On a recent trip to Torremolinos, I came across a gem of a bar in La Carihuela called "The mermaid" situated in Calle Carmen Montes opposite Las Palomas Hotel.
Great Bar, Great Bar food, Great owners & the cheapest Beer in the resort. I thoroughly recommend it.

The first time i ever went on a plane on my own was when i was 19. Now at the ripe old age of 35, I still continue to visit La Carihuela, which is just outside the town of Torremolinos. Although I've never actually stopped in an hotel here (my aunt has an apartment close the beach), my experiences of this little are are great. La Carihuela is a small village which although more touristy than it used to be, you can still walk down the immaculate streets and rarely hear an english accent! During the day the back streets are lined with the usual gift shops, bars, restaurants etc, but by night the area comes into itself! The fish restaurants are somthing else! and if visiting the beachbars along the front, you'll need to glam up! Miguels bar (i won't say where on the front it is, but if you go, you'll find it!) is superb. The atmosphere, people, music, tapas etc. Just a short stroll away is the centre of Torremolinos. This place in the 70's had a reputation of brits abroad and union jack shorts. I can only assume everyone stopped coming here and to be honest i'm glad they did! It's now a beautiful bustling spanish town, with superb architecture, shops and quaint backstreets. The famous street - 'San Miguel' - leads from the main road on the top, by numerous steps down and twisted street, to the beach. The steps are lined with shops, tapas restaurants, bars etc.. and it's worth the journey (although to be honest i''ve notw walked back up this way! once on the beach you can follow the beach pathway back to the La Carihuela. (10 -15min walk)
In all, La Carihuela is a proper spanish holiday, where spanish people live, spanish food, and certainly not blackpool with sunshine. Take a trip. I just got return flights to Malaga, £65 each. Then it's a £10 taxi trip to the desitination. Adios!

Normally we book very modern accomodation but these apartments were recommended to us by some friends who have been for the last 6 years or so.
They are very authentic - lots of spanish wood, pottery and plants. Our beachside apartment was fab. Adequately sized - just like a large hotel room really but with the added bonus of fridge/toaster/kettle/cloths/teatowels/2 rings to cook on (can easily make breakfasts or one pot dishes) all the utensils you could need.
The maid cleans the rooms 6 days out of 7 and all the staff are very helpful and friendly.
Each room has a super quick ceiling fan and a digital safe.
The balconies on the beach side are bigger than on the street side.
The apartments are directly next to a church and you will more than likely see a spanish wedding there which is well worth watching - our friends have seen many as they always have a street side apartment. The wedding we saw - the choir were all in full flamenco dress and the bride did a flamenco dance in the street with her new husband.
We ate out every night and I have given a full report of Carihuela as a resort - but briefly, we ate at 10 different restaurants in carihuela and benalmadena and we only had one poor meal. The resort is frequented a lot by the locals which gives you an idea of how good the restaurants are.
The one and only down side to the apartments which I would have to warn you of is.... if you like a drink and like a lie in then most morning you would probably be woken by the church bell - which MAY get on your nerves - we however, didn't find it a problem and it just added to the charm of the area.
We will definitely be returning to both the area and the apartments.
Happy holidays...............

Just had our second trip to La Carihuela in July / August 2007. This place is wonderful, not overly British / German, still quite Spanish with proper shops (Baker, Fishmonger etc) and excellent restaurants - Casa Juan is excellent and set mainly outside in a square.

Not suitable if you are looking for clubbing etc, but for families and couples its great.