My Guide to Malaga

Anbata is a relatively new Irish Pub in the heart of El Palo, the beachside barrio east of the centre which is a surprisingly untouristy but lively part of town. Indeed, if you are looking for Málaga without the touristy gloss, El Palo is about as local as you can get. Anbata aims to work as a proper local pub. It has several things that anglophone expats might appreciate. Guinness is one of them...

This hip little bar right in the heart of the pedestrianised old town is a gin lovers paradise. The couple who run it treat you like well-loved friends and mix terrific gins from a great range of premium and classic brands. You can sit outside and watch the world go by or snuggle up in the stylish interior.  ...

Celtic Druids Irish Pub is located in a prime spot on Plaza de la Merced in the very centre of town. It's a great spot, on the wide pedestrian area of the square where buskers play all day, and the people watching is always fun. This pub is open from breakfast till the late hours. They do great Irish breakfasts, lunches, tapas, and have a wide range of craft beers and the usual Irish beers. T...

ZZPub is an institution in the Málaga live music scene. A small, funky, crowded bar with great sounds across all the genres and live bands five days a week. It's always free to get in, is open to until very late and never fails to be fun. Bands are invariably local bands but generally the best of them, and you'll always find rock, soul, swing, funk, blues and even punk going on during the month. ...

Recyclo Bike Shop in Pedregalejo is a first-rate bike shop with a first-rate bike mechanic. While most bike shops these days sell a limited range of brands, you'll always need accessories and maintenance, and Recyclo won't let you down. They offer top quality mountain, city and road bikes from Kona who make excellent and rugged bikes made to deal with the harsher end of either the city o...

This small boutique specialises in original works of art and decor. It is all the produce of artists and craftsmen, mostly local but with works from France and Portugal as well. Numbered signed prints and etchings, painting, drawing, objets d'arts, decor, jewellery, sculpture, ceramics and more. It is a treasure trove of quality artisan and artistic endeavour. Ideal for gifts, house decoration, fo...

Epoca is a vintage shop full of unique pieces of clothing and accessories from many eras, especially from the 40's onwards. It is a great source of retro looks, whether from hats, jewellery, clothing, accessories, furnishing or footwear. It's simply full of things you can not find anywhere else, according to Marina, the owner. It is well preserved and 'ready to wear'. Bags, hats, the odd shoe, par...

A classic hat shop in the old spansih style. If you are looking for one of those killer sombreros that the Andaluz horsemen wear, or a dapper panama in the classic style, this is the place for you. All of Spansih tradition is here, with fans and accessories, and a wide range of male and female hats....

A terrific decor shop that offers lots of antique-style furnishings, accessories, lighting, art objects, painting, clothing, stationery and so much more. They stock a range of chalk paints and other products for home decoration, restoration of furniture and so forth. Whether for your own home, a child's bedroom, business premises, or for presents and gift ideas, there's lots of classy and curious ...

The cardinal's house is a relatively new business housed in a very old building. This renovated 17th-century palace in the centre of Malaga is home to an antiques and decor shop of outstanding quality and richness. It houses high-quality pieces from ages gone by, mixed with current items of various styles, offering the buyer a fabulous selection of decorative and functional objects, furniture, fur...

While Flamenco might dominate foreigners' perceptions of dance in Spain, there is a thriving culture of all forms of dance, in local dance schools and peñas (social clubs) and up to degree level training. This store is the professional dance supplies store. It has all kinds of dance footwear from flamenco to ballet and jazz, costumes and accessories of all kinds. If it's dance related, you'll fin...

This craft market takes place every fourth sunday of the month in the Plaza de la Merced. All the artisans of Málaga descend to offer you jewellery, fashion, gifts, cosmetics, home decor and ecological produce. There is home baked patisserie and lots of yuumy street food. Painting, art, graphics, ceramics and much more. The rootsiest market in town....