Soho Boutique Equitativa, Málaga, Spain

I planned a road trip that started and ended in Málaga, Spain. Then I began to hunt for good quality accommodation, which there is no shortage of since beautiful hotels seem to be popping up frequently in this lively city. I chose the four-star Soho Boutique Equitativa because of its excellent price-quality ratio. It's relatively new (opened in 2021) and thus comfortable for a two-night stay. Also, I was pleased with the contemporary design and finishes, but the best part about the hotel was its location! It's located on one of the main avenues in Málaga, the Almeda Principal, and opposite the prestigious shopping street of Calle Marqués de Larios.

Hotel Soho Boutique Equitativa

The Equitativa building was built in the 1950s in the place of the former palace home of the notable Larios family. The palace was destroyed in the Civil War in the 1930s, and the Marquis de Larios monument now stands on the square in front of the hotel. The impressive white building is a 42-meter-high tower, making it a landmark in the center of Málaga. The building, also referred to as the city's emblem, was named after the insurance company that was in charge of purchasing the original palace.

The foyer of Soho Boutique Equitativa was an impressive open space with stone floors, design lights, wooden details, and a lot of different inviting seating arrangements. Their brightly colored fabrics added to the interest and warmth of the space. The buzzing city was separated from the foyer only by the enormous windows. I truly felt like I was in the heart of the city! The check-in was nice and smooth and we got our room fast.

My Double Room

According to the web pages of the hotel, all the rooms have been designed to maximize rest. They were quiet and calm. The neutral colors of beige, gray, and white had been used with the warm oak. I really liked the hardwood floors and wooden details in the room. Since we arrived at nighttime, I chose a double room without a view for our first visit. The windows and the small balcony were facing the wall of the next-door building. Otherwise, the room was lovely and clean. The dark green wallpaper in the bathroom was a little odd, but the stone surfaces felt luxurious! Also, the complimentary coffee and water were great. 

On our second visit, we had a double room on the 10th floor with a view. It was even lovelier and equally spacious (20 m²) as the first room we visited. To my surprise, the room had two balconies facing two directions – we truly benefited from the hotel's central location and height. It was completely worth it to spend a little more on the view! It made me feel connected with the city and fall in love with its atmosphere. Málaga was alive until the early hours of the morning! We enjoyed the view of the Plaza de la Marina, and the sea, and even saw a little bit of the Cathedral de la Encarnación de Málaga.

The Amenities of Soho Boutique Equitativa

This hotel features a small pool area on the 7th floor with a few loungers. Also, there is a bar 'La 7' with a terrace and a fantastic view of Calle Marqués de Larios. 

The stylish restaurant of the hotel is called Yamur. It had an interesting menu of hot and cold dishes to share and smaller snacks. To my regret, we didn't have time to test their menu on this visit, but we had breakfast in the restaurant. That didn't have an à la carte menu, but the buffet was sufficient for us. It included the expected hot and cold dishes e.g. salad, yogurt, cereal, croissants, scrambled eggs, cold cuts, and fried vegetables. The food tasted amazing! I only wished they would have had at least coffee served at the tables. This breakfast was fully self-service.

In Conclusion

Despite its name, it is not a boutique hotel. It belongs to the chain of Soho Boutique Hotels that operate in different cities in Spain. The chain hotels can many times lack personality and feel rather cold, but I was very impressed with the design of the different spaces and the attentive staff in Soho Boutique Equitativa. With its greatest hallmark, the lightning rod, and its position in front of Calle Marqués de Larios, the building gives character and interest to the whole area!