Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Welcome to the Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Destination Guides

bthere! Destination guides

Previous issues for Malaga

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy,
please confirm event/venue details in advance.

Spain : Malaga - May 2008

Country Code: Dial for Spain

Malaga’s not just about great beaches, museums, nightlife and its cathedral, known locally as La Manquita. Thanks to a year-round warm climate, the city is home to hundreds of species of tropical and sub-tropical plants and trees. In May, the air is thick with the scent of flowers. Theresa O’Shea breathes it in

Getting around

Malaga Airport is 9km south-west of the city centre.

Bus: The No.19 leaves from outside arrivals every 30 minutes, from 6.25am to 11.30pm. Tickets cost €1.
Taxi: A journey from the airport to the city centre costs approximately €15 to €18.
Tourist information: The main office is at 1 Plaza de la Marina (tel. , malagaturismo.com).

THE CENTRE

Malaga’s historic centre is wonderfully compact – and always buzzing.

Sleep soundly – Soak up the Moroccan-style charm at El Riad Andaluz. For smart, contemporary rooms, try the NH Hotel.

Culture vultures – Take a short taxi or bus ride to La Concepción (3 Camino del Jardin Botánico), Malaga’s historic botanical gardens, and then head to El Hammam (13 Calle Tomás de Cózar) in the Jewish Quarter for a steam bath and massage.

Must eat – Around the Cervantes Theatre you’ll find places to suit all tastes and pockets. Try Vino Mio (11 Calle Alamos, tel. ) for creative international cuisine in arty surroundings. For traditional tapas, pull up a stool at La Tapería de Sybaris (16 Calle Alamos, tel. ).

Must drink – Linger over coffee and cakes as you watch the world go by at Lepanto (7 Calle Marqués de Larios). When night falls, dive into one of the cavernous bodegas at El Pimpi (62 Calle Granada).

Dance the night away – The DJs at Warhol Art Disco (8 Calle Denis Belgrano) spin house, while Baroque Italian bar Casanova (5 Calle Luis de Velazquéz) belts out everything from R’n’B to retro.

Shop til you drop – Nicolás (3 Calle Marqués de Larios) and Antonio Parriego (2 Calle Marqués de Larios) both sell shoes and handbags to die for.

THE PORT & SURROUNDS

Bars and restaurants have been springing up like mushrooms between the port and the Alameda Principal.

Sleep soundly – The friendly Castilla Guerrero is an excellent budget option.

Culture vultures – Catch the coolest in contemporary art at the Contemporary Arts Centre (Calle Alemania s/n).

Must eat – With its colourful décor and wood-beamed interior, La Ménsula (28 Calle Trinidad Grund, tel. ) makes for a delightful setting. Come here for accomplished Andalusian cuisine.

Must drink – Join the chi-chi crowd at Frankamente (2 Avenida Mañuel Augustín Heredia), Malaga’s latest, and most fashionable, lounge bar.

HUELIN (MALAGA WEST)

You’ll need to dodge the roadworks, but the area around the train station is definitely on the up.

Sleep soundly – The Barceló’s cutting-edge design has seen it become one of Malaga’s most talked about hotels.

Must eat – On the top floor of the Vialia Shopping Centre (Estación Maria Zambrano) you’ll find loads of fast food – everything from pizza cones and sushi to woks and kebabs.

Dance the night away – Zip over to Sala Moliere (25 Calle Horacio Quiroga), just by the airport, for live music. It’s one of the city’s hottest night spots.

Shop til you drop – If you’re looking to snap up a bargain, don’t miss the Huelin Mercadillo (flea market), located between Avenida Europa and Avenida Juan 23, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

EAST OF MALAGA

Head east of the city centre and you’ll find great bars and beaches as well as excellent fish restaurants.

Sleep soundly – Check into the colourful Hotel Cohiba (64 Paseo Maritimo El Pedregal, tel. , www.cohibahotel.com, rooms from €70), which sits right on the sea front.

Must eat – If you’ve had enough of seafood, treat yourself to some really good grilled meats at El Fogon Argentino (10 Calle Reding, tel. ).

Must drink – Take your pick of bars and pubs in the Pedregalejo area. La Tortuga (48 Paseo Maritimo del Pedregal) serves great shakes and cocktails.

Compiled by Theresa O’Shea