Speaking of the 21st century Málaga is speaking of a city in constant transformation that has known how to adapt to the needs of its time. Far from that vacation destination that in the late 70s based its appeal on the sun and the beach, the Málaga of today is a modern and cosmopolitan city that adds to its privileged climate an enviable historical, cultural and gastronomic heritage. An evolution that has also brought with it the development of a vast commercial fabric that combines the main international franchises with initiatives of more local character, aimed at highlighting the indigenous products.
The fact is that Málaga is also a paradise for those who like to go shopping and this is evidenced by the multitude of shopping centers and areas of shops that have been flourishing around the center. You just have to know where to go and for this we show you the 10 most important commercial areas of the city.
1) CALLE LARIOS.
The Marqués de Larios Street, popularly known as Larios Street, is the most famous street in Malaga and its main artery. Around it revolves the life of the city and there are located the majority of the large international firms, from Women Secret’s, at the beginning of the street, to Victoria’s Secret, which delimits its end around the Plaza de la Constitución. There are the classic stores of the Inditex empire such as Zara, Springfield, Pull&Bear, Stradivarius, Mango or Massimo Dutti. It should be noted that, despite being in the center of the city, prices do not vary with respect to the rest of the branches, and it is not uncommon to find genuine bargains during sale season, although for this you have to get up early and be patient.
And if we get the urge between store and store, nothing better than to stop at Casa Mira (C / Marqués de Larios, 5 – Tel: 952 22 30 69), one of the oldest ice cream shops in the city (it opened its doors in 1890), where it is mandatory to taste one of its glorious turron ice creams.
+INFO:
– Opening hours: although all stores open at 10:00, the closing time varies from one to another. On Sundays, many of them are usually closed.
– CASA MIRA opening hours: from Monday to Sunday, from 10:30 to 23:30.
– Nearest parking: Central Parking (Plaza de la Marina, 5)
2) THYSSEN MUSEUM AREA.
The inauguration of the Museum Carmen Thyssen Malaga in 2011 brought about the revitalization of an area that had been neglected until then. This new museum gave new life to the commercial area formed by the streets San Juan, Santos, Compañía, Especerías, and Andrés Pérez, which came to be known as the “Thyssen Area”. This area is home to a variety of unique shops, including traditional shoe stores (Calzados Hinojosa, C/ San Juan, 20 – Tlf: 952 212 735), antique hat shops (Sombreros Casa Pedro Mira, C/ Especerías, 18 – Tlf: 952 21 29 51), charming delicatessens (El Almacén del Indiano, C/ Cisneros, 7 – Tfl: 952 21 93 19), and one of the most beautiful bookstores in Spain (Mapas y Compañía, C/ Compañía, 33 – Tlf: 952 608 815).
+INFO:
–Thyssen Area Local Business Friends
– Nearest Parking Lot: Parking Camas (C/ Fernán González, 7 – Tlf: 952 22 07 42)
3) MUELLE UNO.
2011 was also the year chosen for the opening of Muelle Uno, a space resulting from the renovation of a part of the Malaga port industry, which has become one of the most special commercials, leisure, and gastronomic areas in the city.
Not in vain, because of its privileged location by the sea, and its proximity to the city center, Muelle Uno offers one of the most beautiful panoramas in Malaga and is worth a walk around it at sunset. Perfumeries (Primor), clothing stores (Slora, Lacoste), shoe stores (Deichmann), and optical stores (Solvisión) are some of the businesses there, and they are complemented by the artisan markets that take over the area on many weekends.
The varied gastronomic offer is also worth mentioning, as it is interspersed between the classic franchises such as KFC, Burger King, or the only Hard Rock Café in the province, with genuine gems such as the Michelin starred José Carlos García restaurant or the modern Cambara, which specializes in rice dishes. The Centre Pompidou Malaga, the first branch of the famous Parisian museum outside France, deserves a whole new chapter. It opened in 2015 and has quickly become one of the icons of the “new Malaga.”
And if what we want is to live by the sea and enjoy its immensity, whether trying to spot dolphins or taking a relaxed catamaran ride with a glass of cava at sunset, Muelle Uno is also the headquarters of a multitude of companies dedicated to enjoying the charms of the Mediterranean.
+INFO:
– Muelle Uno: Paseo del Muelle Uno, 4. Tlf: 952 00 39 42.
– Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 12:00 to 24:00 (it may vary depending on the store).
– Centre Pompidou Málaga: Pasaje Doctor Carrillo Casaux s/n. Tlf: 951 92 62 00) Monday and Wednesday to Sunday , from 12:00 to 24:00 (it may vary depending on the store).
– It has its own parking lot
4) EL CORTE INGLÉS.
It is often said, always in a humorous vein, that for a city to merit being on the map of Spain it must have a center of El Corte Inglés. The truth is that this is the chain of department stores with the most venerable history in our country.
Its origins date back to the mid-30s and since then it has been forging an image of an eclectic place and one of trust. Located on the left bank of the Guadalmedina River, the El Corte Inglés center in Malaga has two buildings joined by a subterranean passage in which almost anything can be found, from fresh flowers, jewelry, and toys to bicycles, books, household goods, or the latest in technology.
A special mention must be given to its supermarket, located in the basement and always well stocked with first-rate products, as well as its adjacent Gourmet Corner, which is geared towards the most demanding palates, where Iranian caviar and the most exclusive French wines are the stars.
+INFO:
– El Corte Inglés Málaga Edificio 1: Avda. Andalucía 4, 6. Tlf: 952 07 65 00.
– El Corte Inglés Málaga Edificio 2: C/ Hilera, 8. Tlf: 952 07 65 00.
– https://www.elcorteingles.es/centroscomerciales/es/eci/centros/centro-comercial-malaga
– Open: rom Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 22:00.
– It has its own parking lot
5) C.C. MALAGA PLAZA.
The shopping center Málaga Plaza is located a few meters from the previous one. It was inaugurated in 1993 and it is a modern building with the idea of complementing, not competing, with the existing offer in the area.
From the beginning, its innovative approach has had the ultimate goal of giving a “human” touch to this type of place, for which it uses a very careful architectural style, with a skylight that provides natural light to the whole building throughout the year, a central garden and an artificial waterfall. It has 60 stores distributed in three floors, which include restaurants, beauty salons and fashion stores, as well as a huge gym.
+INFO:
– C.C. Málaga Plaza: C/ Armengual de la Mota, 12. Tlf: 952 61 40 40.
– Website
– Open: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 22:00.
– It has its own parking lot
6) C.C. LARIOS CENTRO.
Constructed on the site of the mythical Malaga gin factory of which it takes its name, less than 20 minutes walk from the city center, the Larios Shopping Center opened in 1996, being one of the first spaces of this type to combine stores, restaurants, and cinemas. After the initial enthusiasm came a period of decadence, which reached its low point in 2011 with the elimination of the cinemas until its resurgence in 2019, the year in which the entire complex was remodeled and adapted to the new times.
Bershka, Flying Tiger, Levi’s, Xiaomi, Zara Home, or Benetton, Burger King, McDonald’s, Block House or Dunkin’ Donuts. This center also offers a play area and a personal shopper service, in addition to 1500 parking spaces spread over its two upper floors.
Today it has two floors, in which the supermarket Eroski,the Disney Store and the largest Primark office in Andalusia stand out.
In addition to stores of all kinds such as Bershka, Flying Tiger, Levi’s, Xiaomi, Zara Home or Benetton and a dining area with franchises such as Burguer King, McDonalds, Block House or Dunkin’ Donuts.
This center also offers a play area and a personal shopper service, in addition to 1500 parking spaces spread over its two upper floors.
But, without a doubt, the jewel in the crown here is the FNAC headquarters, an authentic titan in the European cultural/technological sector, whose agenda, always full of top-level events, is worth consulting every so often.
+INFO:
– C.C. Larios Centro: Avda. de la Aurora, 25. Tlf: 952 36 93 93.
– Website
– Open: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 22:00.
– It has its own parking lot.
7) C.C. VIALIA MÁLAGA (ESTACIÓN MARÍA ZAMBRANO)
The creation of this shopping center was a direct consequence of the remodeling and modernization of the old train station in the city, reopened in 2006 with the name of María Zambrano, in honor of the eminent philosopher from Malaga in the early twentieth century.
Among its more than 100 stores and dining spaces, we will find from the technology store MediaMarkt to others such as H&M or Sfera, in addition to classic fast-food chains like the sandwich chain Rodilla in addition to classic fast-food chains like the sandwich chain Taco Bell.
Its status as the main railway station in the city also entails the offer of services such as car rental, through companies such as Enterprise, Avis, Sixt, Álamo o Centauro.
It is also worth noting here both the Yelmo Vialia Malaga Cinema, with its 13 screens, which is one of the few complexes of this type that still bets on cinema in the center of the city, and the 4-star Barceló Hotel attached to one of its sides.
+INFO:
– C.C. Vialia Málaga: Explanada de la Estación, s/n. Tlf: 952 04 09 15.
– Website
– Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00.
– It has its own parking lot
8) C.C. ROSALEDA.
This is another one of the classic commercial areas near Málaga center. Located near the football stadium of Málaga C.F., which is where it gets its name, this center opened in 1993 to serve the northwestern area of the city, making it one of the oldest places of its kind in the capital of Malaga.
(McDonald’s, 100 Montaditos, Pomodoro Pizza Pasta Burritos),
On its two floors, there are more than 120 stores of all kinds, such as the large Carrefour and Decathlon store located on the ground floor, as well as other popular stores such as C&A, Foot Locker, KIABI, Lefties, Parfois o Decimas.
Its food offering is not very extensive but it is enough to get by (McDonalds, 100 Montaditos. Pomodoro Pizza Pasta Burritos) and it also has free parking, a personal shopper service, and a complex with 12 movie theaters.
+INFO:
– C.C. Rosaleda: Avda. Simón Bolívar, S/N. Tlf: 952 28 05 00.
– Website
– Open: Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 23:30
– It has its own parking lot
9) C.C. PLAZA MAYOR.
the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Adidas, Lacoste, Calvin Klein, Diesel, Pepe Jeans, and Tommy Hilfiger,
The Plaza Mayor complex is more than just a regular shopping mall; it is a small city, modeled after the gigantic American “Shopping Malls”, which offers everything necessary for a pleasant day of shopping and leisure with family.
Located on the outskirts of the city, 20 minutes by car from central Malaga and less than 10 from the airport, Plaza Mayor has over 80 establishments, including fashion outlets, sporting goods stores, and electronics shops, as well as cosmetic products, furniture, and even a gas station, mechanic workshop, and a huge supermarket chain, Mercadona.
Its food offerings are also spectacular, with over 30 spaces that offer a variety of proposals: from the classic fast-food chains, such as McDonalds, Foster’s Hollywood or Five Guys, to tapas bars (Lizarrán, Casa Carmen), ice cream parlors (Desiderio Gelato & Café), Italian restaurants (La Tagliatella) or Thai restaurants (Padthaiwok)
Also worth mentioning are the 20 movie theaters at the Yelmo Cines Plaza Mayor, which was the first center in the province to offer movies in 3D.
And finally, in early 2020, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, was inaugurated, an extension of the complex designed as a “luxury outlet”, with over 100 stores, including brands such as Adidas, Lacoste, Calvin Klein, Diesel, Pepe Jeans o Tommy Hilfiger, with discounts of up to 30% to 70% off their original prices.
+INFO:
– Plaza Mayor Málaga: C/ Alfonso Ponce de León 3-2. Tlf: 952 24 75 80.
– Website
– Open: Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 01:00
– McArthurGlen Outlet: C/Alfonso Ponce de León, 6. Tlf: 951 56 42 22.
– Parking lot
10) PARQUE COMERCIAL BAHÍA AZUL.
Just 900 meters away (5 minutes by car) from the previous one, we find the Bahía Azul Shopping Mall, a huge area with more than 1000 free parking spaces, whose commercial offer complements that of Plaza Mayor, mainly in terms of furniture.
The undisputed king there is IKEA, the only center of the Swedish giant in the province, which opened its doors in late 2007 and has been growing successfully ever since.
And if we don’t find what we’re looking for there, we can also try other stores in the same business, such as Conforama, JYSK, Maisons Du Monde, Muebles Boom, Idehábita or Schmidt.
+INFO:
– Parque Comercial Bahía Azul: Avda. Montserrat Caballé.
– Open: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 21:30.
– IKEA opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a 22:00.
– Parking lot
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