapas bars and only a minute’s walk from the Picasso Museum and ten minutes from La Malagueta Beach.

The coolly sophisticated, understated bedrooms are a haven to return to (the secluded tower room has a wonderful private terrace, overlooking much of the city).

An elegant restaurant fills the glassed-in patio courtyard, bathed in natural light, where breakfast is served and where the Balausta restaurant, run by Michelin-starred chef Jose Carlos Garcia serves up creative, gastronomic Andalusian cuisine.

The staff are exceptional, and they’ll make sure you get the most out of arty, up-and-coming Malaga.

On the edge of Old Malaga, this sleek new five-star hotel envelopes the patio of a previous building and a section of the city’s old Arab walls in its nether regions.

Well-positioned for seeing the sights – the Picasso Museum, Cathedral and arty Soho district are a short walk away, the Posada del Patio has big bedrooms in soothing tones, and there’s a small rooftop pool for a cool dip after a day’s sightseeing.

The buffet breakfast is excellent, and there’s a smart restaurant, Le Diner and bar. But in spite of all its bells and whistles, it’s the friendly, helpful smiling staff who make it an ideal place to stay for getting the most out of Malaga.