The origin of the name "Carihuela" remains uncertain: a fishing village according to some interpretations, or derived from the "carihuela" plant that grew along the coastal paths. The neighbourhood kept an identity of its own, long detached from the milling industry of the historic centre.
History & origins
In the second quarter of the 20th century, La Carihuela had a fleet of almost forty boats dedicated to sardine fishing. The family-run restaurants that began serving the fish caught by their neighbours became the chiringuitos, today the flagship of Torremolinos's gastronomy.
Heritage & architecture
La Carihuela's transformation, from fishing village to today's chiringuitos, is documented as an exemplary case of gentle reconversion, unlike other neighbourhoods razed for tourism. Among these historic addresses, Casa Pedro, founded in 1951, remains one of the very first chiringuitos on the Costa del Sol.
Playa de la Carihuela
Namesake beachOne of Torremolinos's 4 beaches.
Historic chiringuitos
Born in the 1950sIncluding Casa Pedro, founded in 1951.
La Carihuela seafront
Former urban coreWest of the Punta de Torremolinos.
Procession of the Virgen del Carmen
Every 16 JulyFishermen carry the Virgin out to sea on a decorated boat.
Culture & living traditions
The tradition of pescaíto frito and espeto de sardinas (grilled sardine skewers cooked over boats filled with sand), signature dishes of Torremolinos, trace their origin directly back to La Carihuela's historic fishing activity. Every 16 July, the procession of the Virgen del Carmen brings together fishermen who carry the Virgin out to sea on a decorated boat, the neighbourhood's biggest living tradition. The tourist office explicitly presents the neighbourhood as the place to discover "Torremolinos's true character".
Suggested itinerary
Morning · 9am-12pm: Beach and seafront
Playa de la Carihuela, a walk along the village's former core.
Afternoon · 12pm-5pm: Gastronomy
Lunch on pescaíto frito or espeto de sardinas at a historic chiringuito.
Evening · 5pm onwards: Authentic atmosphere
A stroll through the back streets, dinner at a family-run address.
Suggested itinerary, not field-tested.
Frequently asked questions
Why is La Carihuela Torremolinos's most authentic neighbourhood?
The tourist office presents it as the ideal place to discover "Torremolinos's true character".
Where does the name "La Carihuela" come from?
The origin remains uncertain: either "fishing village" or derived from a coastal plant.
Which celebrities visited La Carihuela?
Grace Kelly, Ava Gardner, Orson Welles and Frank Sinatra.
Where does the pescaíto frito served in La Carihuela come from?
From the neighbourhood's fishing tradition, converted into chiringuitos in the 1950s.
What is La Carihuela's biggest festive tradition?
The procession of the Virgen del Carmen, every 16 July, when fishermen carry the Virgin out to sea on a decorated boat.
Was La Carihuela originally connected to the rest of Torremolinos?
No, its development long took place separately from the milling industry of the centre.
