Page 388 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Eating & Sleeping

Málaga 1 Mojácar 5
5 El Mesón de 4 Hostal El Olívar Hostal €
Cervantes Tapas, Argentinian €€ (%950 47 20 02; www.hostalelolivar.es; Calle
(%952 21 62 74; www.elmesondecervantes.com; Estación Nueva 11, Mojácar Pueblo; s/d incl
Calle Álamos 11; mains €13-16; h7pm-midnight breakfast €38/59; aiW) A stylish and
Wed-Mon) Cervantes started as a humble tapas welcoming addition to the Mojácar Pueblo
bar run by expat Argentinian Gabriel Spatz (the options, the Olívar has contemporary, pretty
original bar is still operating around the corner), rooms with up-to-date bathrooms and tea/
but has expanded into plush spacious digs with coffee sets. Some overlook a plaza, others the
an open kitchen, fantastic family-style service countryside. Breakfast is generous and you
and incredible meat dishes. can take it on a panoramic terrace, when the
weather is decent.
4 Molina Lario Hotel €€
SPAIN 27 MEDITERRANEAN MEANDER
(%952 06 20 02; www.hotelmolinalario.com;
Calle Molina Lario 20-22; r €116-130; aWs) Cartagena 6
Perfect for romancing couples, this hotel
has a sophisticated contemporary feel with 5 Techos Bajos Seafood €€
spacious rooms decorated in a cool palette (www.techosbajos.com; Calle Joaquín Madrid;
of earthy colours. There are crisp white dishes €7-16; h9.30am-4pm Tue-Sun, plus 7pm-
linens, marshmallow-soft pillows and tasteful midnight Fri & Sat) Locals absolutely flood this
paintings, plus a fabulous rooftop terrace and large, no-frills kind of place at lunchtime for its
pool with views to the sea. Situated within well-priced portions of fresh fish and seafood.
confessional distance of the cathedral. You’ll find it down the hill from the bus station,
right opposite the fishing port.
Almería 3
Alicante 7
5 Casa Puga Tapas €
(www.barcasapuga.es; Calle Jovellanos 7; wine & 5 Cervecería Sento Tapas €
tapa €2.80; hnoon-4pm & 8pm-midnight Mon- (Calle Teniente Coronel Chápuli 1; tapas €2-8;
Sat, closed Wed evening) The undisputed tapas h10am-5pm & 8pm-midnight Mon-Sat) Superb,
champ (since it opened in 1870) is Casa Puga; quality montaditos (little rolls) and grilled
make it an early stop, as it fills up fast. Shelves things are the reason to squeeze into this
of ancient wine bottles, and walls plastered with brilliant little bar. Watching the nonstop staff
everything from lottery tickets to ancient maps, in action is quite an experience too. They’ve
are the backdrop for a tiny cooking station that got a bigger branch nearby, but this has the
churns out saucers of tasty stews and griddled atmosphere.
meats, fish, mushrooms and shrimps.

386