Castillo de Santa Catalina is a five-star hotel in Malaga, in an exclusive location overlooking the bay of Malaga.
I booked a two-night stay in September to celebrate my husband’s birthday, and it was the first time we booked a hotel that was a little outside of the city.
Here is a short report from my stay!
If you want to check the hotel and book it yourself, below is a link to do that.
The Hotel
The hotel is an Arab Renaissance-style Palace, dating back to 1932 and linked to a fortress dating back to 1624. In the 90s it was acquired by Soho Boutique Hotels.
It’s a little outside of the city, about 10-minute taxi ride, but that turned out to be a great advantage as it’s so quiet and peaceful!
The hotel is also not that big, I believe they only have close to 40 rooms, so it feels more exclusive and relaxing than a standard chain hotel somewhere in the center.
The entrance is from the front, where you will find a small reception room and further in the courtyard is the main garden with a restaurant and access to a pool area.
Behind the garden is the oldest part of the castle with the preserved defense walls – and the best views also.
Our Room
According to the lovely man from the reception, we got the best room they have, on the second floor in the corner. I couldn’t agree more!
The deluxe double room has a very generous ceiling height, which made it feel much bigger than it actually was (only 24 square meters). The windows brought in so much natural light and as they were facing towards the entrance, it was also very quiet.
From the side window, you get beautiful sea views and can see all the way to Malaga Port.
Most importantly – the bed was love at first sight. Great quality linen and so comfy to sleep in!
There was an ensuite bathroom, with big windows and a bathtub. Slippers and bathrobes were also provided.
The Garden & Restaurant
The garden with the restaurant was the highlight for me – it was stunning!
Set around a small center courtyard with a fountain and mature trees, the tables were tastefully spread out to allow you to enjoy the views – or privacy if you prefer.
Behind the wall, you will find the oldest part of the structure, old defense walls with a small viewing section offering the best views of the coastline. There are also tables and chairs, should you want to enjoy some cold drinks with the view.
The garden didn’t feel crowded, and everything was pretty much picture-perfect. I would happily spend all day sitting there, sipping some cava and reading a book!
The only disappointment for me was the pool – it was the size of a small paddling pool. If you fit five people there it will feel crowded.
I totally get why they couldn’t add a big pool to such a historic location, but the photos were presented in a bit misleading way, so you feel like you’re getting access to full-size pool when it’s not the reality. I didn’t photograph it as there were other guests sunbathing next to it =)
The Food
On the first day, right after checking in, we sat down in the restaurant to enjoy a celebration drink and share small tapas.
The staff was absolutely amazing, they didn’t let us wait, and catered to every wish.
We ordered anchovies with sheep butter and brioche, which were absolutely delicious. These were 26 euros, so the food is a little expensive, but that should be probably expected at a 5-star hotel. You can check the full menu here.
The breakfast was available to order from a short menu, we tried something new each morning. I loved the eggs Benedict, but was not a huge fan of the avocado toast – the avocado tasted like it was taken from the fridge a minute ago. The scrambled eggs I had the next morning were again delicious, and my husband loved all of his food.
I added some breakfast photos at the end, apologies for the quality, I only had my phone with me in the morning.
My Verdict
I loved the hotel and would happily return for another stay.
Here is a summary of what I liked and also what I didn’t like.
What I loved about the hotel:
- location – away from the crowds, peaceful and quiet
- exclusivity and small size
- the garden was absolutely amazing
- reception and other staff at the hotel was so professional, friendly, and always willing to help
- distance to central Malaga – only a short taxi ride, we paid around 7 euros each time
- the views
- the room
- the food
- the authentic setting
What I didn’t like about my stay:
- I planned on spending some time in the pool, but after I’ve seen the size and the pool area I decided it’s better to relax in the garden. Keep this in mind if you want to do sunbathing or a big pool is a must for you.
- On the second night, there was a corporate event in the second part of the garden. Nobody notified us about this and it kind of ruined our evening as we planned on enjoying some drinks in the garden. There were a lot of people, speeches with a microphone and it made the whole garden feel very busy and not welcoming. It’s a shame, I think the management didn’t really think how it will affect guests at the hotel.
Hotel Castillo Santa Catalina (Adults Only)
Location: Calle Ramos Carrión, 38
Contact: +34 952 21 27 00 – sbcastillo@sohohoteles.com
Official Website: you can check the restaurant and other details here.
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