RESOURCES
HOTELS
AC Málaga Palacio Hotel, Cortina del Muelle 1, Málaga. Tel: 34-95-221-51-85. Situated smack in the middle of the city between the Cathedral and the Paseo del Parque, the Málaga Palacio is part of the upscale AC chain. The Málaga Palacio has 214 quietly stylish rooms, many with awesome views. The rooftop pool offers an incredible 360-degree panorama of the beautiful city. Rates start 90 Euros. www.ac-hotels.com
Hostal Guadalupe, Calle del Peligro 15, Playa del Bajondillo, Torremolinos. Tel/Fax: 34-95-238-19-37. Set on Torremolinos’ most central beach (Bajondillo), the Hostal Guadalupe offers basic accommodation at a bargain price, and gets high marks from guests for its friendliness – and gay-friendliness. Singles from 34 Euros. www.hostalguadalupe.com
Marbella Club, Bulevar Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, Marbella. Tel: 34-95-282-22-11. The grand granddaddy that started it all, this is top of the line luxury on the Costa del Sol, as it has been since 1954. Room specials start at 215 Euros. www.marbellaclub.com
Parador de Málaga Gibralfaro, Castillo de Gibralfaro, Málaga. Tel: 34-95-222-19-02. Part of Spain’s wonderful state-run Paradores system, this stone-hewn hotel was built just next to the Castillo Gibralfaro. The views are amazing, and the restaurant is excellent, offering Andalusian specialties like fried pescaítos a la malagueña. Rooms from 110 Euros. www.parador.es
Parador de Ronda, Plaza de España, Ronda. Tel: 34-95-287-75-00. Also part of the fab Paradores chain, this gem is actually inside the old Ronda town hall, built in 1761, and is directly adjacent to El Tajo gorge and one of Spain’s most photographed structures, the Puente Nuevo bridge. As at the Málaga Gibralfaro, the restaurant here is superb, serving local specialties like zoque malagueño and ajo blanco. Rooms start at 80 Euros. www.parador.es
Puente Romano, Bulevar Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, Marbella. Tel: 34-95-282-09-00. This posh beachside Marbella Club neighbor was originally built as exclusive apartments in 1974 and was converted to a hotel in 1979. The 285 rooms (spread over 11 acres in a lush garden setting) are huge, and each one has a private balcony or terrace.Room specials from 210 Euros. www.puenteromano.com
Room Mate Lola Hotel, Calle de Casas de Campos 17, Málaga. Tel: 34-95-257-93-00. The trendy and colorful Lola pays homage style-wise to 1950s Miami. She’s part of the hip but affordable Room Mate family (each with a first name) that’s spread beyond Spain to select cities in the Americas. With just 50 rooms, the Lola is also refreshingly friendly and intimate. Rates start at just 58 Euros. www.room-matehotels.com
Villa Padierna, Carretera de Cádiz Km. 166, Marbella. Tel: 34-95-288-91-50. This castle-like wonderland housed Michelle and Sasha Obama (and their support staff) when they toured the Costa del Sol last August, and has also served as temporary home to Antonio Banderas and Eva Longoria. The golf is world class, but the Thermae Spa is simply to die for. Rooms from 229 Euros. www.hotelvillapadierna.com
RESTAURANTS
Beach Club at the Marbella Club, Bulevar Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, Marbella. Tel: 34-95-282-22-11. If you can’t afford to stay at the Marbella Club, at least treat yourself to its one-of-a-kind lunch buffet, where you’ll mingle with actual guests and feast on a mind-numbing abundance of gastronomic goodness, all beachside on the gorgeous Mediterranean. www.marbellaclub.com
Restaurante Calima, Calle de José Melia, Marbella. Tel: 34-95-276-42-52. The only Costa del Sol restaurant with two Michelin stars, this waterfront, Andalusian-menued, Dani Garcia creation is a favorite of the Marbella moneyed. www.restaurantecalima.es
La Meridiana del Alabardero, Calle Camino del la Cruz, Marbella. Tel: 34-95-277-61-90. Michelle Obama enjoyed a nice night out with friends at this Marbella favorite, which serves up excellent Mediterranean-Andalusian fare with locally grown ingredients. www.grupolezama.es
La Moraga, Calle Fresca 12, Málaga. Tel: 34-95-222-68-51. Part of a stylish chain by Michelin star-awarded chef Dani Garcia, this central Málaga branch serves up some of the city’s very best tapas, with a cherry gazpacho and oxtail burger you won’t soon forget.
Parador de Ronda, Plaza de España, Ronda. Tel: 34-95-287-75-00. Chef Antonio Moya creates happiness for your taste buds, from wonderful starter soups like ajo blanco (made with white almonds and garlic) to baked monkfish medallions (wrapped in Iberain ham) on through to another exquisite soup (mango and coconut) for dessert. This all as you enjoy the incomparable views of beautiful Ronda. www.parador.es
ATTRACTIONS
Castillo de Gibralfaro, Camino de Gibralfaro 11, Málaga. Tel: 34-95-212-20-20. Málaga’s all-seeing “Lighthouse Castle,” built by Moors in the 14th century.
Finca Descalzos Viejos, Partido de los Molinos, Ronda. Tel: 34-95-287-46-96. Built inside the remains of a former monastery just outside of Ronda’s city center, this fantastic young winery has already been garnering international attention. www.descalzosviejos.com
Fundación Picasso Museo Casa Natal, Plaza de la Merced 15, Málaga. Tel: 34-95-206-02-15. Thousands of works by more than 200 artists are here, including those by Picasso, his contemporaries, and those he influenced. www.fundacionpicasso.malaga.eu
Málaga Cathedral, Calle Molina Lario 9, Málaga. Tel: 34-95-221-59-17. The famed Manquita (one-armed lady) of Málaga, the proud and pretty Cathedral stands watch over the city center. Museo de la Semana Santa (Holy Week Museum), Calle Muro de San Julián 2, Málaga. Tel: 34- 95-221-04-00. A fascinating and quite unusual museum that reveals the history of the famous Holy Week of Málaga. www.agrupaciondecofradias.com
Museo Picasso (Picasso Museum), Palacio de Buenavista, Calle San Agustin 8, Málaga. Tel: 34-95 212-76-00. Opened in 2003 to much fanfare, this excellent museum has many important and revealing works by Málaga’s most famous native son. www.museopicassomalaga.org
Real Maestranza de Caballeria de Ronda, Virgen de la Paz 15, Ronda. Tel: 34-95-287-15-39. Spain’s oldest bullring, the Real Maestranza de Caballeria opened in 1785 and is still one of the country’s most beautiful. The complex also houses an interesting bullfighting museum, and is home to an elite equestrian school. www.rmcr.org
SHOPPING
El Corte Inglés, Avenida Andalucia 4-6, Málaga. Tel: 34-95-207-65-00. The Málaga branch of the excellent Spanish department store chain. www.elcorteingles.es
Puerto Banús, Marbella. This Beverly Hills of Costa del Sol offers top end shopping options like Tom Ford, DSquared, Gucci, and Fendi, as well as little-known-to-Americans but totally fabulous brands Harmont & Blaine. The main drag–opposite the yacht dockage, natch–is called Muelle de Ribera, and several gilded side streets run off of it.
Springfield, Calle Vicente Espinel 22, Ronda. Tel: 34-95-287-37-30. This low cost but surprisingly good Spanish chain turns out stylish and well made casual wear for those on budgets–which you’ll need after shopping at Puerto Banús. www.springfield.es
NIGHTLIFE
El Carmen, Plaza de la Merced 21, Málaga. Tel: 34- 95-221-09-24. Hip and friendly pre-disco hangout in Málaga.
Home, Calle Casablanca 15, Torremolinos. Tel: 34- 655-322-606. This large and lively downstairs disco hosts special parties and events, often in conjunction with Manhunt.com. www.homeclubgay.com
Parthenon Disco, Nogalera 716, Torremolinos. The ground floor plays pop music, and downstairs there’s house at this always-packed-on-weekends venue. www.parthenondisco.com
Passion Disco, Avenida Palma de Mallorca 18, Torremolinos. Tel: 34-607-666-663. The Costa del Sol’s biggest gay nightclub, drawing in guys from all over Andalusia. www.passiondisco.com
Reinas, Molina Lario 5, Málaga. Tel: 34-692-047- 253. Open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only, this fun Málaga disco–with a name that translates to Queen–crowds up with some of the city’s cutest as the night goes on.
LGBT EVENTS
Expo Gays, Torremolinos. This very successful LGBT-friendly business expo returns in October 2012. Last year’s version had 180 exhibitors and brought in 15,000 attendeees. http://expogays.reservasgays.com
Hoy Málaga es Gay, Málaga. The city’s annual Pride event, happening every late June. www.malagaesgay.com
(This article originally appeared in the December 2011 print issue of Passport Magazine.)
