El Balneario de los Baños del Carmen

Málaga


Enjoying front-row views of the beach at La Malagueta, El Balneario is a wonderful place to sit outside on a balmy evening and share a plate of prawns or grilled sardines, along with some long, cold beverages. Built in 1918 to cater to Málaga's bourgeoisie, it's rekindling its past as one of the city's most celebrated venues for socialising.

The dining room still has a tangible feel of its ballroom days – there's live music on Saturday in case you feel like breaking into a waltz. There's also an Organic Produce & Craft Market in the car park every Sunday (9am to 3pm).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Málaga attractions

1. Playa de Pedregalejo

0.7 MILES

This beach is flanked by seafood restaurants, mainly frequented by locals and serving some of the best fried seafood and fish in the city.

2. Playa el Palo

1.05 MILES

With its attractive promenade lined with bars and seafood restaurants, this is a popular beach for locals at weekends.

3. Playa de la Malagueta

1.24 MILES

Where malagueños come to play (and take their morning exercise), the Playa de la Malagueta is the city's main beach and is both sandy and close to the…

4. Castillo de Gibralfaro

1.68 MILES

One remnant of Málaga’s Islamic past is the craggy ramparts of the Castillo de Gibralfaro, spectacularly located high on the hill overlooking the city…

5. Muelle Uno

1.76 MILES

The city's long-beleaguered port area underwent a radical rethink in 2013 and was redesigned to cater to the increase in cruise-ship passengers. Wide…

6. Centre Pompidou Málaga

1.81 MILES

Down by Málaga's port, this offshoot of Paris' Pompidou Centre is housed in a low-slung modern building crowned by artist Daniel Buren's playful…

7. Museo Aula del Mar

1.88 MILES

This small aquarium in the port includes some hands-on exhibits for children, such as whale bones and sea urchins.

8. Paseo de España

1.89 MILES

Looking like a mini-jungle when viewed from the Gibralfaro hill, this palm-lined extension of the Alameda was created in the 1890s on land reclaimed from…