Daryl Finch

Daryl Finch

Owner / Editor in chief

A permanent Malaga resident since 2014, having first fallen in love with the city on his Erasmus year. After working for many years in local expat media, Daryl gained expert knowledge in life from the perspective of foreign residents and decided to co-found Malaga Guru in 2016.

Latest posts from Daryl Finch

Destinations

Muelle Uno

Malaga’s port district has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade, and nowhere is this more evident than at Muelle Uno. Since 2011, this once-industrial dock now serves as a sun-drenched promenade where locals and visitors alike come to shop, dine and soak up the Mediterranean atmosphere. The open-air complex stretches along the waterfront, lined with palm trees and

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Large sand-colored “Malagueta” sign on La Malagueta beach in Málaga, with palm trees, modern buildings, and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
Beaches

La Malagueta beach

La Malagueta beach sits right at the end of the Muelle Uno marina, nestled between Malaga’s historic lighthouse and its iconic bullring. As the most accessible stretch of sand for visitors to Malaga, just ten minutes from the city centre, it’s certainly among the most popular. It’s among the best, too. The prestigious European Foundation for Environmental Education has awarded it

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Destinations

Mercado de Atarazanas central food market

Whether you’re a tourist exploring Malaga’s culinary scene or a local seeking an alternative to supermarket shopping, Atarazanas Market (Mercado de Atarazanas) is the perfect place to discover authentic Andalusian gastronomy. Open every morning except Sundays, this vibrant food market features over 100 stalls, many of which are family-owned businesses passed down through generations. Here, you’ll find everything from fresh

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Group of people dressed as zombies with horror makeup during a Halloween event in Málaga.
Autumn

Halloween

Although not an occasion historically celebrated in Spain, Halloween is gradually gaining popularity, drawing more and more people into the spooky spirit each year. Every year now, the streets of Malaga are especially busy with families and those who are young at heart donning extravagant costumes. As ever, the people of Malaga love to celebrate with good humour, dressing up

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Blog

From Arab shipyard to convent: the fascinating history of Atarazanas market

Today, Atarazanas is known as Malaga’s central market – a bustling marketplace and a major hub of activity in Malaga city centre. However, this vibrant food market boasts a remarkable history that spans seven centuries, reflecting the city’s evolving landscape and culture. The original Atarazanas: a 14th-century Arab shipyard When Atarazanas was first built in the 14th century, Malaga looked

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Museums & galleries

Centre Pompidou Málaga

Centre Pompidou Málaga stands as the jewel in the crown of Malaga’s thriving cultural scene. This contemporary art museum represents the first international outpost of the renowned Paris-based Centre national d’art et de culture Georges-Pompidou (the Georges Pompidou National Centre for Art and Culture), marking its first location outside France. The gallery opened its doors to the public in March

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Traditional espetos in Málaga with skewered sardines, squid, prawns, and fish displayed vertically on metal skewers outside a seaside restaurant grill.
Blog

The top 5 must-try seafood dishes in Malaga

While paella gets all the limelight, especially from foreigners, Malaga’s coastal cuisine offers so much more. This Mediterranean city has perfected the art of simple, fresh seafood preparations that let the quality of the catch shine through. Armed with little more than olive oil, sea salt and centuries of fishing tradition, malagueños have created dishes that are beloved across Spain. If

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Sightseeing

The English Cemetery

When Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella conquered Malaga in 1487, they transformed the city into a stronghold of Roman Catholicism. Fast forward three and a half centuries, and Malaga had evolved dramatically into a thriving port and industrial hub where non-Catholics played an essential role in civic life. Yet despite this cosmopolitan shift, non-Catholics faced a grim reality: they had

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Exterior view of the Cathedral of Malaga on a sunny day, with its detailed stone architecture surrounded by green trees and a bright blue sky.
Sightseeing

Malaga Cathedral

Malaga Cathedral, officially known as the Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación, stands as one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Visible from virtually anywhere in Malaga, this magnificent structure is instantly recognisable thanks to its defining feature: a single tower. This distinctive characteristic has earned it the affectionate nickname La Manquita, meaning “the one-armed lady.” Why does Malaga

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Food & drink

Taberna Cofrade Las Merchanas

You won’t find a more authentically Malaga restaurant than Las Merchanas, this beloved city centre taberna cofrade. Inside, the walls showcase an impressive collection of Semana Santa photographs, statues, posters and sculptures. This Holy Week memorabilia surrounds diners at every turn, creating an unmistakably Spanish atmosphere that celebrates Andalusian religious traditions. The restaurant stays packed with locals throughout the evening.

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Sightseeing

La Concepción botanical gardens

The Jardín Botánico-Histórico La Concepción, Malaga’s Botanical Gardens, is just a 15-minute drive from the historic centre and is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. When visiting this green oasis, spread across a magnificent three-hectare plot, you can scarcely believe you’re in a major city. You are immediately immersed in an almost tropical jungle, with

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Bronze statue of Hans Christian Andersen seated on a bench in Málaga’s Alameda Principal
Blog

Hans Christian Andersen and his relationship with Malaga

Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish writer behind The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling, may have been born the son of a shoemaker in Odense, but his imagination and restless feet carried him far beyond Denmark. A passionate traveller, he explored much of Europe, often with unusual habits and eccentricities that matched his unique character. Among his most curious travel

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