What I Liked
- 10 minutes walk to centre of Malaga
- Beautifully designed hotels and room
- The beach is across the road
- Roof terrace with great sea view
- In room Nespresso machine
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The Gran Hotel Miramar is a 5* hotel in Malaga, Spain. Indeed, it’s the only 5* hotel in central Malaga. There’s a lot to like about this hotel, however there’s also a lot that I didn’t like. I didn’t think the breakfast was 5* quality, with hardly any vegetarian options. Also, the indoor pool is a chargeable extra. I should point out that I got a pretty good deal and enjoyed my stay here.
However, I wouldn’t come back. The hotel is part of the Leading Hotels of the World group. As such it doesn’t conform to the brand standards in the way that Hilton/Marriott Hotels would. Ultimately, this hotel isn’t for everyone (it wasn’t for me). However, a lot of people would like it.
The Gran Hotel Miramar Malaga is the kind of place that looks flawless in the photos. Marble surfaces, grand staircases, a courtyard you could happily nurse a coffee in all afternoon. Yet I came away with a notebook full of gripes.
A few things genuinely surprised me. The rooftop bar on the seventh floor, with stunning views over the Mediterranean, is worth the lift ride alone. The beds are some of the comfiest I've slept in. But the indoor pool costs 25 euros an hour, the outdoor pool sits right next to a busy highway, and there's no kettle or tea in the room of a five-star hotel. For a green tea drinker like me, that last one stung.
So is it worth it? That depends entirely on what you value. The décor is gorgeous and the location near the centre of Malaga is hard to beat. The breakfast and the little nickel-and-diming, less so. I'll lay it all out below — the good, the grotty, and the bait-and-switch pool.
If you're flying into Malaga for a stay like this, sort the airport transfer before you land. I always use Welcome Picks for a reliable 5-star taxi rather than gambling on whatever's outside arrivals — it's one less thing to worry about when you've got luggage and an infant in tow.
Gran Hotel Miramar is part of the Leading Hotels of the World Marketing Group. This is a loose marketing organisation that combines some really nice hotels around the world, such as the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Unlike the big hotel chains (Marriott, Hilton etc.), the hotels don’t need to conform to strict standards. This means that hotels can retain their independent features.
Rooms at the Gran Hotel Miramar Malaga start at €246 a night. That's the entry rate. Sea-view rooms and suites climb from there.
For a Gran Lujo five-star a few minutes from the beach, that's not outrageous. Malaga in peak season is brutal on the wallet anyway.
My honest take? The Gran Hotel Miramar is worth it for a treat, not an every-trip rate. And book the room category you actually want — don't gamble on an upgrade that may never come.
Book your stay at the Gran Hotel Miramar here
One thing worth knowing before you book. The full name is the Santos Gran Hotel Miramar, and a lot of the booking sites list it under that Santos brand rather than under plain old Gran Hotel Miramar.
So if you go searching and the property doesn't pop up straight away, try the Santos name. It's the same Gran Hotel Miramar Málaga on the seafront either way — same building, same sea view, just filed under a different label.
So is the Gran Hotel Miramar Malaga actually worth booking? If you want the one genuine Gran Lujo address in the city, I'd say yes. The price reflects the postcode, the sea views, and the simple fact that nothing else in central Malaga plays in this league.
The Gran Hotel Miramar Malaga has landed itself a cracking spot. Malaga is a hugely popular tourist destination with British holidaymakers. At Malaga airport, half of all arrivals were from the UK.
Marbella is nearby too. Also hugely popular with Brits. The city centre is genuinely picturesque. The beach and the bay are lovely.
There's a castle at the top of a hill, overlooking the sea. I'd recommend the 30-minute walk to the top. The views from up there are fabulous.
Malaga Airport is closer than you'd think. You're about 8km away — roughly five miles.
A taxi will have you at the door in 15 to 20 minutes. There's a fixed fare of around €25 into the centre, which saves any haggling.
Now, with an infant in tow, I don't gamble on the taxi rank. I pre-book every time. I use Welcome Pickups. They've got a 4.9? rating on Trustpilot from over 45,000 reviews. Your driver meets you at arrivals, name on a board, the lot. Spiritual, after a flight with a toddler. Pros: door to door, fixed price, no queue. Cons: pricier than the bus.
Want to compare a few transfer prices before you commit? Sensible. I check GetTransfer for that. You set your price and drivers come to you. Pros: you choose the vehicle and the fare. Cons: a little more faff than a one-tap booking.
If you'd rather go cheap, the Cercanías C-1 train runs from the airport to Málaga Centro-Alameda in about 12 minutes. Under €2. Bargain. So by the time you've trundled your suitcase across town, you've not saved much hassle. Worth knowing.
There's also the airport express bus (line A) to the Alameda Principal. About 20 minutes for €4. I'd take the taxi every time with my little one. But the bus is fine solo.
Once you're settled at the Gran Hotel Miramar, the old town is all on foot. The Cathedral — locals call it La Manquita, "the one-armed lady", because they never finished the second tower — is about 1km away. A 15-minute stroll. The Alcazaba, the old Moorish fortress, is roughly the same distance. The Picasso Museum is around 1.2km, maybe 18 minutes.
And the Muelle Uno marina, with its shops and waterfront restaurants, is a flat 10-minute walk along the front. Practically everything worth seeing is within a mile. Which is pretty cool.
The Gran Hotel Miramar Malaga sits in the La Malagueta district, right by the old bullring. But don't expect charm the second you step out the front of the hotel! The road side is busy and a little tired. The prettiness only really kicks in once you've walked five minutes towards the marina.
Hire a Car in Malaga
Hiring a car in Malaga is easy. Collect straight from Malaga Airport (AGP) or grab one in the city centre. Prices start from around €20 a day, which makes the Costa del Sol one of the cheaper places in Europe to drive.
I use Local Rent to compare prices. They pull together the small local outfits alongside the big international names. Usually better value than booking direct.
A car also unlocks the good stuff inland — Ronda, Nerja, the white villages. None of which the bus does well. Pros: total freedom, dirt cheap for multi-day trips, the whole coast opens up. Cons: Malaga's old centre is a maze of one-way streets and parking is a faff. Use Google Maps. Budget extra time.
Malaga's old town is made for wandering, and the best bit costs nothing. Walk up to the Gibralfaro castle on the hill — about 30 minutes on foot — and you'll get the finest view in the city, right out over the bay and the bullring below. Save your legs for the climb and your euros for everything else. Spiritual stuff, that view.
Alcazaba Malaga Guided Tour
The Alcazaba is the old Moorish fortress in the centre, and it's a stunner. Book your ticket here for $21 — it's rated 4.8* from over 1,500 reviews. A guide walks you through the courtyards and gardens and actually tells you what you're looking at, which beats squinting at a map. Cheap, central, and a five-minute stroll from the hotel. Easy yes.
From Malaga: Caminito del Rey Guided Tour
The Caminito del Rey is the cliffside walkway that used to be one of the scariest paths in the world. It's safe now — mostly. You can book here for $78, transport included, rated 4.8* from over 760 reviews. The gorge is jaw-dropping and the boardwalk hangs right over the river. Honest caveat: it's a full day out and a fair bit of walking, so not one for sore feet or tiny toddlers.
Ultimate Malaga History & Tapas — All Included Full Experience
If you want the treat-yourself option, this is it. Buy tickets here for $136, rated 4.9* from over 200 reviews. You get the history and the food in one go — proper local tapas with everything included, so no fiddling with the bill at each stop. Pricier than the rest, yes. But you'll eat far better than you would at the hotel breakfast, and that's a promise.
I booked a family room through. The room itself was beautiful with lovely décor, and located on the highest floor (number 6). However, I wasn’t happy with the room as it faced the interior of the hotel.
The hotel put me in a hotel viewing the interior – rather than one facing outward. i.e. they put me in the worst possible room in my category. This isn’t the 1st time this has happened, something similar happened at the Intercontinental Paris and the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh. I’ve learned my lesson – I’m always going to book the category of room that I want. Any upgrade on that is a bonus. Otherwise, I’m leaving myself at the mercy of the check in agent.
The room had the following features:
The decoration was nice – check out the photos above. While most 5* hotels spend money on a nice lobby, most of them don’t spend much to decorate the rooms. This hotel is definitely an exception to that rule. The beds were also super comfortable, with a really thick mattress. My wife slept like a baby!
The layout of the room was nice. It felt more like a junior suite, rather than an executive room. The living room area had a sofa bed and two other chairs. There was also a 2nd TV there.
A welcome amenity was provided – bowl of fruit. I quite like fruit, so I prefer this to getting wine or chocolates. The fruit itself was fresh. Every night, there was a turn down service. The bed was made and a small chocolate was provided.
I had a moan above about the room facing the interior. I’m now gonna have a moan about the lack of a kettle or tea in the room. An in-room Nespresso machine was provided. It looked nice, however I try to avoid coffee. However, I do drink a lot of tea (especially green tea). Every hotel I go to provides in room tea and coffee. So I was really surprised that there was no tea and kettle inside the room. I spoke to reception, and they said that a kettle was on request only. Given that I was travelling with an infant, a kettle was a necessity. They provided the kettle, but didn’t give any tea bags. At this point, I gave up and made a coffee.. For a 5* hotel like the Gran Hotel Miramar to not provide in room tea, is silly in my view. I really don’t understand this, as tea isn’t expensive.
The room at the Gran Hotel Miramar is exactly what you'd hope for from a seafront grande dame. Marble surfaces. A big double bed I happily sank into after a long day on my feet. And a separate living area with a sofa that folds out into a second bed — which, with the kids in tow, is the kind of detail that quietly saves your holiday.
There's a Nespresso machine for the morning, a large bathroom with a proper separate bath and shower, and a welcome fruit bowl waiting when you arrive. Small touches. But they add up. The classical décor could feel stuffy in the wrong hands, yet here it lands as grand rather than dated.
The Gran Hotel Miramar is about 15 minutes walk from the centre of Malaga. The town centre is really picturesque, with a beautiful bay and the castle on top of the hill. However, the immediate vicinity around the hotel isn’t that great. It’s not dangerous or anything, it’s a little grotty. The front of the hotel faces a busy road. The back of the hotel is overlooking the sea and also contains the outdoor pool. Unfortunately, there’s a busy road between the hotel and the beach, which really spoils the ambience. The hotel itself is a large square shape, with a courtyard in the middle. Rooms either face the courtyard in the middle or to the outside. The hotel has the following facilities
The decoration of the hotel and the rooms is really impressive. It’s definitely a classical style. Think marble surfaces, grand staircases and lovely pieces of furniture. The indoor courtyard in the centre of the hotel is a really nice place to hang out with a coffee. Check out the slideshow above for some of the photos.
The roof terrace is really nice. If you visit the Gran Hotel Miramar, you should definitely go to the terrace. At least for a coffee.
The Gran Hotel Miramar first opened its doors back in 1926, designed by the Malaga architect Fernando Guerrero Strachan and inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII himself. So the grand staircases and marble aren't a modern pastiche — there's real history baked into the place. For decades it wasn't even a hotel: the building spent years serving as Malaga's law courts before being restored and reborn as a luxury hotel in 2017.
That restoration is why everything feels so polished now. The Gran Hotel Miramar holds 190 rooms and suites across the square, courtyard-wrapped layout, and it carries Spain's Gran Lujo five-star rating — the top tier the country awards. Knowing it was a near-century-old landmark brought back to life made me a little more forgiving of its quirks. A little.
If a grand old building reborn as a luxury hotel is your sort of thing, you'll get a lot out of my review of the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh Caledonian — another iconic landmark turned five-star, and it'll help you decide whether the history is worth the price tag before you book.
There are three restaurants in the Gran Hotel Miramar, plus a couple of bars.
Mediterráneo is the one I actually ate at — it's the breakfast restaurant, down on the ground floor with tables spilling out next to the pool. Lovely setting, sea and pool views, and I wanted to love it. The buffet didn't quite earn its five stars, though, so manage your expectations.
Príncipe de Asturias is the headline act, the hotel's creative fine-dining restaurant with big windows and a terrace facing the Mediterranean. I didn't dine here myself, so I won't pretend I did — but it's the one I'd book if I went back for the food rather than the room.
Sokai Sushi Bar handles the Japanese side of things, all delicate flavours and respect for the ingredients. Again, not one I tried on this trip. Worth a look if sushi's your thing.
And then there's the Media Luna chill-out terrace up on the seventh floor — technically a bar, not a restaurant, but it's the rooftop spot I keep banging on about. Cocktails, snacks, and the best view in the building. Go up for a coffee at the very least.
The breakfast was located on the ground floor. It was possible to sit down next to the pool on the outside, which was pretty nice. However, I wasn’t impressed with the breakfast at the Gran Hotel Miramar and thought it was the quality expected from a good 4* hotel, rather than a 5* hotel. I normally look forward to breakfasts at a good hotel, however I wasn’t satisfied by the breakfast here.
The following options were available at breakfast
I’m a vegetarian and I don’t eat eggs. As such, my options were extremely limited. There was no oatmeal (porridge), cooked mushrooms or vegetarian sausages. This is normally commonplace in hotel breakfasts. As such, my breakfast consisted of waffles, pancakes and broccoli. The waffles and pancakes weren’t cooked fresh, and were clearly from a packet. As such, they were terrible. The broccoli was actually quite nice – I think it was cooked in butter. However, broccoli doesn’t make a breakfast! I would have had a cereal, but nothing took my fancy. They didn’t have any granola or oatmeal. Ultimately, I left breakfast unsatisfied with my meal.
If you’re happy with some sausages, bacon and eggs for breakfast, then you could be content with the breakfast offered here. If you’re looking for cook to order pancakes and fresh juices, then you’ll be sorely disappointed.
If you’re weighing up the Gran Hotel Miramar Malaga on breakfast alone, manage your expectations. The spread — fruit, cold cuts, cereals, smoothies — is perfectly fine without being special, and honestly the best part is eating it poolside in the morning sun. For a five-star price I wanted a touch more wow. Lovely setting, decent food. Just not the breakfast of my dreams.
There’s a large outdoor pool area at the back of the hotel. There’s a large a pool and a tiny kids pool. There are tons of loungers, and the area was very busy during my stay at the hotel. However, I found the ambience of the pool area to be completely uninviting. The pool is located right next to a busy highway, and it just completely spoiled the experience for me. As such, I didn’t go for a swim.
There is also an indoor pool. However, this is chargeable at 25 Eur/hour! It didn’t bother me, as I’d been swimming a lot on this holiday, but I don’t like it when hotels do this. The hotel website doesn’t make it clear that the indoor pool costs extra, and most 1st time visitors will probably expect access to the indoor pool. It’s basically a bait and switch from the hotel and it’s not cool. This issue was mentioned by quite a few reviewers on Tripadvisor.
There’s a beach across the road from the hotel. The beach area isn’t private – indeed all beaches in Spain are public. As such, there isn’t much going on. I think it’s a pity that you can’t have a private beach here. I understand the intention of the law, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. If there was a private beach here, then the hotel could clean it up and make it really nice for guests.
The beach itself is sandy. However, there aren’t many eating outlets nearby. 10 minutes walk along the beach, it was really busy.
There is a rooftop bar on the 7th floor of the Gran Hotel Miramar, with stunning views of the Mediterranean.
I didn’t enjoy my stay at the Gran Hotel Miramar. It’s not that the stay was a disaster or that service was bad. It’s just that the hotel didn’t have the things that I value. The breakfast wasn’t fresh and the options were limited. The indoor pool was chargeable and there was no in room tea.
However, I understand that some readers could love this hotel. Indeed, the hotel has 4.7* on Google. The décor is really nice, and the hotel is the only luxury hotel in Malaga.
So who is the Gran Hotel Miramar actually for? If you care most about beautiful classical décor, a roof terrace with a sea view, and a 10-minute stroll into the centre of Malaga, you'll probably forgive its quirks the way 4.7 stars' worth of Google reviewers clearly have. If you're a foodie who lives for breakfast, or you want an in-room kettle and an indoor pool that doesn't cost extra, look elsewhere.
One practical tip if you do book. Reserve the exact room category you want rather than banking on an upgrade.
Me? I wouldn't come back. But I can see why plenty of people would, and that's the honest verdict — a gorgeous, historic hotel that simply didn't tick my boxes.
If you'd rather read about a five-star European city hotel I genuinely didn't want to leave, take a look at my Intercontinental Amsterdam review — stunning design and a brilliant location, and proof I'm not just a grump who hates nice hotels.
So would I recommend the Gran Hotel Miramar Malaga? Honestly, yes — with one eye on the price. This is a grande dame, not a budget bolthole, and you do pay for the seafront address and all that marble. But for a special trip, it earns it.
So where does that leave the Gran Hotel Miramar Malaga in my book? It's a genuine five-star stay with the bones of a grande dame — the design, the rooftop, the beds. Just go in with your eyes open about the extras. If you've read the other Gran Hotel Miramar Malaga reviews and come away unsure, that's fair. It's a hotel that rewards the right guest and quietly nickel-and-dimes the wrong one.