The apartment is right in the heart of the city overlooking the central square. You feel that you are living in a different century in the elegant, old apartment. We were able to walk just about everywhere we wanted to go in the city and had no real need for public transportation except to the airport. You can buy virtually anything you need within a couple of blocks radius. Restaurants and shopping are right outside your door. Málaga is a great jumping off point for day trips to other nearby cities (the Alhambra in Granada is a must-see), but is also awesome in its own right.
Rafa and his father are very pleasant people and Rafa responded to us promptly when needed. We highly recommend Málaga as a destination generally, and Rafa's apartment specifically. Muchas gracias!