Tucked away down a charming street is the Petit Palace Plaza Malaga. Although in a central location, the setting is quiet and ideal for a city base. The hotel has a somewhat rustic, Andalusian exterior, with rich dark-wood doors, coral-painted facade, and wrought-iron balconies, while interiors are contemporary. Inside, modern furnishings, minimalist lines, and pops of orange create a vibrant but clean look. While everything is well-maintained and a tasty buffet breakfast is offered in the charming dining room with arches and skylights, the lack of features here is a notable downside. There are no full restaurant, pool, or gym, although most guests spend their days tourist the city. Visitors are a mix of couples, families, and to a lesser extent, groups of friends, on vacation.

Petit Palace Plaza Malaga has a stellar location in central Malaga. Though the hotel is located down a mostly quiet side street, the surrounding area is teeming with places to go and see. Travelers are just a one-minute walk from Constitution Square, and other popular nearby sights include Malaga Cathedral (four-minute walk), Picasso Museum Málaga (four-minute walk), Plaza de la Merced (seven-minute walk), and Teatro Romano (six-minute walk). There is no shortage of shopping options nearby, same goes for dining and drinking options, too. Farther sights include Castillo Gibralfaro (25-minute walk) and Playa de la Malagueta (26-minute walk). Malaga Airport is a 20-minute drive.

Rooms are modern and minimalist, with clean-lined wood furniture, wood floors, and white walls. Wall decals of flowers and pops of orange in most rooms -- in bed throws, sink bases, and desk chairs -- add some character, though the spaces still feel a bit generic. Also on the downside, some rooms are small and bathrooms are compact. Nevertheless, quality amenities include free Wi-Fi, wardrobes, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, desks, and on request, free iPads. Upgraded units have lovely city views, and a suite with two floors and rooftop terrace is available. Bright bathrooms have glass showers, free toiletries, hairdryers, and bidets. Cribs and gifts for kids are available for free.

Features are limited at Petit Palace Plaza Malaga, as there are no full restaurant, gym, or pool. The only meal served here is a tasty breakfast buffet with cold meats and cheeses, fruit, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, pastries, and coffee. A few enticing freebies include rental bikes, Wi-Fi, and iPads on request. An internet corner with a couple of computers is free to use, and pets up to 33 pounds are allowed to stay here.