bmibaby - Destinations: Malaga

best breakfast:
Los Guardanes
Found just an olive stone's throw from the last train station, Los Guardanes is somewhat of a novelty in Malaga: a bar that throws in a free tapa with every drink. Don't expect Granada-sized portions of morcilla, paella or conejo (black pudding, rice or rabbit); here you’re given a respectably sized dish of ensaladilla rusa (potato salad) to go with your caña (beer). If you find yourself here at breakfast time, you won’t find a cheaper café con leche y pitufo de catalana (coffee with milk and roll of jamon serrano) in the city. Owner Pepe barely cracks a smile, but we can assure you he is all heart.
Where > Los Guardanes, Calle Ancha del Carmen 1, Malaga, Tel: +34 952 334 931. view map

best shopping:
5 Echegaray
If, like us, you judge a city on the quality of its record stores, then Malaga is the place for you. 5 Echegaray, which takes its name from its address, also doubles as a book shop. Find that missing Sun Ra LP to complete your collection, sink into one of the cream-coloured armchairs, pick a book from the shelves and whip up a cappuccino from the machine in the corner. If you have a goatee beard, stroke it!
Where > 5 Echegaray, Calle Echegaray 5, Malaga, Tel: +34 952 609 352. view map
Website > www.5echegaray.com

best picnic spot:
Parque de El Morlaco
Take the number 11 bus and get off at Pedregalejo near the beachfront garden centre. Head up the Paseo Cerrardo de Calderon and you’ll eventually come to Parque de El Morlaco – a park with views over the Mediterranean. Here, you can spend countless hours roaming around this secret garden before plonking yourself down on one of the shaded picnic benches for your packed lunch of gazpacho, jamon serrano (cured ham), gambas (prawns) and chilled crisp white wine.
Website > www.emtsam.es

best for sports fans:
Malaga Club de Futbol
After a couple of seasons in the second division, the city's football team CF Málaga has just won promotion to the top flight. From September 2008, the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona will be descending to do battle with, as the team is known, los Boquerone's finest. Bag yourself a ticket and start practising those insults: ¿Eres ciego arbitro? (Are you blind, ref?)
Where > Malaga Club de Futbol, Estadio La Rosaleda, Paseo de Martiricos, Malaga, Tel: +34 952 104 488. view map
Website > www.malagacf.es

best place to see street artists:
Calle Larios
Without a doubt, Calle Larios in the centre of town. Spend an afternoon taking a leisurely stroll up and down this busy, pedestrianised High Street while listening to Romany bands belting demented versions of “Louie Louie” and other 1950s rock 'n' roll classics on their homemade instruments (think double basses with elastic bands for strings) or well-attired string quartets and their renditions of Bach, Beethoven and de Falla. Beware the ubiquitous human statues.
Where > Calle Larios, Malaga view map
Website > www.malagaturismo.com

best meal with a view:
overlooking the Costa del Sol from Mirador de los Montes
Guide books will tell you an outside table at the parador(one of Spain’s chain of state-owned hotels, usually set in stunning locations) overlooking Malaga takes some beating. Maybe they’re right, but your pocket will also suffer. Instead, head for the mountains just to the north of the city and grab yourself a table at any of the cheap, roadside restaurants (ventas in the local lingo). Here, you can sip glasses of homemade sweet wine and eat your fill while looking out over the Costa del Sol. Views stretch towards Gibraltar to the west, Nerja to the east and, on a good day, the mountains of North Africa to the south. The Mirador de los Montes restaurant is highly recommended.
Where > Venta Mirador de los Montes, Carretera de Colmenar, Tel: +34 952 110 734. view map