As we shuffled off the plane, into the warm spring sunshine (24C in May, people!), we exchanged glances. Many of us had realised we’d been through Malaga before – but never actually visited the Andalucian city of Malaga itself. A busy airport full of your more classic ‘brits abroad’ holiday makers flocking to the whitewalled self catering apartments of the Costa del Sol was a mere memory after the short drive to Malaga City and arrival at our home for the weekend, the Barceló Malaga .

As you may know, the Barceló Group is a Spanish, family-run hotel group with hotels in more than 22 countries (you may remember we visited one of their Ibiza properties last summer…) Within the group you’ll find many different types of hotels, each with their own personalities and the Barceló Malaga certainly had a personality; being a business focused city hotel (with great meeting facilities), well located over a major train station (that can take you to Madrid in 2.5 hours), Wes Anderson, dreamboat bar interiors oh, and a slide.

We started our weekend away in Malaga with a cocktail style lunch within the hotel and – far from the bland food you could expect from a chain hotel, we were blown away with the variety on offer – not least the hotel’s Tapas Viajeros concept.

Next up, time to check out our rooms for the weekend which did not disappoint. Huge comfy beds with blackout blinds for those siestas awaited us and, as we were in the Junior Suites, spa baths as well as rainfall showers for when you just can’t decide! We were situated on the 8th floor – a few short steps from the hotel’s new roof terrace complete with sunbeds and a pool to dip in in between mojitos…

The Barceló Malaga is the perfect pied à terre for a weekend in the city. Just a 10 minute walk from the nearest beach, a 20 minute amble to the city’s up and coming ‘Soho’ art district area, full of street art from the likes of Shephard Fairey and D*Face and a tiny bit further to the main old town with the historic Alcazaba and its 37 world class museums including the unique Picasso Museum with the Picasso family’s personal collection of his work.

Malaga may not have won its bid to become the city of culture a few years back but for an adventurer looking for some culture, great food, wine and weather; this is the ideal place for a weekend away. Head over here for 10 Things To Do in Malaga If You Don’t Do Beaches!

Heading to Malaga?

We would strongly recommend booking in at Barceló Malaga not least for Mojitos in the pink bar and the slide!

Rates at Barceló Malaga start from €123 per room per night based on two sharing a Superior room.

Author

Living on the sunny Kent coast you'll find Anna tracking down the best new coffee shops and craft beer dens. With a penchant for vintage, she's more likely to be exploring thrift stores than Bond Street but she'll never say no to a little touch of creative luxury.

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