Avenida Salvador Allende 11, Torremolinos, Spain | (618) 248-8274
On the beach, adjacent to La Carihuela, with the region's best seafood and tapas bars
A famed hideaway for celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Sophia Loren, and Sean Connery
Two outdoor swimming pools
Huge lawn with many sunbeds
Nightly entertainment
Free parking
Free Wi-Fi throughout
A mile and a half from the center of Torremolinos
Rooms could use updating (plans to refurbish are reportedly in the works)
The 205-room Hotel Pez Espada was built in 1959, and was the first hotel on the beach at Torremolinos and the first luxury hotel on the Costa del Sol. In the 1960s and '70s, the Pez Espada was frequented by such celebrities as Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, Sean Connery, and Frank Sinatra, after whom Frankie's Bar was named. The property's heyday is certainly behind it, and today it's a mid-range hotel with clean but basic rooms. Elements of the glamorous, vintage vibe persist, and there are large, airy public spaces, as well as an intimate feeling in the lounges and bars, despite their size.
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Scene
Old-school glam, beautiful gardens, and history
The Hotel Pez Espada still holds echoes of glamorous guests from decades past, when Frank Sinatra, Sean Connery, Sophia Loren, and others breezed through the halls and drank Bellini's at the beach. The lobby is vast, with high ceilings, walls of windows, slightly mod purple and orange sofas, majestic marble pillars, and a broad expanse of unusual black-and-white marble flooring, all of which add up to a feeling of old Hollywood elegance. Frankie's Bar, though large, feels intimate, with a cozy deck, stylish outdoor sofas and armchairs, and enough space between the tables to provide privacy for tete-a-tetes over cocktails. Inside, record jackets are used as wall art, a nod to Frank Sinatra. The Mediterraneo Bar, with a stage and dance floor used in the evenings, feels a little dated, but when the lights go down the glam quotient rises accordingly. The beach and lawn with sunbeds and beach umbrellas both have a vintage vibe; throw in the palm tree grove, and it feels as if Frank Sinatra could be found behind a pair of Ray-Bans, sleeping off last night's after-show party in the Spanish sun.
Location
On the beach, a mile and a half from central Torremolinos
The Hotel Pez Espada is on the beach, 1.4 miles from downtown Torremolinos, which can be reached quickly by car, or via a lovely, leisurely walk. The hotel is surrounded by shops, restaurants, and tapas bars, and there is a golf course three miles away. The Pez Espada borders the district of La Carihuela, where the region's best seafood is found. Malaga Airport is a 20-minute drive.
Rooms
Clean, basic rooms with unparalleled views
Rooms at the Hotel Pez Espada have private furnished balconies, although the terraces vary in size. Suites have teak deck furniture, but rooms in lower categories have molded plastic tables and chairs. Rooms are basic, but spotless, with simple bedspreads, carpeted floors, and flatscreen TVs. The decor needs updating, and renovations are ongoing until June 2017. Suites, all on the top (seventh) floor, are more stylish than regular double rooms, and have large, round jetted tubs, cool bedside lamps, pretty red and blue flower bedspreads, and lounge chairs on the balcony. No matter what room category, the views are uniformly spectacular. Club Rooms and Beachfront Club Rooms include extra perks like mini-fridges with welcome drinks, coffee- and tea-making facilities, bathrobes and slippers, pool towels, a bottle of wine, safety deposit box, and other Club amenities.
Features
Two outdoor pools, two bars, bright banquet room
The Hotel Pez Espada features two large, pretty outdoor pools. Beautifully kept lawns surround the pools and are studded with sun beds and straw beach umbrellas. There is a sizable card room with bridge and poker tables, and tropical-looking furniture. The buffet restaurant, which has a gorgeous ocean view, requires men to wear long pants at night. While the quality of the food is decent, there is not a huge variety in the offerings. Nightly entertainment can include live music, flamenco, or a magic show. There is a nice gift shop, with more than just cheesy souvenirs.
