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Moorish-style
architecture in Palacio
Solecio’s restaurant;
food and drink at Hotel
Molina LarioEL RIAD ANDALUZ
This Moroccan-inspired hotel evokes
Málaga’s Moorish past, with bedside lanterns,
coloured-glass windows, rich-toned linens
and elegant tiling in the pretty courtyard. Set
in an 18th-century building, it’s a beguiling
mix of centuries past. There’s no breakfast,
though there are plenty of good cafes around.
From €54 (£46). elriadandaluz.comHOTEL BOUTIQUE TEATRO ROMANO
You can see the ancient Roman theatre — as
well as the Alcazaba fortress — from most
rooms at this hotel right in the centre of
town. Rooms are slick and Scandi in design,
with breakfast served in the reception area.
Staying with family? Consider an apartment
instead of a regular room. From €99 (£84).
hotelboutiqueteatroromano.com-hotel.comHOTEL MOLINA LARIO
Bask in the views of the historic Cathedral
of Málaga from the rooftop pool at this
103-room hotel. The interiors, meanwhile,
are modern — they were fully renovated
in 2019: expect white-on-white rooms and
huge, egg-shaped baths. From €131 (£111).
hotelmolinalario.com JULIA BUCKLEYPAL ACIO SOLECIO
When Italian aristocrat Félix Solecio came to Málaga
in the 18th century, there was no ‘Costa del Sol’. And
while package holidays have transformed the area’s
tourism offering, Málaga still delivers on history. In time,
Solecio’s palace became part of the city’s fabric, and its
flamboyantly painted facade is one of the Old Town’s
most compelling sights, along with the Roman-era
amphitheatre and Picasso Museum. Left derelict for 80
years, it’s been given a new lease of life as a luxury hotel.
The redesign is a masterful example of how Málaga,
and its hotel scene, incorporates its past into the
present. Step inside and you’re greeted by a Moorish-
style internal courtyard, with a double-layered cloister,
its arches rippling around what’s now Balausta, the
restaurant from chef José Carlos García. Upstairs, the
rooms drip five-star glamour without losing their sense
of place — there are antique-style rugs and elaborately
carved bedside tables, while the Moorish theme
continues with zigzagging headboards, curtains and
even bathroom tiles. From €169 (£143). palaciosolecio.comWhen it comes to hotels, the
southern Spanish city excels at
weaving its past with the presentMÁLAGA
WHERE TO STAY
Jan/Feb 2022 41SMART TRAVELLER