AreaStays
Large-scale street art murals by Obey and D*Face on an apartment building in Málaga's Soho arts district, next to the Centre of Contemporary Art

Leo Hidalgo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Málaga

Where to Stay in Soho, Málaga

Soho sits between the Alameda Principal and the port, on the site of a former dockworkers' district that was largely rebuilt and gentrified through the 2010s. The transformation was driven in part by the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo (CAC Málaga), housed in a converted 1930s wholesale market by the Guadalmedina riverbed, and by the Málaga Arte Urbano Soho (MAUS) project, which invited international street artists to paint building facades across the neighborhood starting in 2013. The result is a small grid of streets — Calle Tomás Heredia, Calle Casas de Campos, Calle Córdoba — dense with large-scale murals, restaurants, and cocktail bars, a short walk from both the old town and the beach.

What it's actually like to stay here

Modern and design-conscious, with restored early-20th-century apartment buildings, boutique hotels, and murals by artists like ROA, Obey, and D*Face covering entire facades. It's noticeably more nightlife- and restaurant-driven than the historic center, with a younger, more local crowd in its bars once the daytime street-art tourists move on.

Stay here if

Best for couples and travelers who want to be close to both the old town and the beach without staying in the busiest tourist core, and for anyone interested in contemporary art and street art specifically — the CAC and the MAUS mural route are both here. Its restaurant and bar scene also makes it a solid pick for a livelier evening than the historic center offers.

Stay elsewhere if

Consider the historic center instead if being directly inside the oldest part of the city, rather than a five-to-ten-minute walk from it, matters more to you. Light sleepers should ask about street-facing rooms, since several of the area's bars and restaurants stay busy into the evening.

Walkability
Flat and compact — Soho is a short walk from Calle Larios and the cathedral on one side and La Malagueta beach on the other, with most of the neighborhood's own streets covered in 10 minutes end to end.
Noise at night
Generally moderate. The Alameda Principal, which borders the neighborhood, carries steady traffic noise, and the restaurant and bar streets around Calle Casas de Campos and Calle Córdoba stay active into the evening on weekends; interior-facing rooms and the quieter residential streets away from the Alameda are noticeably calmer.

Best Hotels in Soho, Málaga

Only YOU Hotel Málaga

★★★★★
  • 🏛️ Best for architecture & design

Our take Málaga's standout design hotel — a landmark building turned into a genuinely striking 5-star stay, with a rooftop that's worth the visit even before factoring in the rooms.

Good for

  • Luxury travelers
  • Couples

Couples and luxury travelers who want a landmark building, a rooftop with port and cathedral views, and easy walking access to both Soho's restaurants and the historic center.

Why we like it

  • Occupies La Equitativa, an ornate early-20th-century landmark building at the start of Calle Larios
  • A rooftop terrace and pool with views over the port and toward the cathedral, with an outdoor breakfast option
  • 93 rooms with a design-forward, contemporary interior that contrasts with the historic exterior
  • Sits right at the border of Soho and the old town, putting both areas' restaurants within easy walking distance

What to know

  • As a 5-star property, rates run well above the other hotels in this guide — worth it if a landmark building and rooftop views are a priority for your trip
Check availability on Booking.com

Soho Boutique Equitativa

★★★★

Our take A dependable, well-located 4-star stay inside one of Málaga's most recognizable buildings, with a rooftop that makes it worth considering even before factoring in the location.

Good for

  • Couples
  • Nightlife

Couples and travelers who want a genuinely central location, right where Soho meets the old town, with a rooftop pool and a more contemporary feel than the area's period boutique hotels.

Why we like it

  • Occupies part of La Equitativa, a landmark early-20th-century building right on Alameda Principal, at the edge of both Soho and the old town
  • A rooftop pool and terrace, a genuine plus in a city where summer temperatures regularly top 30°C
  • 72 rooms finished in a clean, contemporary style rather than a heavily period aesthetic
  • Walking distance to Calle Larios, the port, and Soho's restaurants and murals in every direction

What to know

  • Alameda Principal is a busy road, so ask for a room on an upper floor or facing the building's interior if traffic noise bothers you
Check availability on Booking.com

ICON Malabar

★★★★

Our take One of Soho's most characterful stays — a colonial-inspired boutique hotel that puts you right in the middle of the neighborhood's murals, restaurants, and bars.

Good for

  • Couples
  • Architecture lovers

Couples and design-minded travelers who want to be inside Soho itself, close to the street art, restaurants, and bars, with a distinctive colonial-style interior rather than a generic modern one.

Why we like it

  • Sits directly on Calle Tomás Heredia, in the heart of Soho and its street art route
  • A distinctive colonial-inspired interior in a restored early-20th-century building, different in character from most of Málaga's boutique hotels
  • 76 rooms including some with balconies and city views, with soundproofing that guests consistently mention favorably
  • Walking distance to both the old town and La Malagueta beach

What to know

  • Soho's restaurant and bar streets are a short walk away, so ask for an interior-facing room if you want extra quiet in the evening
Check availability on Booking.com

Mariposa Hotel Malaga

★★★★

Our take A stylish, well-run boutique hotel that makes the most of its Soho address, with a rooftop bar that's a genuine draw in its own right.

Good for

  • Couples
  • Nightlife

Couples who want a design-forward stay right on one of Soho's most walkable streets, with easy access to the neighborhood's restaurants and a short walk to both the old town and the beach.

Why we like it

  • Sits on Calle de Casas de Campos, one of Soho's central mural-lined streets, about 10 minutes' walk from the port
  • An art deco interior with sound-proofed windows, a detail guests notice given the street's evening activity
  • A rooftop terrace bar with panoramic city views, open to guests for evening drinks
  • 41 rooms keep the property feeling boutique rather than a larger hotel-scale operation

What to know

  • The hotel's own soundproofing is a genuine plus given how central Casas de Campos is within Soho's restaurant and bar scene
Check availability on Booking.com

Transportation & practical information

Everything in Soho is walkable, and the district borders the Alameda Principal, a main bus corridor, and sits within a 10-minute walk of the Málaga Centro-Alameda train station used by the airport's C1 line.

Skip a car here — Soho is small enough to cover on foot in minutes, on-street parking is limited, and the historic center's pedestrian zone is right next door. A paid garage is your best option if you arrive with a rental.

Frequently asked questions

Is Soho within walking distance of Málaga's old town?
Yes — Soho borders the Alameda Principal, which leads directly into the historic center; the cathedral and Calle Larios are about a 5–10 minute walk away.
What is there to do in Soho besides look at street art?
The CAC Málaga contemporary art museum, a growing cluster of restaurants and cocktail bars, and easy access to both the old town and La Malagueta beach on foot.

Related areas

Plaza de la Constitución in Málaga's historic center, with palm trees, the Palacio Episcopal's dome, and pedestrians crossing the square on a sunny day

Bengt Nyman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Málaga Centro Histórico

Best for: First-time visitors, Architecture lovers, Couples

Playa de la Malagueta beach in Málaga, with the neighborhood's large sculpted sign, palm trees, sunloungers, and thatched-roof beach umbrellas along the sand

Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

La Malagueta

Best for: Beach time, Couples, Families

← All Málaga neighborhoods