Bars Wine Bars Spanish There are two great institutions when it comes to bars in Málaga. El Pimpi and the Antigua Casa de Guardia. Both have old barrels stacked up one on top of the other containing sweet and dry wines from local grapes, vermouths and liqueurs. El Pimpi is the bigger of the two and the younger, having been founded in 1971 in the cavernous belly of an 18th century mansion. The old storerooms are now a collection of fascinating interconnected spaces, decorated with trailing plants, photos of celebrities and bullfighters. The eagle-eyed can spot Picasso and family, Antonio Banderas (Malaga's second most famous son) and various aristos, stars and sports personalities. It is a cool enclave away from the hot summer streets, and is a great place to sup cold beer and sherry while picking at tapas and plates of jamon, dishes of stews and seafood, and take in the woody musty scent of barrels and booze. It stands at the heart of the town and its old history and monuments, as it is smack bang next to a Roman Theatre, a Moorish Palace, and a medieval church still with traces of the mosque that stood there previously. While it can get somewhat crowded with tourists, if you are patient or avoid peak times, it's easy to find a perch and soak up the atmosphere, and they have an extensive outdoor terrace looking up at the palace opposite. So if you are doing the rounds of the palaces and museums, then this is ideally placed for a characterful break or meal.

Contact

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