Bart's best of: The best of Marbella
Sun, sea, beach and food? In other words: Marbella! There is certainly something to experience here. And the best part? Read more below: the nicest of places in Marbella.
If you only make 1 stop, make it at La Plage by Casanis. The owners have several businesses in the area, but this is the first on the beach and is a winner! Fine Belgian cuisine, funky decor and excellent service. You will find La Plage by Casanis on the Estrella de Mar beach in Elviria, to be precise: look for the hammocks, score one, and you won't be able to get out for the rest of the day. To eat? The dishes from the charcoal grill are perfect! And if you like cocktails, you can also join us here. Bringing kids? Also a good idea because the water is shallow here and there are plenty of water sports to do nearby.
images via Marbella Wedding because it is also a perfect wedding location.
For lovers of sun, sea and beach, it is METT Hotel & Beach Resort Marbella Estepona the place to be. This is one of those places where you don't have to think about anything, everything is taken care of. Sleeping starts at 300 euros per night and for an additional fee you can lounge on a beach bed all day long. Furthermore, a lot of water sports activities are organized, so if you want you can certainly do something. If not on the water, then in the RAISE Fitness & Wellness.
Beach Club Siroko is highly recommended. You will find this nice spot on the way to Marbella. You can lie down on a bed here and then enjoy a late lunch with the tastiest paella. And who knows, maybe someone will come and play the saxophone or violin. So enjoy!
NOSSO Beach Club is a new beach club in Marbella with its Ibiza-style interior. You can go there all day long. So you can lie on a sunbed during the day, walk into the sea and enjoy a delicious lunch with dishes such as: carpaccio, poke bowls or a tasty salad with shrimps (and don't forget the sangria). And in the evening it is just as delicious. A tip: come just before the sun sets and enjoy a beautiful sunset at your table by the sea.
First there was the bistro in the old center of Marbella. A French place where it was of an un-Spanish class. Un-Spanish in the sense that Spaniards are not necessarily known for their sophistication. Well at Casanis. It is one of the few restaurants that are open all year round, although that is not the only reason that everyone, especially the locals, is devoted to the business. The menu features traditional French dishes and an excellent selection of wines. But also tapas, although in French. The best of both worlds. But it doesn't end there. No. Casanis turns out to be a local mini-chain with two more locations (although the bistro was the first). The second: Latapa by Casanis. Nice. The youngest: La Plage Casanis.
The Beach House. At the beach, for the whole day. 24 hours a day even: The Beach House also has a very nice B&B, The Residence. Please be careful: if you are in a bathing suit, you can go to the designated bar for drinks. The restaurant itself is quite chic, just like the B&B.
On Marbella's famous Golden Mile you will find the Marbella Club Hotel - a beautiful luxury resort with a special story: in 1954, Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe - who doesn't know him - opened the doors of the hotel and created a perfect mix of Andalusian charm and exclusivity. Fast forward to 2025: is still the case.
The resort is a series of lush gardens and hotel rooms spanning 42.000 square metres along the Mediterranean Sea. The rooms are gorgeous, the spa is great, there are two heated pools and a lovely beach club – even for non-guests!
Good food? Absolutely! There are several restaurants including the Michelin-starred The Grill. There is a private golf club, tennis courts and really nice children's facilities. Costs a few cents, but hey, you are in Marbella.
MC Beach is part of the Marbella Club Hotel and is – we think – the beach club you don’t want to miss… Hip? Yes. But not too much. And relaxed beach beds with great service, right on the sea. The fresh Mediterranean dishes are incredibly good – perfect for a lazy day in the sun or lunch with friends.
In the evening, MC Beach transforms into an atmospheric spot with soft lighting and chill music – a favourite among locals and tourists alike.
Name a restaurant that is a greater Mediterranean chic classic than Cipriani? We'll wait. Quite impossible indeed and in the fashionable seaside resort that Marbella is, Cipriani Marbella is actually a no brainer. Italian class on the sunny Costa del Sol. You eat the famous Cipriani dishes that everyone loves: carpaccio and perfectly mixed Bellinis in a stylish but relaxed environment. It has the glamour of the original Harry's Bar in Venice, but with that relaxed Mediterranean vibe.
Rachel Eco Love @rachelsecolove
The Patio of Marbella Club
The olive grove
Florentine
Planta Bistrot
Coffee Club @kofficlub_
Newbakat
Organic Cold Pressed Juicery @organiccoldpressedjuicery
Cappuccino Club @grupocappuccino
Plenty of fun in Puente Romano and also: Monkey Club Marbella. A trendy decor, cocktails and delicious food. With a varied menu from crispy shrimps, pizza with fresh truffle, to a crab tartare and finally a Nutella cheesecake. And in addition to the menu with the tastiest dishes, there is also a cocktail menu that will make you happy.
Beach & party is the concept of Playa Padre. And to be honest, you just have to love it. But let's talk about the interior for a moment because it is: wow! During the day you can lie on one of the beach beds and go to the restaurant for lunch. And so the menu is a combination of Asian and Mediterranean dishes with a Mexican touch. On Thursdays and Sundays they are open until 00:00 and the rest of the days until 21:00.
El-Chiringuito, sounds familiar? Can be correct. The business is also in Ibiza and has been a hit there for some time. The group brought El-Chiringuito to Marbella and you can figure out the rest. Authentic El-Chiringuito dishes on the menu: lobster risotto, tuna from the charcoal grill, sea bass in sea salt crust or the Nebraska sirloin steak @chiringuitopuenteromano
Trocadero Arena: a restaurant and beach club on Rio Real beach east of the center of Marbella. Open all year round, 24 hours a day (hello sunset and sunrise!). The colonial interior is what you expect (and hope for) in these parts and the chefs understand that bikini-proof is a great asset. The Eastern Mediterranean fusion menu (yes) is healthy and balanced, and/but still (delete which is not applicable) very tasty. Once you've finished your meal, you parade to one of the Balinese beds to sip the cocktail of the day. If that is your plan, you will need to make a reservation.
On the edge of Puerto Banús with a beautiful setting, you can stay all day at Breathe Marbella. With a menu for everyone: carpaccio with truffle, a cheeseburger, mango pudding... and so on. The parking garage underneath the restaurant is also very convenient (so no searching for a spot).
Hotel Puente Romano, the beating catering heart of Marbella: the owners of one of the most fashionable parts of Spain brought one of the most fashionable hotels in the world to their zip code and linked it to their own hotel: Nobu. You can also join the happy few who gather at the Plaza Village every day of the week without a hotel key card. In other words: a dream for those who love food. Nobu Marbella serves its signature dish, the black cod miso, as well as varying unique small snacks that no one could live to tell, including me. Even it breakfast buffet is special and packed with unusual dishes with a Japanese twist. Egg banana with dry miso, anyone? Or blueberries with soba pancakes?
Anyone who goes to Marbella and wants to immerse themselves in Marbella, only needs to remember one other name - in addition to the name of their hotel: Hotel Puente Romano. A hotel, yes, but also the umbrella club that manages the finest restaurants in the area, all on the same hotel grounds, a small village, so to speak. At the front, on the side of the road, you will find Celicioso. A great tip for the whole day, including, no especially, for breakfast. The small café serves gluten-free baked goods and where I once said that gluten-free means that something is simply impossible to swallow, stripped of all the softness and butter, I take back my words here: even people without celiac disease can eat here with peace of mind. order a really tasty sandwich.
Celicious
The best address for an extensive and colorful breakfast in the area is Rachel's eco love. The small business is located on the terrace of one of the swimming pools, but operates independently. Breakfast and lunch are a treat here. Acai bowls, stuffed coconuts with matcha smoothie, home-made granola with yoghurt, stuffed aubergines, pizzas with avocado and edible flowers, eggs Benedict, coffee with coconut milk and the tastiest juices and smoothies. Everything is also extremely Instagram-proof.
You would almost forget that a city so known for its 'new money' is actually quite old. And an old city has classics. In the case of Marbella, this is above all Café Cappuccino. The café has branches in Ibiza and Mallorca, in Madrid and Valencia and you can also find a Café Cappuccino in Jeddah and Gstaad, and the concept is the same everywhere: a grand café for coffee and a simple but good breakfast, also in Marbella . Without a doubt the nicest terrace on the boulevard in the old center: a kind of spacious courtyard on the sidewalk.
