Hotel Pez Espada by Medplaya, a four-star beachfront property on the promenade of Torremolinos, has undergone a major renovation that modernized over 200 rooms while preserving its mid-century architectural heritage. This review draws on the hotel’s official site, neutral review platforms, and travel operator listings to help you decide whether this historic Costa del Sol hotel matches your expectations for a beachfront stay.

Last checked: 2026-07-09

Hotel Name: Hotel Pez Espada by Medplaya ·
Location: Avda. Salvador Allende, 11, 29620 Torremolinos, Spain ·
Beachfront: Yes, with landscaped gardens ·
Renovation: Renovated rooms and public areas

Hotel Pez Espada Torremolinos: A Complete Review and Guide

What Makes Hotel Pez Espada Special?

Hotel Pez Espada by Medplaya opened in 1959 as the first five-star luxury hotel on the Costa del Sol, according to the MedPlaya official site. Its guest list in those early years included Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Sean Connery, and Ernest Hemingway. Today it operates as a four-star property, but the building’s heritage is protected: the Andalusian Historical-Artistic Heritage catalog has included it since 2006, as reported by Málaga MICE.

What distinguishes the hotel now is the balance between that mid-century glamour and a major renovation completed in 2021. MedPlaya refurbished 206 rooms and 3 suites out of 235 total, along with common areas, restaurants, and convention halls. The work preserved protected architectural elements — the undulating “thousand island” floor, cubist frescoes, marble columns, and the feature staircase — while updating interiors to a modern standard.

Guest reviews on TripAdvisor frequently mention the quality of the refurbishment and the hotel’s beachfront position as standout features. One October 2022 reviewer praised the renovation but noted food cutbacks compared to previous stays (TripAdvisor review). A more recent October 2025 review commended the food choices and cleaning staff while criticizing reception for misleading information about Wi‑Fi issues. These mixed signals suggest the property delivers well on its physical upgrades but faces inconsistency in service and catering.

The bottom line: Pez Espada offers a rare combination of protected mid-century architecture and modernized rooms, but guest satisfaction varies on food and front-desk service.

Is Hotel Pez Espada Near the Beach?

The hotel sits directly across the promenade from La Carihuela Beach, giving it an immediate beachfront location that is widely highlighted in marketing and guest reviews. Thomas Cook notes it is a five-minute walk to Benalmádena’s marina, and the hotel’s own beachfront gardens overlook the Carihuela promenade. KAYAK lists the address as Calle Salvador Allende, 11, approximately 1.1 miles from Torremolinos town center.

The property is marketed as being in a quieter area between the La Carihuela and Solymar districts, yet within a 10–15 minute walk of Torremolinos center, per Thomas Cook. This positioning means guests can access the beach directly from the hotel gardens without crossing a road, while the town’s shops and restaurants remain a short stroll away.

Why this matters: For travelers who prioritize immediate beach access and a quieter base within walking distance of Torremolinos’ main attractions, Pez Espada’s location is a clear asset.

Has Hotel Pez Espada Been Renovated?

Yes. The MedPlaya group announced a major refurbishment on March 12, 2021, which rehabilitated 206 rooms and 3 suites out of a total of 235, along with common areas, restaurants, and convention halls. The MedPlaya official site states that the project sought to preserve protected architectural elements, as the building is listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest in Andalusia.

Room categories now include Classic Rooms, Superior Club Rooms with pool or sea views, and several types of Junior Suites, per Thomas Cook. The refurbished rooms are decorated in a modern style that references the hotel’s 1960s heritage, blending contemporary comfort with mid-century design cues. Suites in the annex building have access to a separate dining area and an exclusive lounge overlooking the seafront, as shown in a YouTube video review of the rejuvenated property.

The trade-off: The renovation focused on rooms and public areas, but some guests report that food variety has been reduced compared to pre-renovation standards, and service quality at reception can be inconsistent.

Does Pez Espada Have Entertainment?

Yes. The hotel offers evening entertainment that typically includes dancing, live singers, and shows, according to Trivago. Some guests, however, perceive the entertainment program as lackluster or not well advertised. Beyond evening shows, the property features a health club with a seasonal indoor pool (winter only), a gym, massage, and sauna facilities, as listed on Trivago and Travelocity.

Two outdoor pool areas — a main pool near the beach and a children’s pool — are available. The main pool is fenced off outside opening hours and monitored by a lifeguard during the day, a safety measure noted in the YouTube video review. Dining options include a main buffet restaurant, Frankie’s Café, and the sea-front Ondina restaurant offering international cuisine with sea views. Pour en savoir plus sur l’Hôtel Pez Espada, ses avis, ses prix et ses réservations, consultez En savoir plus sur update hotelsavis.fr.

The catch: While the hotel provides entertainment and wellness facilities, guest feedback suggests the evening program may not match the energy of larger resort hotels, and some policies around pool towels and deposits appear to have changed over time.

Hotel Pez Espada: Specs and Room Types

Pros and Cons of Hotel Pez Espada

Pricing and Value

Price comparisons from HotelsCombined suggest that Medplaya Hotel Pez Espada’s nightly rates can be around 52% cheaper than the average four-star hotel in Torremolinos, with some data points indicating approximately US$232 per night as a representative rate. This positions the hotel as a relatively affordable option in the beachfront segment, particularly given its renovated rooms and direct promenade access.

Pricing varies by room category and season. Classic Rooms are the most budget-friendly, while Junior Suites and the annex suites command higher rates. The Gold Service option, mentioned in related searches, appears to be a premium tier that may include upgraded amenities or lounge access, though specific pricing is not consistently published across sources.

The pattern: Pez Espada generally undercuts the average four-star Torremolinos hotel by a significant margin, making it a value-oriented choice for travelers who prioritize location and renovation quality over luxury dining or high-energy entertainment.

Alternatives to Hotel Pez Espada

For travelers considering other options on the same stretch of coast, three comparable hotels offer different trade-offs in location, renovation status, and entertainment.

Each alternative offers a similar beachfront position but differs in renovation recency and entertainment intensity. Sol Torremolinos and Meliá Costa del Sol tend to have more robust evening programs, while Hotel Amaragua is a closer neighbor in the La Carihuela district. Pez Espada’s advantage lies in its heritage architecture and the scale of its 2021 renovation, which touched the majority of its rooms.

Our Pick: Who Should Book Hotel Pez Espada?

Guests interested in the all-inclusive experience should also check the Medplaya Hotel Pez Espada review for a comprehensive overview of the Medplaya brand’s offerings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources Cited

• MedPlaya – Hotel Pez Espada official page
• Málaga MICE – Homepage
• TripAdvisor – Hotel Pez Espada reviews
• Thomas Cook – Homepage
• KAYAK – Homepage
• HotelsCombined – Homepage
• Travelocity – Homepage
• YouTube – Homepage