Malaga on a budget: 9 affordable hotels in Spain’s reborn cultural hotspot

Dulces Dreams, spread over four floors of an old revamped townhouse, is one of Malaga’s original boutique hostels, packed full of imaginative character and loosely themed around cakes (‘dulce’ means ‘sweet’). Tasteful tiling, bamboo touches and splashes of bright pastels liven up the fresh all-white look. Rooms, though similarly styled, all have an individual feel and colour scheme, with arty touches such as colour-themed bedhead slogans, bamboo towel racks and floral-shaped lamps; all rooms overlook the church and street, most from little balconies. The hotel’s lively downstairs café specialises in tasty homemade cakes, artisan coffee and health-focused bites.

The Teatro Romano’s crisp, creative, Scandi-inspired look is distinctly contemporary, and breathes fresh air into Málaga’s hotel scene, with a private, roomy feel and clever use of mirrors and natural light. The 13 rooms and eight kitchen-equipped apartments (in an adjoining building) are washed in cool whites and dove greys, and are invitingly warm, comfortable and elegant; most rooms overlook the Alcazaba and Roman theatre, some from little balconies. This is an incredibly convenient and atmospheric place to stay, with Málaga’s historic centre and most major sights right on your doorstep.

Madrid-based design duo Sylvia and Victoria Melián Randolph are behind the fun, fresh, bold interiors, inspired by Málaga’s lush gardens and the Mediterranean. Nautical stripes and tropical florals take centre stage within the chicly restored late-19th-century building, and there’s a lively vibe as soon as you arrive into the palm-patterned lobby, where low lighting, leather lounge chairs and soft background music lend a touch of London or New York. Rooms spread upwards around a central patio washed by a gurgling fountain and are sunnily styled in royal blues, deep greens or bright turquoises evoking all that’s wonderful about Andalucía.

Room Mate Larios, set in an elegant listed Art Deco building, is located on one of Málaga’s prime patches of real estate, right on the corner of the Plaza de la Constitución. Interiors marry the signature big-and-bold Room Mate style – here channelled in check-print curtains and stripey carpets – with original architecture, including the soaring ceilings, marble-floored bathrooms and checkered-floor lobby. The rooftop bar, open year-round, has sprawling views across rooftops to the cathedral and Gibralfaro castle, and serves mojitos, local wines and pizzas. You can also have a coffee in the first-floor café where breakfast is served.

Smart, comfortable rooms, a handy location, excellent breakfast and reasonable rates make this four-star hotel a top choice. A large marble-floored lobby sprawls into the bar and restaurant area, which has sunny outdoor tables and serves a range of drinks, snacks and meals such as prawn carpaccio with avocado and purple potatoes. The 133 rooms all face outwards so have plenty of natural light, while décor is neutral with wooden floors and armchairs upholstered in a check print. Beds are very comfortable and marble bathrooms have a bathtub with a shower. The basement gym is open all day and there is also a sauna.

This graceful, rusty-red, 20th-century building was initially a private palacete, before being transformed into a bank and eventually converted into an elegant hotel that retains a good amount of historical charm. Today’s look is a pleasing fusion of original architecture and contemporary style, from the classic marble floors, ancient wood-carved doors and pillared, typically Andalucian enclosed patio to the crisp, up-to-date rooms jazzed up with splashes of bold orange. Bedrooms, which rise around the traditional courtyard, have been designed to fit into the protected building, so they’re all different shapes and sizes, though most preserve their original high ceilings.

This traditional Andalucian house in the centre of Malaga has been given a Moroccan makeover, creating a private, intimate feel. A guest house rather than a hotel, it has been renovated and remodelled over the years, but the environment is still very much domestic. Stained-glass windows frame the gallery above a small courtyard, where climbing plants ramble up the walls. The eight attractive if basic rooms are set around the patio on the first floor. All have different décor in shades of turquoise, raspberry, rust, ochre or taupe with lots of cushions and throws. One has a small terrace overlooking the patio and two have little balconies that give onto the lane outside.

A stylish hotel with sleek interiors in Malaga’s arty Soho area. Designer Lorenzo Castillo has used Art Deco lines and a lot of black and white perked up by blues, greens and mauves, which is a perfect fit for this urban setting with the Mediterranean just a few minutes way. All 52 rooms give onto the street at the front or rear of the hotel, and thus have plenty of natural light, rather than onto an inner courtyard or a wall. With limited public space and no restaurant (although there is a nice roof terrace with a bar and plenty of tables), it suits people who want a chic base for sightseeing and nightlife at a reasonable price rather than loads of facilities.

A modern hotel in a convenient location near the train and bus stations and a short walk from the city centre. While the emphasis is on practicality rather than character, the hotel is smart and stylish with contemporary design. The façades feature striking iron artworks in a swirling pattern by leading designer Javier Mariscal, while rattan furniture in warm tones creates a laidback Mediterranean vibe in the lobby. There are 141 rooms, beds are comfortable – you can choose between twin or king-sized when you book – and the blue-tiled bathrooms have bathtubs with showers. Expect a safe, kettle and a reasonably priced minibar.