Motril Municipal Market

The building is fully enclosed, so the market works just as well in an August heatwave as it does on a wet January morning. Twenty-five stalls is a manageable size: you can walk the whole floor in a few minutes, compare two or three fishmongers before buying, and be out with a full basket inside half an hour. It is a working food hall for people who live in Motril rather than a tourist attraction, which is why the busiest stretch is mid-morning on Saturday, when the week's shopping gets done.

Stalls take cash, and mobile payment is accepted too, so a phone tap will cover you if you arrive without coins. If you also want the open-air option while you are in town, see the street markets in Motril.

Start at the fish and seafood counters, then work round the rest. Between the 25 stalls you'll find fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, bread and bakery, and cheese and dairy, which between them cover a full week's cooking without a supermarket stop. This is the closest thing Motril has to a local farmers market under one roof: loose produce sold by weight, priced by the kilo, with the fruit and vegetable stalls sitting alongside the butchers rather than in a separate aisle.

For picnic shopping, bread from the bakery stall plus cheese and a slice or two of cured meat is the obvious combination, and the whole lot travels well down to the beach.

Staying in the Town Centre puts you within easy walking distance of the municipal market and most of the town's shops and cafes. If you prefer something with a sea view, the coastal strip around Playa de Poniente is a short drive away and has accommodation for most budgets.

For a reliable mid-range option, Hotel Palacete de Almuñécar keeps you close to everything you need. Book early in summer, as the Costa Tropical draws a crowd and availability tightens fast.

The address is Avenida San Agustín 18, 18600 Motril, in the town centre and within walking distance of most of central Motril. There is parking at the market, useful if you are driving in from the Costa Tropical resorts or coming off the A-7. The market is wheelchair accessible, with step-free access into the hall.