Having just returned four days ago, I can thoroughly recommend Brown's Restaurant in Flamingo Square (behind Hotel Sirocco), the Wine Bar (Mon-Fri) in the Gamonal complex, and the Potter on the front, near the marina. None have any entertainment, however.

There are some lovely eating places at the Marina. My favourite one was the Argentinian one, with lovely views over the water. There are also some lovely eateries up in Arroyo, 15 mins uphill from Benalmadena, offering a la carte or menu of the day, usually 3 course with coffee.

please can some one help me i have booked a two week break at the griego mar hotel in torremolinos and have since read quite a lot of bad reports on it such as wires hanging out walls in rooms discussting beds and unedible food i know you only get what you pay for but at £1650 i think i should at least expect somewhere decent for my family to stay i have been at a hotel before that this one sounds very like and i do not wish to repeat the experiance i have looked at changing to the las piramides in fuengirola can any one help and is this hotel suitable for children i am quite resricted as i can only go with the company i am already booked with or i will lose the £600 deposit i have paid as it is i have to pay another £150 administration fee to change the holiday any way somebody help me i am going out of my mind here

Re Hotel Recommendations:

Although I've never stayed there, the Hotel Bali in Benalmadena seems to have a good reputation even though it's only a 2/3 star. There is nightly entertainment which we've been to once or twice and is standard stuff but will keep the kids amused. There's lots to do in Benalmadena with the Park, Selwo marina (dolphin show etc.), Marina, and Tivilo world all within 15 minutes walking distance.

Re: Restaurants/Bars

The number of bars offering entertainment outside of hotels continues to dwindle as the authorities clamp down on places which don't have music licenses. The main places offering entertainment from 10pm until midnight are:

Monte Carlo under Jupiter
Bonanza Bar just off Bonanza Square
Yesterday once More (Elefante) - top of Avenida Telefonica (cardiac hill)
Buzby's on the main road just west of the bottom of Avenida Telefonica.

Elsewhere there is the odd bar doing Karaoke, otherwise you sit outside and watch the world go by.

For older kids the Discos are in 24 hour square and the marina.

As for eating out. As long as you steer clear of the small british bars doing all day breakfasts (nothing wrong with what they serve up), you should get a reasonable meal anywhere. There's lots of chinese restaurants and they all do a menu of the day for around 4.50. Some are slightly better than others but not much to choose between them. The Spanish restaurants along the seafront are mainly focused on seafood and are relatively expensive. The spanish restaurants back off the seafront will typically do a menu of the day for 8.50 to 10.00 Euros and be quite adequate.

Cliff

Can recommend Pickwicks run by Brian and family,also The Albatros run by Alan and Jim, both on Ave Telifonica,and both do quizes and bingo good fun for all the family.

Thank you very much for all your replies. Have wrote them all down, and put it in with my travel documents, much appreciated. BBB.

Some good restaurants listed Here
with a recent report from a VERY satisfied customer Here, but rest assured that there are plenty to choose from,

Cheers,

John

Thanks resident, much appreciated. BBB

nicoledaryn, you dont say when youve booked for......... i stayed there with a friend for a week all inclusive in may and i must say the only complaint i had was the food, there isnt much choice considering the majority of peole staying were all inc. If you're on a diabetic or vegitarian, you may struggle to find something different to eat each night. you wont starve put it this way but you may find you'll be eating pretty much the same night after night. they do have specialised nights where they do like a carvery thing but thats no good if your a veggie!! If you've booked all inc then the snack bar thats open all day isnt wrth going into as its always jacket potatoes, burgers, sausages, beans, bits of salad but be warned, it looks like its been there all day!!

I had no complaint with our room, it was lovely ovelooking the pool, definatly no wires hanging out!!
if you aven't gone yet and want any more info then dont hesitate to PM me and i'll get back to you. if you've lready gone, then i hope you had a good time!!

Hi Belly,

We have just got back from 'Bela' and we have 2 14 year old kids so eating places were top of our list.

We ate at one of the Spanish resturants on the sea front, the second day we got there, we ordered 4 Mixed Kebabs. Never again it came to 71 Euros and was the worst meal we have ever had.

Along the front there are a Clump of English resturants all together.
We tried most of them and they were Big Portions, nice Meals and excellant value for money.

We went to,

Smileys, Sharvilles, Potters bar, Drunken Sailer and a few more were there but i can't remember there names.

There are about 5 on the sea front and 5 up above them.

If you want any more info, as we did loads when we where there, get back to me.

Hi sillybait - When we were there in june, after a few lousy meals. We came accross those cluster of bars/restaurants. (There on the promanade - as you are walking towards the marina,). We found the food at Sharvilles (Next to pottors), absolutely lovely,Only trouble is it can take up to an hour to be served- (So wouldn't recommend it , if you are absolutely starving, but if your happy to sit and have a few drinks whilst waiting, then it's definately worth a visit), infact the owner recommended we booked, as it gets very busy. Another favourite of ours was pizza sabotini's (This is about 200 meter's from the bottom of benalmadena palace), just keep walking left, and you will come accross it. Lovely pizzas, and pastas. For anyone heading there soon. Enjoy. All the best. BBB.

Lokking for somewhere in Belamedena for a 40th that does bothe steak and fish..somewhere really nice..any recommendation???

Hi Kellea. As it's a really special occasion, why not get the bus from Benalmadena to Mijas Pueblo, and savour the delights - and views - at El Capricho.
http://www.mijas-villas.com/restaurants.htm

really good review, covers all tastes. El padastro is one of my favourites. One or two never tried but will do so. El bote not so keen, a bit overpriced for the quality. Thanks!

Great reviews on that website. I cant belive I have never tried El Padrastro and actually, cannot place it at all. Will have to seek that one out. I thought El Mirador was the highest rest in Mijas

We all have different tastes and opinions of course, like you i'm a fan of El Bote but unlike most of my friends, I am not a fan of the Ku Damm.

El Padrasto is the restaurant that looks a bit like a tower just up from the Virgen de la Pena, there is a lift to get upstairs. Heard very good reports but have never tried it.

Can someone name any bars that are good for children as well, they are 11 years old, maybe entertainment, or playstations for them

Hi, whilst we were there, we came accross no bars that entertained children, (or adults really for that matter ), yes there are plenty of bars, (but we only came accross one that had any entertainment on - Busby's).

Luckily we were staying at a fab apart/hotel (Benalmadena Palace), which really did cater well for children regarding evening/daytime activities (Thank God, or we'd have been pulling our hair out - with a bored 12 yr old).

It could have been quite possible we were looking in the wrong places, and I hope someone else maybe able to point you in the right direction, have a fab time.

Regards, BBB

Not sure about the playstations but there are plenty of bars and things to do in Benalmadena.

Fun night out try Mr Pickwicks just down from The Bali. They have card bingo, normal bingo, quizes, kids free game and play your cards right were some serious money can be won. Busbys offers a different form of entertainment every night as does El Elefante and Bonanza Bar. If you want you could even try a night in The Bali were they have entertainment on every night.

The obvious place for kids of all ages is Tivoli World. The fun fair up in Arroyo is a night out in its self. All kinds of rides for all different ages. Entrance fee is or was 4.50 euros. Inside you buy a super tivilino for 10 euros each. This allows you onto the vast majority of rides. Worth a visit.

During the day, or night have a walk down to the marina. Great shops and things to do and there is a sea life centre there. You can also take the cable car at Tivoli to the top of the mountain where you can see a fantastic bird of prey display.

Then there is Paloma Park. Breath taking. You can spend hours walking around the park with Peacocks, hens, rabbits etc roaming free. See if you can spot the white peacock.

These are just a few ideas for you to try. Oh you can also visit Gibraltar, Malaga, Benalmadena Pueblo, Mijas, the list goes on.