Pasaje de Chinitas

Built on the site of a former 17th-century convent, of which only a portico remains, visible from Plaza de la Constitución, Pasaje Chinitas is a true gem in Málaga’s historic centre. This narrow alleyway, opened in the late 19th century by order of the local civil and military governor, quickly became a thriving hub of commerce and culture. Its name comes from one of the most famous venues it once housed: Café Chinitas. Between 1857 and 1937, this café-theatre stood as one of Andalusia’s most vibrant flamenco stages. Legendary performers set Málaga’s nights ablaze here, blending guitar, song and passion in an atmosphere that was both intense and deeply rooted in popular tradition. Much of the café’s enduring fame is thanks to the poet Federico García Lorca, who immortalized it in his poem The Matador Paquiro at the Café de Chinitas. Though the café itself has long since disappeared, it lives on in collective memory as a powerful symbol of Andalusian culture. At first glance, it may look like just another passageway,but this little street is steeped in stories, emotions and poetry, bearing witness to Málaga’s rich artistic past.