5 Best Shopping Streets in Malaga, Spain
As well as one of the best cultural destinations in southern Spain, Malaga turns out to be something of a shopping mecca. Along with the ubiquitous shopping malls on the outskirts, the capital of Costa del Sol has managed to preserve its network of specialist shops, difficult to find in most big cities. And the good news is that you don鈥檛 need to go off the beaten track to find these little gems 鈥� most of them are tucked right in the city center. Read on to discover the 5 best shopping streets in Malaga.
(To visit the venues mentioned in this article, check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Malaga)
1. The Noblest of Them All 鈥� Calle Larios
When it opened in 1891, this was a smartest shopping street in Spain. Just over 125 years later, Calle Larios still ranks as one of the most elegant in Spain with some of the highest retail rents to match. Along the 1,140 or so feet, you鈥檒l find lots of big Spanish retail brands (think Massimo Dutti, Desigual, Mango鈥� - Zara is just down Calle Liborio Garc铆a) with a good sprinkling of women鈥檚 lingerie shops plus a couple of cosmetics stores. Calle Larios is also your port of call if you鈥檙e looking for & Other Stories.
And while you won鈥檛 find any specialist stores on Calle Larios itself, pop down a couple of sidestreets to discover:
- Ultramarinos Juan de Dios Barba on Calle Mart铆nez where you can admire the window stuffed with dried cod and baskets of smoked herrings, and buy typical Malaga produce from one of the oldest grocer鈥檚 store in town.
- Ferreter铆n Llav铆n on Calle Santa Mar铆a is a treasure trove of paella pans, tools, door handles, coffee pots, knives鈥� They just don鈥檛 make hardware stores like this anymore.
Not just stores
Even if you鈥檙e not getting your wallet out, Calle Larios is a street to wonder and admire. Flanked on both sides by stunning fa莽ades in pastels and wrought-iron balconies, the entire street comes paved in cream and beige marble. You鈥檒l find lots of street entertainment here as well 鈥� buskers, performers, mime artists and face painting for kids.
Calle Larios does fiestas and events big time too. The Christmas lights rank among the best in Spain; this marble paving plays centre stage for Malaga Fair in August; and the length of the street gets red carpet treatment for the Malaga Film Festival in spring and a blue carpet catwalk for Malaga Fashion Week in September.
And while you won鈥檛 find any specialist stores on Calle Larios itself, pop down a couple of sidestreets to discover:
- Ultramarinos Juan de Dios Barba on Calle Mart铆nez where you can admire the window stuffed with dried cod and baskets of smoked herrings, and buy typical Malaga produce from one of the oldest grocer鈥檚 store in town.
- Ferreter铆n Llav铆n on Calle Santa Mar铆a is a treasure trove of paella pans, tools, door handles, coffee pots, knives鈥� They just don鈥檛 make hardware stores like this anymore.
Not just stores
Even if you鈥檙e not getting your wallet out, Calle Larios is a street to wonder and admire. Flanked on both sides by stunning fa莽ades in pastels and wrought-iron balconies, the entire street comes paved in cream and beige marble. You鈥檒l find lots of street entertainment here as well 鈥� buskers, performers, mime artists and face painting for kids.
Calle Larios does fiestas and events big time too. The Christmas lights rank among the best in Spain; this marble paving plays centre stage for Malaga Fair in August; and the length of the street gets red carpet treatment for the Malaga Film Festival in spring and a blue carpet catwalk for Malaga Fashion Week in September.
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2. Off the Main Trail 鈥� Calle Andr茅s P茅rez
Tucked away behind the Carmen Thyssen Museum, , lies one of the city鈥檚 best-kept secrets: Calle Andr茅s P茅rez not only has some great stores, it does some of the best places to eat in Malaga.
If you鈥檙e shopping, don鈥檛 miss the clothes boutiques 鈥� a refreshing change after the much-of-a-muchness retail in Calle Larios. Be sure to visit La Casa del Cardenal, home to the best antique shop in Malaga and a 17th century architectural jewel in itself and pop into Mahatma Showroom to take in the latest art exhibition. Then pop round the corner into Calle Ballesteros and the modern artisans鈥� square where among the many workshops you鈥檒l find a luthiers complete with its window displays of violins and guitars.
Calafate vegetarian restaurant, one of the best in Malaga, lies at the heart of street and does a value lunchtime menu. Nearby Casa Mira serves homemade ice cream in the city鈥檚 most elegant parlor and Julia Bakery on the corner with Calle Carreter铆a sells some of the most delicious pastries and cakes in Malaga.
If you鈥檙e shopping, don鈥檛 miss the clothes boutiques 鈥� a refreshing change after the much-of-a-muchness retail in Calle Larios. Be sure to visit La Casa del Cardenal, home to the best antique shop in Malaga and a 17th century architectural jewel in itself and pop into Mahatma Showroom to take in the latest art exhibition. Then pop round the corner into Calle Ballesteros and the modern artisans鈥� square where among the many workshops you鈥檒l find a luthiers complete with its window displays of violins and guitars.
Calafate vegetarian restaurant, one of the best in Malaga, lies at the heart of street and does a value lunchtime menu. Nearby Casa Mira serves homemade ice cream in the city鈥檚 most elegant parlor and Julia Bakery on the corner with Calle Carreter铆a sells some of the most delicious pastries and cakes in Malaga.
Offline reading and travel directions:
With 51爆料网 App you can read this article offline on your mobile device, use the embedded offline city map and GPS navigation, as well as create a self-guided walk to visit the venues featured in the article.
3. Goodies Galore 鈥� Calle San Juan
Two blocks west of Calle Larios lies Calle San Juan, a winding street home to lots of specialist goodies. This is your port of call if you鈥檙e looking for unusual gifts or something different to take home. Pop into:
- Calzados Hinojosa with possibly the best line in espadrilles in southern Spain. The windows might be packed with granny slippers and sandals but step right inside to choose your espadrille type and colour, and all with super wallet-friendly prices.
- Aqua sells lovely gift after lovely gift. From home d茅cor to scarves and accessories, this friendly store is a great stop for the ultimate present. If you鈥檙e in pop in here for traditional decorations and clockwork toys.
- La Recova specializes in artisan and handmade items. This is your stop for earthenware pots, vases and bowls, traditionally-woven rugs and those cute Andalusian donkeys. Step right inside for breakfast at the small caf茅 鈥� some of the best coffee in town plus toast with all the traditional trimmings.
- Calzados Hinojosa with possibly the best line in espadrilles in southern Spain. The windows might be packed with granny slippers and sandals but step right inside to choose your espadrille type and colour, and all with super wallet-friendly prices.
- Aqua sells lovely gift after lovely gift. From home d茅cor to scarves and accessories, this friendly store is a great stop for the ultimate present. If you鈥檙e in pop in here for traditional decorations and clockwork toys.
- La Recova specializes in artisan and handmade items. This is your stop for earthenware pots, vases and bowls, traditionally-woven rugs and those cute Andalusian donkeys. Step right inside for breakfast at the small caf茅 鈥� some of the best coffee in town plus toast with all the traditional trimmings.
Offline reading and travel directions:
With 51爆料网 App you can read this article offline on your mobile device, use the embedded offline city map and GPS navigation, as well as create a self-guided walk to visit the venues featured in the article.
4. Modern Meets Old 鈥� Calle Especer铆a and Calle Cisneros
Between Plaza de la Constituci贸n and the river are two of the city center鈥檚 historic streets where old meets new when it comes to shopping. You鈥檒l find modern boutiques cheek-to-cheek with traditional stores here. Our favourites include:
- Casa de Pedro Mira where you can buy a hat for any occasion including traditional Andalusian headwear plus fans.
- Golden Tips serving a long, long list of teas and tea-making accessories. Their choice of white, red and green teas is the best in town.
- Viva La Feria, slightly further along in Calle Cisneros, sells flamenco fashion and even if you鈥檙e not planning to buy one of the frilly polka-dot dresses this is great for browsing.
- Mercer铆a Aranchata is one of the best haberdashery shops in Malaga where you can buy buttons and braids galore. Or again, just browse.
- Casa de Pedro Mira where you can buy a hat for any occasion including traditional Andalusian headwear plus fans.
- Golden Tips serving a long, long list of teas and tea-making accessories. Their choice of white, red and green teas is the best in town.
- Viva La Feria, slightly further along in Calle Cisneros, sells flamenco fashion and even if you鈥檙e not planning to buy one of the frilly polka-dot dresses this is great for browsing.
- Mercer铆a Aranchata is one of the best haberdashery shops in Malaga where you can buy buttons and braids galore. Or again, just browse.
5. Feast Your Senses 鈥� Atarazanas Market
Not officially a street but long and with enough stalls to qualify for this post, the Atarazanas Market is a must-visit and a feast for the senses. And that鈥檚 all five of them. Malaga鈥檚 biggest indoor market comes packed with stalls selling the very best in fresh produce, most of it local and all delicious.
Once the city鈥檚 docks 鈥� don鈥檛 miss the original Moorish horseshoe arch entrance on Calle Atarazanas 鈥� the market has an elegant wrought-iron fa莽ade and a stunning stained-glass window along the entire back wall. The stalls themselves are divided into food types 鈥� fish and meat plus cold cuts and cheeses take up the western side while fresh fruit and vegetables occupy the rest. You鈥檒l also find olives and dried nuts stalls plus several good bars serving freshly-fried fish and shellfish.
The market (open Monday to Saturday 9am to 3pm) does a thriving tourist trade, but it鈥檚 also a shopping spot for residents too. Unlike some big city markets, Atarazanas has kept its prices local-friendly and as a result, it offers a genuine insight into shopping in Malaga.
Once the city鈥檚 docks 鈥� don鈥檛 miss the original Moorish horseshoe arch entrance on Calle Atarazanas 鈥� the market has an elegant wrought-iron fa莽ade and a stunning stained-glass window along the entire back wall. The stalls themselves are divided into food types 鈥� fish and meat plus cold cuts and cheeses take up the western side while fresh fruit and vegetables occupy the rest. You鈥檒l also find olives and dried nuts stalls plus several good bars serving freshly-fried fish and shellfish.
The market (open Monday to Saturday 9am to 3pm) does a thriving tourist trade, but it鈥檚 also a shopping spot for residents too. Unlike some big city markets, Atarazanas has kept its prices local-friendly and as a result, it offers a genuine insight into shopping in Malaga.
Author Bio: Joanna Styles is the creator and curator for , the go-to reference guide in English about the city of Malaga in southern Spain. Joanna is specialist travel guide writer and updater, and has lived on the Costa del Sol for 30 years.
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