La Carihuela, Torremolinos

For a taste of the real Andalusian flavour in the shadow of touristy Torremolinos, head to the historic neighborhood of La Carihuela. Formerly a fisherman's district, La Carihuela lies just to the west of the town of Torremolinos. It's a lovely area of quaint homes with patios clad with bougainvillea. The rhythms of Spanish life roll by with old men playing dominoes and drinking anis under the trees. Many of the houses are being turned into bars, restaurants and gift shops. It's a great place to sample seafood or tapas, and in the evening, the beach bars known as chiringuitos come to life.