We were made to feel very welcome at the Sea Wolf a Dutch bar in La Carihela. They had quiz nights and a very good food. Also the hotel we stayed at El Tiburon had a very welcoming bar, small but cosy, they had happy hour and stayed open very late.

HI Christine.
Thanks for that. We're staying at the El Tiburon and have heard about the cosy bar. I'm sure we'll make good use of it at the start and end of the night. We will also hopefully spend one or two livelier evenings. Do you know of anywhere that has live entertainment in the way of singers or groups or even comedians. We don't mind if it's in Torremolinos or Benalmadena as I'm lead to believe that El Tiburon is between the 2. Am I correct in assuming this?

Hi Shirley

El Tiburon is a 5 min walk to Benalmadena Marina, its in an area called La carihuela, its where the fish restraunts are. It is a lovely area very nice bars and restraunts are surrounding it. I will take you 15/20 stroll to get into the main area of Torromolinos, San Miguel street being the main shopping area.

When we stayed it was Febuary and the pavement on the road infront of the hotel was being dug up and relaid, so alot of places were closed then but we found enough to keep us occupied. I didn`t go into any bars with entertainment but there were lots of them with boards outside advertising things going on. All the hotels have entertainment and you can go inside these for a drink.

Stayed at the Bali hotel at easter and all things were open by then, lots of bars around there had things going on. Lots of bars in Benalmadena on the promanade, so I`m sure you find lots of things.

I`m going again to Benalmadena the week after easter, if your back before me let me know if you find anywhere good.
Christine

Thanks again Christine.
Will let you know how it goes. Really looking forward. Only dilemma now is what sort of clothes to pack as I understand the weather can be hit and miss at the end of March.

Hi Christine,
as one of the 6 in shirley's party to the el tiburon at easter, i would like to thank you for the info that you have supplied.
many thanks,

Eifion.

Eifion, glad to help, enjoy your holiday.

Shirley, pack a good mix of clothes, you can take jeans and trousers for a night time then use them again for day if it`s cool. Strappy tops don`t take up much room so pack some of these.A couple of cardigans/light jkts again use them for night if it drops, day if it`s cool.Some shorts and summery things. Three years ago we stayed at Easter and we were sat on the balcony in short sleaves at midnight.

Forgot to mention there`s some nice cosy bars on the same road as El Tiburon going towards Torremolinos. Tapas bars are good as well, quite a few in this area and along San miguel street(Torremolinos). Don`t forget El TIburon have an happy hour early evening.

Forgot as well, nearly everything , except the water park is open. Fairly busy, without being overcrowded.

Anything else I can help you with let me know.

Christine

Fantastic Christine. You've been a mind of information. This will be a new experience for hubby and I as we haven't been to mainland Spain since 1987 when our 2 sons were 4 and a year and a half. We also have never been abroad at this time of year. Thanks again

Glad to help. El Tiburon is a small friendly hotel don`t be put off that it is a small pension, the rooms are basic but maid service is as good as any 3-5 stars. Breakfast is very good for what you pay, bacon in Spain is not as we like it in the uk but everything else is good. What the Tiburon lacks in stars it certainly makes up for in friendlyness and the situation of it is fantastic. La Carihuela is a very nice area, very pretty with lots of beach bars and eatries.

If you want to go into Torremolinos you can walk there or catch the bus, we often did this as Torremolinos is a lovely Spainish town with a good variety of shops.

The Costa get a lot of people pulling them down but I love them and you will find that they have kept up to modern times, not at all like the 70 Spain we visualize. The promanade is lovely to strool along, you can walk for miles, it stretches from the far end of Benalmadena through the Marina, then Carihuela round the rock/headland then through Torremolinos. visiting bars along the way. We often visit Spain at Easter and cooler months as we are not sun worshipers and we find that you can walkabout without being too hot.

We usually start the day with a breakfast around 9 ish, then around 11/12 we call fo a coffee and brandy. Lunch of Tapas around 2/3. Then another walk around. We usually have a drink watching the sunset. All of these thing seem much nicer knowing that everyone in the uk is probably freezing.

I don`t know what you want out of your holiday but I`m sure La Carihuela and El Tiburon will fit the bill.
Christine

Thanks Christine, your routine sounds nice and relaxing. Just what we're after. Just a short chill out from the day to day working routine back home. It will keep us in good spirits until our summer holiday. Speak to you soon

I'll echo everything that Christine has said
Most people in HT know that my 2 loves are Benidorm and La Carihuela and I've been visiting La Carihuela for quite a few years, infact I nearly got to live there permanently a couple of years ago, but it wasn't to be.

I don't know what your group is particularly looking for out of this holiday, but for me it's got everything that I want.

It's a Spanish village situated between Torremolinos and Benalmádena and because it's world famous for its fish restaurants, it attracts people from all Nationalities, but it also attracts the Spanish in great numbers, who come from places like Madrid and Seville to sample the cuisine.

You'll find that La Carihuela is "centred" around bars and restaurants and people seem quite happy to sit and have a nice meal, a glass of wine and just CHILL !
It's not a place for people who want disco's and entertainment (like Benidorm), it's a "laid back" resort within the easy reach of Torremolinos town centre, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Malaga and Mijas.

Calle Bulto is the main street that runs parallel with the promenade from Plaza del Remo and in this street you will find restaurants of many nationalities, Chinese, Italian, Dutch, but predominately it's Spanish serving Spanish food.

I can recommend you try the bar called "The Dark Side of the Moon", it's as you walk on the promenade towards Benalmádena Puerto Marina, on your right hand side about half way between your hotel and the Puerto, it's set behind a grassed area, be careful you can easily miss it and they are very friendly people who will cook you whatever you want and will alter the menu to suit you"¦. they make some great sandwiches and the best cuppa tea in the area.

On the promenade walking towards Torremolinos is a bar called "The Cosy Nook" which is another great place to eat and Paul and his staff are very nice.

If you want a restaurant where the Spanish go, then half way down Calle Bulto is Bodega Contreras and I can tell you I've eaten many times there and never had any complaints.
At the start of Calle Bulto/Plaza del Remo is a British bar called El Mojito and they have live acts on, I can't vouch for this bar because I've never been inside, but it is popular.

If you like walking on a flat promenade, then you'll think you've arrived in heaven...it just goes on for miles and miles and we also walk into Torremolinos town centre, have a cup of coffee and either take a stroll back or sometimes we get on the train to Fuengirola or Arroyo de la Miel and walk back down through Paloma Park and all the way back to La Carihuela, there's a very good market in Arroyo on Friday morning and you also have the cable car there if you fancy a trip to the top of Mount Calamorro.

If you fancy something really wacky, then in the Puerto Marina is an Icebar, everything is made of ice, even the glasses, it's like an igloo and you put like a wolf's fur coat on to enter, I think the price is 10 euros and that includes your first drink, but you can enter and leave as many times as you like during that night ... it's novel, but freezing !

Umm, think I'd better shut up, I could rabbit on forever about La Carihuela, it's a place that's hanging on to its Spanish roots and I don't want it to change, I'm already booked to go back in June.

If you haven't already done so, check out the video's I made of La Carihuela, Paloma Park and Arroyo...in the video library.

I hope you have a great holiday and the weather is kind to you.

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Hi Sanji - found you. Thanks for all your info. I'm going to print it out and take it with us. I had a pm from Tony Adams with loads of info as well. It's already in the flight bag. I think we'll need more than a week to visit all these places. We're all really looking forward to the break now. It'll re charge our batteries, and keep us going until our main summer holidays.

Oh Sanji, so sorry I forgot to reply to this one. I did read it a while ago. The icebar sounds cool though not sure if I'll be able to coax anyone in there with me. Loads of info from you as usual. Thanks

you have also been a big help to me as well, as we are also going to Cariuela in march, also love tapas bars. Do you know if I can get RON MIEL (honey rum) there to bring back home.

Having returned yesterday I can now add our recommendations :- For lunch- definitely The Dark side of the Moon. Everything is freshly cooked - they even bake their own ham, and they go out of their way to help. They didn't have any strongbow which one of our party loves- so they went out and bought some cans especially. They are also willing to change their menu to suit you. Also El Mojito's - a British style bar situated in a sun trap- a good variety of dishes on the menu.
Night time entertainment - Gracie's bar if you like Karaoke. Also there's a brilliant drag artist at the Rose and Crown on a Thurday night. However a lot is audience participation - our hubbies landed up being the chippendales - now that was worth seeing. Although there was no bad language it wouldn't suit everyone. If you're game for a laugh however it's great. At El Mojitos there's a singer called Juliet Williams - I think on a Monday - fantastic. All songs from the musical. What this girl is doing singing in a bar we don't know - such talent.
For a decent night time meal - Ming's chinese, El Trillo, Goulash and the one next door down (sorry can't remember the name). Also the Capri in Benalmedena.
Friendly bars - Exiles, Rumours, and Winstons. Anything you need to know just pm me and I'll do my best to help.

I am pleased you all enjoyed your holiday.
We are in that area in May and, although we have been a few years ago, it will be very useful to have your up to date information on bars and entertainment.
Sue