Hotel Zenit Malaga looks a little reserved -- and even a bit stoic -- at first glance. Spotlights illuminate a lobby featuring honey wood-paneled walls and basic tiled floors. There’s a small seating area to the immediate right of the entrance, along with a computer that's thoughtfully placed behind a column for a little privacy. The wood tones are a running design theme throughout the hotel -- you’ll spot them everywhere from the hallways to the rooms to the Mediterranean restaurant. The style overall is simple, and not particularly memorable, which is fine as most guests are out on business or pleasure during the day. It’s an ideal option for business travelers and tourists seeking a quieter alternative to hotels directly in the city center, yet still within decent walking and driving distance from Malaga’s most renowned sites.

Located in northern Malaga, Hotel Zenit Malaga provides reasonable proximity to many of the area’s best sites. One of the most noteworthy sites to visit by foot is the historic Santa Maria de la Victoria church, about six minutes away. The city center itself about a 10-minute walk. The famed Rosaleda football stadium, home to the Malaga club since 1941, is a five-minute drive from the hotel. It’s also just 10 minutes by car from Malagueta Beach and the Picasso Museum of Malaga, which features nearly 300 works of art donated by the Picasso family. There’s a bus stop right outside the hotel that goes into the town center, and Malaga Airport is about a 20-minute drive.

While there's not a ton of style to be had in the rooms here, they are a decent step up from the frequently drab and dated mid-range options in and around Malaga. Hardwood floors carry over from the hallways into the air-conditioned rooms, which feature thick stripes on wallpapered walls and warm cherry wood accents. Though the rooms are simple, the basics are all provided, including free Wi-Fi, minibars, desks, and flat-screen TVs with premium cable channels. The bathrooms are well equipped with spacious vanities and shower/tub combos. The Standard Terrace Room does have a larger bathroom and a spacious, furnished outdoor balcony -- the only slight drawback is the bare-bones view of the street below. All of the rooms are soundproof, so any exterior noises are usually filtered out. 

Features are slim here, and the most notably lacking one for travelers to Malaga is the pool -- after all, this city is built upon its sunny reputation. In any case, the stylish yet understated Malagueta Restaurant earns accolades from previous guests for its menu of Mediterranean and Andalusian cuisines. The breakfast buffet includes plenty of hot and cold options, and an array of gluten-free items, for a fee. Free coffee and biscuits are available for early risers. One caveat: the eatery is open for breakfast and dinner from Monday through Thursday only, so those in town for weekend visits will need to look elsewhere. There’s also a spacious meeting room to accommodate business travelers. Room service is available, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. There’s no on-site parking, but there is a parking lot about five minutes by foot from the hotel.