AC Hotel Málaga Palacio by Marriott

AC Hotel Málaga Palacio is the reliable, central choice with a view. It rises on Cortina del Muelle, at the meeting point of the old town and the port, between the cathedral and the palm-lined Paseo del Parque, and it looks straight over the harbour and the Muelle Uno waterfront. The star feature is the fifteenth-floor terrace, home to the ATICO bar and restaurant and an outdoor rooftop pool, with sweeping views of the cathedral, the Alcazaba, Gibralfaro and the sea. Rooms follow the AC brand’s clean, modern style, and the hotel has a fitness centre, a lounge on the first floor and a breakfast room. As part of Marriott, it suits travellers who want familiar standards and loyalty points in a prime location.

Location and getting around: few hotels are better placed. Calle Larios, the cathedral and the Picasso Museum are a few minutes’ walk, the Alcazaba and the Roman Theatre are about ten minutes, and the Muelle Uno waterfront, the Centre Pompidou and the sunset cruises are just across the road. María Zambrano station is about 2 kilometres away and the airport roughly ten minutes by car outside rush hour.

The rooms: rooms are contemporary and comfortable, with good beds, modern bathrooms and big windows. The rooms facing the port are the ones to request, especially on the higher floors, where the views take in the harbour and the coast. Some rooms look over the city instead, which can be noisier on festival nights.

Who it suits and good to know: couples, business travellers and first-timers who want to walk everywhere and enjoy a rooftop drink without leaving the hotel. The rooftop pool is complimentary for guests, but the ATICO terrace can close for private events, when the first-floor bar takes over. There is no on-site parking, so drivers should use one of the public car parks nearby. Breakfast is served in the breakfast room and is worth including in summer, when cafés outside are busy.