I have known Sea Grill for well over a decade, and this latest chapter feels like the most focused. The restaurant now occupies the upper level of the resort’s sea facing pavilion building, with the new La Petite Maison taking the lower, direct sea-facing space. Sea Grill is a more intimate, more cohesive space, and it suits the restaurant well.

We took a seat at our table and ordered a Negroni, prepared tableside from a trolley, served with an ice cube pressed with the Sea Grill logo and a neat circle of orange peel. Generous and well made. I had the cocktail of the day, whisky with a carrot liqueur made from the resort’s own farm, shaken and served in a coupe glass. Superb. From the bar you look straight across to the marble seafood counter on the east side, where the day’s catch sits on a bed of crushed ice under a continual flow of dry ice, framed by a view out across the terrace to the gardens and the sea beyond. On the day we visited, a ronqueo carving of a whole bluefin tuna was taking place behind the counter. It is the kind of scene that tells you immediately this kitchen lives by what it says about provenance.

Tables are set with white linen with dark blue water glasses and bespoke plates. Each is white with a blue rim and a small stamp, topped with a signature plate featuring three blue sardines. Fun, and distinctly Sea Grill. Blue velvet banquettes line the west wall, vintage-style ribbed glass globe lamps with maritime brass fittings hang from the white wood and glass pergola ceiling, and on the north wall, bespoke hand-painted ceramic tiles of fish, octopus and shells frame a wide cinematic hatch into the open kitchen. The team in white shirts, blue chinos and aprons move through the room with relaxed, attentive confidence. The one note I would lose is the terracotta pot of fresh herbs on each table, which feels at odds with the otherwise pared-back, refined aesthetic.

Bread arrived in a small iron skillet, soft buttery rolls like a light brioche, accompanied with a marble tablet of two house-blended butters. One a rich salted and the other with green algas. Irresistible. Then the smoked salmon, carved tableside from a trolley, a time-honoured recipe with a deep, authentic smoke flavour. Alongside, the classic accompaniments in miniature, including finely chopped hard-boiled egg, capers, red onion. Beautifully done, simple and elegant. The tuna tartare with Japanese mayo was a delight.

The artichokes, pan-fried in olive oil, were among the best I have had in Andalucía. A genuine highlight. The yellowfin tuna steaks, prepared à la roteña with tomatoes, onions and peppers, one of six ways the kitchen offers to prepare your fish, were less memorable, though the fresh asparagus alongside, dressed with olive oil and black pepper, was good.

Desserts are evocative of Spanish classics and traditional treats. The flan was one of the finest homemade Spanish-style flans I have tried, soft and creamy, flecked with ground vanilla pods. The bread, olive oil and chocolate was less successful in my opinion, the mousse too runny with too much oil, but served with crisp toasted slivers of crystal bread to enjoy. Both are evocative of Spanish childhood treats, the bread and chocolate a nod to the merienda, the afternoon snack of a bar of chocolate on bread. With coffee came a warm magdalena, generous after an already substantial meal.

The house white, a Nekeas Blanco 2025 from Navarra, was a good, enjoyable glass. In fact, the by-the-glass selection is extensive, and the full wine list, overseen by Wine Director Alejandro Marcos, holds over 1,400 references with two consecutive Wine Spectator awards. The dessert wine pairings alone, from a 1984 Don PX to Château d’Yquem 2022, tell you everything about the ambition of this cellar.

The quality across the board is reflected in the pricing. With a couple of starters, a fish course, dessert and a glass of wine each, lunch for two will comfortably reach almost €300. It is worth knowing before you sit down, but for this level of produce, preparation and service, it feels fair.

Sea Grill continues to earn its place at the centre of this landmark gastronomic resort. More intimate, more personal, and with a daily-changing menu that gives it a clarity and honesty genuinely rooted in the land and the sea around it.

This was a hosted lunch.

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Accommodation

Rooms are generous, with large stone and marble bathrooms, separate bathtubs and walk-in showers. There’s plenty of storage, and a proper in-room bar area. Suites add enhanced space and privacy. Garden Suites bring a private pool and hedged seclusion. Terrace Suites sit high with hot tubs and broad views. The new signature Dome Suite, the Duplex, Marbella, and Royal Marbella Suites suit families and friends who want space and exclusive interiors. The remodelling has created sophisticated, welcoming spaces, with attention to detail, for the embossed coasters in the in-room bar, to the elegantly furnished terraces with lamps.

Pools & Gardens

Pool life is well thought out. A small children’s pool sits alongside a relaxed family pool. Across the new Garden Bar is the main pool for sun-soaked days. A level below, the adults-only pool offers a quieter mood, with a dedicated bar shaded under Mediterranean pines. From the gardens, the lane takes you to Playa Real de Zaragoza, one of Marbella’s most sought-after beaches, with shallow waters, in just a couple of minutes.

Overall it is a delight with powder blue and white parasols giving a timeless vintage vibe, while the domes, arches, and fountains are evocative of a dreamy Andalusian garden.

Dining

Terraza defines the culinary approach. The menu is Andalusian at heart: garlic prawns, grilled aubergines with cane honey, artichokes with lemon alioli, gazpacho, Iberian ham with crystal bread, and salads from Niçoise-style to quinoa and avocado. Mains include Málaga-style tuna and grilled sea bass with almond sauce to octopus on black rice. Breakfast in the same setting is a highlight; a superb selection served with garden and sea views by the friendliest team. Cocktails and spritz include the classic Rebujito, evocative of feria days in the south of Spain.

For drinks, the Lobby Bar in the Andalucian patio is a tranquil place for coffee or an aperitif. The new Garden Bar, opposite the signature brickwork arches, fountains and tiled detail, is excellent, with daily live music from a mellow sax player to Spanish guitar.

On the shore, a few minutes walk away is Amù Beach Club. Red-and-white daybeds, an infinity pool and a stylish inside and outside dining area.

You can read The Luxury Editor’s review of Amù Beach Club here.

Wellbeing

Wellbeing comes with a renowned UK provenance. Champneys brings a century of know-how to Spain, with sea-view treatment rooms, a heat circuit, an indoor pool and a studio for movement and relaxation.

This is the Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club experience, a thoughtfully curated seaside stay with a strong sense of place, together with international flavours from the playful Amù Beach Club to the landmark Champneys Wellness Spa.

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Arriving at Amù Beach Club Marbella, you are greeted by bold red and white. Parasols trimmed in crimson catch the light, towels are crisp and bright, and three tall palms frame the infinity pool view as the Mediterranean Sea sparkles beyond. The entrance sets the mood, with surfboards leaning among olive trees, and baskets of lemons.

Côte d’Azur to the Costa del Sol

Amù is new to Marbella, a Côte d’Azur original now at home on Playa Real de Zaragoza. The setting is special, as this is undoubtedly one of Marbella’s best beaches, with shallow, calm waters. The club is expansive, including a garden lawn that runs towards an outdoor cocktail bar with Mediterranean views. There is an inside bar as well, polished and cool. The covered dining terrace flows from the indoor all-weather area. Daybeds line the pool, loungers wait on the sand. Everything invites you to stay and linger under the sun.

We visited in late October under clear Andalusian skies. Lunch began with a Gran Marbella Spritz, bright with cava rosé and elderflower, and a Passion Picante Paloma with a gentle heat mixing up the classic cocktail. Mezze arrived first: smooth hummus, a smoky moutabal, and ajo blanco, before the crisp fried calamari.

Beachside dining

Then the showpiece: a paella of carabineros, served at the table from a traditional pan. A chilled white wine tied it all together. Service was warm, attentive, and natural.

The menu includes Riviera favourites with Spanish Mediterranean dishes. There is sea bass crudo with leche de tigre, grilled tuna from the Josper with peppers, and simple things done well, from a pissaladière to a Niçoise. There are family favourites like pizzas and pastas. The desserts are contemporary interpretations.

The drinks list is playful and precise, from the Bloody Marbella to a Mango & Chilli Caipiroska, with Champagne and spritzes for long afternoons.

By day, Amù is about poolside posing, beach swims, and summery lunches. As the sun dips, the music changes and it’s a fun dining destination.

Champneys Wellness Spa

Amù sits within Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club, a discreet five-star resort a very short stroll up the road, with buggies on hand if you prefer a lift. The resort has also introduced Champneys to Spain for the first time. If you want a different kind of day, the new Champneys Wellness Spa Marbella has sea-view treatment rooms, a heat circuit, and a serene indoor pool. It suits the mood here: energy when you want it, calm when you need it.

You can read The Luxury Editor review of Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club here.

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The season begins on 27 November with the tree-lighting in the lobby, set to live music and a welcome cocktail. Throughout December, an in-house advent calendar will offer daily surprises, a small reminder that pleasure often sits in the details.

Away from the lights, the resort embraces local craft and simple, hands-on moments. Guets can enjoy unique destive destination experiences like visits to Christmas markets or try traditional local season crafts, before all the family come to the table for festive dining. On 23 December at 4 pm the resort’s head pastry chef hosts a Christmas-sweets class. On 26 December at 12 pm ceramicists from Coín lead a pottery workshop. Both are designed so children and adults can create something to take home.

Music sets the tone on 12, 13, 26 and 27 December, when Candlelight concerts in Salón Linares fill the space with strings and soft glow, hundreds of candles shaping the room into a warm, intimate hall.

For younger guests, Santa appears twice, first on 24 December at 7:30 pm and again on 25 December at 1 pm. Animal lovers get their moment on 27 December at 12 pm, when Donkey Dreamland brings its gentle rescue donkeys to the resort for a talk and meet-and-greet that focuses on care and respect.

Festive dining

The kitchen has planned a sequence of meals that favour classic flavours and a relaxed sense of occasion.

• Christmas Eve, 24 December
  Dinner at La Veranda comes with live music. Highlights include foie gras mousse with carquiñoli crumb, sea bass loin with pistachios, and a Manjari chocolate ganache with jasmine and coconut ice cream. €325 per person.
• Christmas Day Brunch, 25 December
  A generous spread of Ibérico cold cuts, fresh seafood, grilled meats and fish, and traditional festive pastries. €195 per adult, €90 per child.
• New Year’s Eve, 31 December
  Three routes into midnight: an Asian menu at 99 Sushi Bar €425, a Mediterranean gala dinner with party favours in Salón Linares €550, or a special menu at Ola Beirut created for the night.
• New Year’s Day Brunch, 1 January
  Prime Ibérico, seafood stations and signature desserts to start the year well. €220 per adult, €100 per child.

From 20 December to 7 January, Eddy’s Bar serves a festive afternoon tea, and those in a celebratory mood can book an oysters-and-Champagne experience. The spa rounds out the offer with a seasonal Elemis treatment designed for deep rest and reset, an easy gift to yourself or someone close.

Set among formal gardens with golf on the doorstep and the Mediterranean breeze in the air, Christmas at Anantara Villa Padierna aims for simple pleasures done well: music by candlelight, time spent making things by hand, and meals that feel both generous and polished. Reservations are recommended for all concerts, workshops and dining.

You can read The Luxury Editor Review of Anantara Villa Padierna Benahavís Marbella Resort here.

Anantara Villa Padierna Benahavís Marbella Resort will mark the season with a full programme from 27 November to 1 January, combining candlelit music, family-friendly workshops and a strong food and drink line-up open to guests and non-residents.

The season begins on 27 November with the tree-lighting in the lobby, set to live music and a welcome cocktail. Throughout December, an in-house advent calendar will offer daily surprises, a small reminder that pleasure often sits in the details.

Away from the lights, the resort embraces local craft and simple, hands-on moments. Guets can enjoy unique destive destination experiences like visits to Christmas markets or try traditional local season crafts, before all the family come to the table for festive dining. On 23 December at 4 pm the resort’s head pastry chef hosts a Christmas-sweets class. On 26 December at 12 pm ceramicists from Coín lead a pottery workshop. Both are designed so children and adults can create something to take home.

Music sets the tone on 12, 13, 26 and 27 December, when Candlelight concerts in Salón Linares fill the space with strings and soft glow, hundreds of candles shaping the room into a warm, intimate hall.

For younger guests, Santa appears twice, first on 24 December at 7:30 pm and again on 25 December at 1 pm. Animal lovers get their moment on 27 December at 12 pm, when Donkey Dreamland brings its gentle rescue donkeys to the resort for a talk and meet-and-greet that focuses on care and respect.

Festive dining

The kitchen has planned a sequence of meals that favour classic flavours and a relaxed sense of occasion.

• Christmas Eve, 24 December
  Dinner at La Veranda comes with live music. Highlights include foie gras mousse with carquiñoli crumb, sea bass loin with pistachios, and a Manjari chocolate ganache with jasmine and coconut ice cream. €325 per person.
• Christmas Day Brunch, 25 December
  A generous spread of Ibérico cold cuts, fresh seafood, grilled meats and fish, and traditional festive pastries. €195 per adult, €90 per child.
• New Year’s Eve, 31 December
  Three routes into midnight: an Asian menu at 99 Sushi Bar €425, a Mediterranean gala dinner with party favours in Salón Linares €550, or a special menu at Ola Beirut created for the night.
• New Year’s Day Brunch, 1 January
  Prime Ibérico, seafood stations and signature desserts to start the year well. €220 per adult, €100 per child.

From 20 December to 7 January, Eddy’s Bar serves a festive afternoon tea, and those in a celebratory mood can book an oysters-and-Champagne experience. The spa rounds out the offer with a seasonal Elemis treatment designed for deep rest and reset, an easy gift to yourself or someone close.

Set among formal gardens with golf on the doorstep and the Mediterranean breeze in the air, Christmas at Anantara Villa Padierna aims for simple pleasures done well: music by candlelight, time spent making things by hand, and meals that feel both generous and polished. Reservations are recommended for all concerts, workshops and dining.

You can read The Luxury Editor Review of Anantara Villa Padierna Benahavís Marbella Resort here.

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We visited in late September. There’s a welcoming shaded exterior terrace, and spacious interior decorated with the signature aquamarine of the brand, together with faux bougainvillea, evocative of the eastern Mediterranean.

The format is a fixed €29 per adult for the mezze brunch, with tea coming to the table first with some warmed gözleme. Service moved at an unhurried pace, so my recommendation is to order extras at the beginning of the meal, and come with time to enjoy the experience.

Staff top up the table with small plates as you go, from olives and acuka to lemon mud cheese, three-cheese aubergine, fried potatoes, grilled sujuk and menemen. There are tasty pişi doughnuts, seasonal jams and bazlama bread included within the mezze spread, with extras available if you have a greater appetite. There were fewer fresh options compared to Turkey, where peeled tomatoes, cucumber and herbs are a big part of the breakfast. Here the focus is on breads, eggs and preserves.

After 18.00 I’m told the kitchen turns to an evening menu of Turkish dishes from the grill, alongside cocktails, and soft drinks.

Bazlama has been brought to Spain by sisters Salmeh and Sarah Moravvej, Dubai-based designers who discovered the brand in Istanbul. Bazlama’s wider story goes back to 1992, with restaurants across Turkey and Dubai and a London opening promised soon.

Information

Bazlama Marbella is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 00.00, closed Monday. Breakfast runs 10.00 to 17.00. Dinner is served 18.00 to 00.00, last orders 23.00.

Contact details

Address: Bazlama Marbella, Calle Isla Verde 12, Benamara, El Paraíso, (Malaga) Spain.

Website: marbella.bazlamakahvalti.com

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Puente Romano Marbella has emerged as the Mediterranean’s gastronomic destination, an experiential resort set in beachside gardens. Here paths meander through palms, hibiscus and scented jasmine towards the sea. Here the resort has created a new beachside destination restaurant , with an elegant design that embraced the playful spirit of the original. The main restaurant offers views out towards the bay, while the new signature bar is the place for Tomatinis at golden hour, and live DJs. Beyond it, the new pool area immersed you in that wonderful Riviera vibe, with bright parasols, loungers, day beds, and the sea right there.

This stunning location is evocative of the original La Petite Maison and the Côte d’Azur, with white linen-dressed tables set with a generous bottle of olive oil, bright lemons and plump tomatoes, and a neatly rolled white napkin at each place. A four-piece band threaded between tables, saxophone out front, then guitar, drums and bass; a quartet of talented vocalists and musicians bringing vibrancy and a sense of occasion.

A taste of la Petite Maison

Plates arrived in the centre of the table to share; with starters together then mains later, food cooked à la minute, leaving the kitchen when ready.

We began with the selection of hors d’œuvres. The black olive tapenade hit a fine balance of anchovy, caper and a touch of chilli and garlic. It was delicious spread on thin, crisp croutons, tasting of the South of France, accompanied by a cocktail.

The lentil salad brought welcome freshness, a mix of puy lentils with fennel and red onion for crunch, cherry tomatoes for sweetness, jalapeño for a small flicker of heat, and a white balsamic dressing that lifted the dish.

Aubergine with gambas and mozzarella was generous and rustic in style. The petits farcis, courgette, tomato and baby peppers, arrived dressed in persillade crumbs and a little tomato sauce. So good! The sea bass carpaccio wore a salsa verde of capers, cornichons, mustard, herbs and white balsamic. Perfect with the Tomatina cocktail.

A toast to the South of France

Speaking of sips, the cocktail list included Tomatini, a family classic of vodka shaken with cherry tomatoes, white balsamic and fresh lemon, rounded by simple syrup.

The Raspberry Punch mixed Havana 3-year and 7-year rums with Chambord, Amaretto, St-Germain and Cointreau. A favourite in the restaurant seemed to be the La Petite Maison Limonade, a non-alcoholic and refreshing mix of lemon and grapefruit with orange blossom and soda.

Carabinero prawns arrived halved, roasted. This was a standout dish, with a touch of smoked paprika and lemon brunoise.

The main dishes followed. The fish dish was seabass, with fried artichoke, julienne courgette and quartered datterini tomatoes scattered about, basil sliced fine. It was a very Mediterranean plate. Broccolini with lemon and chilli sat alongside.

The grilled entrecôte, a generous 400 g ribeye, came sliced with its good band of fat well rendered. Really impressive. The bearnaise sauce was a delight. Parmesan gnocchi with tomato and basil may sound heavy yet wasn’t, with the cherry tomato and garlic sauce tasting of summer.

The desserts just made things even better. Pain perdu arrived burnished, edges crisp, centre custardy, with honeycomb and a scoop of spice ice cream that made me think of Christmas. Hot chocolate mousse, like a souffle, with malt ice cream and a grué de cacao tuile was superb. There was a Colonel too, that classic lemon sorbet with a neat pour of vodka.

A vision signed in 2023, opening in 2026

La Petite Maison Marbella is set to be an extraordinary addition to the resort. Puente Romano Marbella already has a seriously impressive restaurant line up, with GAIA, COYA, Cipriani, El Pimpi, Sea Grill and Nobu among others. La Petite Maison Marbella will open on March 26, 2026, thanks to a collaboration, agreed in early 2023 between Nicole and Anne-Laure Rubi, DB Group and Puente Romano Marbella.

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Upon arrival one passes the ice counter set right at the entrance. The day’s catch rests on crushed ice beside chilled bottles of champagne, an extravagant temptation to order from the seafood and raw bar menu.

Designer dining

From there the space opens into a sequence of dining areas on different levels. The restaurant design feels celebratory and urban. To the left, a glass wine cellar. Ahead, a generous dining room glows under contemporary designer chandeliers. Drop down a level and the open kitchen is visible, a bright space where chefs cook over flame. To the right of the entrance, another salon flows towards a bold, unisex bathroom zone with a freestanding bath and floor-to-ceiling mirrors; all pure theatre.

The terrace is framed by subtropical planting, with tables under elegant parasols with long fringes. The look hints at the Côte d’Azur while the ceramics bring a touch of the Amalfi coast. You are five minutes on foot from the marina, and just a couple of minutes from El Corte Inglés, yet this doesn’t feel like a tourist trap. Instead, a chic destination restaurant with a colourful Mediterranean terrace.

Cocktails and more

We started with signature cocktails, the Aura and Neroli. Aura arrives in a tall coupe with a single circular ice disc and an edible flower. Gin, lychee, rose and a lift of chardonnay keep it bright and scented. The Neroli comes in a weighted tumbler over a square block of ice stamped with the Frou Frou mark. Cognac, Campari, Pedro Ximénez and tonka bean give depth and a gentle warmth.

The broader list includes Mistral Bloom, mixing jasmine and Noilly Prat into a clean aperitif. Hespéride threads calvados and palo santo for something aromatic. Sol y Sandía brings tequila and watermelon for a summery freshness. If you are off alcohol, Wild Rose uses Seedlip with lychee and verjus, and the house lemonades run floral, from rose and cardamom to violet with milk oolong.

Mediterranean menu

The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Alejandro Rivera and Brand Chef Sergey Yurchyshyn. In the open kitchen during our visit was another Chef Alejandro. The menu moves across the Mediterranean but anchors itself in Andalusia. Raw plates are first on the menu. Scallops in ají amarillo sit under a flick of black caviar. Beef carpaccio comes with truffle sauce and artichoke. Tuna tartar arrives with an egg yolk and crisp straw potatoes for texture. There is king crab tartar with caviar for those in a celebratory mood, and a tomato salad that sings with freshness; the skins are peeled, making it a pleasure to eat.

Warm starters include Camembert baked in filo with black fig jam and truffle. Iberian ham croquettes come properly creamy. Artichoke hummus with tuna blends flavours of the Mediterranean. Calamari are lifted by yuzu alioli. Mini beef-cheek burgers arrive with quail egg and caviar. The scallops are a delight, served on salmorejo.

Main dishes include  lamb chops with chimichurri, excellent quality. The ribeye is priced by weight. Duck confit with braised spinach and tomatoes is tempting, yet we went for the Moroccan-style couscous and lamb tagine.

Pasta includes spaghetti alla Nerano with courgette done right and gnocchi finished with black caviar for a richer route, and a spider crab paella. Sides are simple but tasty, including chips, Robuchon-smooth mash and broccoli with a romanesco sauce. Kasha and José Antonio looked after us with friendly, attentive service.

What sets Frou Frou apart is the sense of occasion built into the design. It has flair, as the name suggests, and as the news gets out, it’s sure to be a lively destination.

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We draw up outside the new-look Don Carlos Marbella, its tower sparkling in the Andalusian sun. The bellmen take our bags and park the car, while inside we’re welcomed by Guest Experience with an Andalusian spritz.

The change is significant. The Selenta Group’s multi-million-euro refurbishment has transformed this Costa del Sol landmark. Jaime Beriestain’s interiors play with a palette drawn from the sea and shells, weaving in elements including striking wallpapers with designs evocative of classic Andalusian shawls. Open spaces flow easily. One of the tower’s iconic architectural supports has been brought into the interior, now framed with double height floor to ceiling glass. The gardens are echoed inside too, with potted palms and elegant floral displays.

Beyond reception, the Andalusian patio now has the chic Campari Bar Manero at its centre, a stylish nod to Italian aperitivo culture, created by Carlos Bosch, the vision behind the famous Manero bars, which started in Alicante.

Accommodation

Rooms range from smart, comfortable doubles to spacious suites, all with private balconies offering sweeping views of the Mediterranean or the Sierra Blanca mountains. The 1969 tower may dominate this stretch of coast, where other buildings barely peek above the canopy of surrounding Mediterranean pines, yet it affords the most spectacular views. Our room looked west, over the bay, to Marbella and the iconic La Concha mountain, and beyond to Gibraltar and the coast of Africa. Enjoying a morning coffee or sunset glass of wine on the terrace is a joy.

For longer stays or families, the 24 private residences provide a more homely feel, complete with kitchens and direct access to pools.

Interiors reflect the resort’s signature palette inspired by seashell iridescence, soft creams, blush pinks, and soothing aqua tones, creating a tranquil sanctuary to retreat to after a day in the sun.

The spacious suites provide added luxury with separate living areas, some offering private terraces and plunge pools for ultimate relaxation. Modern amenities include high-speed Wi-Fi, smart TVs, air conditioning, and luxurious bathrooms with walk-in showers or soaking tubs, all designed to meet the needs of discerning travellers.

Dining

The resort’s restaurants offer distinct styles and menus that reflect their settings.

At Sol & Sombra, lunch is a relaxed affair, before an afternoon on a daybed, sipping cocktails while DJs spin tunes that ease the hours into the evening. The menu includes the tasting tapas like the Russian salad, and fish tacos, as well as a classic fritura malaguena.

Before dinner, savour a spritz at Campari Bar Manero. Designed by Lázaro Rosa Violán, it merges Italian aperitif tradition with Andalusian flair. The spritzes are made with precision by bartender Julios. Light bites like the Manero signature bikini sandwiches complete the experience. This is the first collaboration with Carlos Bosch, who created Manero in Alicante and grew the group with spectacular bars and restaurants in Madrid. 2026 promises the opening of the Manero Restaurant at Don Carlos Marbella, with a stunning sea view terrace.

Los Naranjos serves dinner with an Andalusian soul. Highlights include carpaccio de carabineros; scarlet prawns sliced wafer thin and dressed with botarga and olive oil, and a tiradito de lubina combining seabass with coconut and mango leche de tigre. Main courses like the local retinta steak, offer a genuine taste of the region.

Wellness and Fitness

The spa offers calm with a 1,600 sqm space including water circuits, aroma cabins, and a private solarium that invite guests to slow down. The interior palette echoes the soft iridescence of seashells, with creams, blush pinks and hints of aqua setting a serene tone for treatments. Treatments and rituals use Natura Bissé products.

Fitness lovers can make the most of the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre’s cutting-edge gym and tennis courts. The centre is the first on mainland Spain, following the first Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca, followed by centres in Greece and Mexico.

Beach Clubs

Don Carlos Marbella boasts two distinct beach clubs, each offering a world-class beachside experience.

Nikki Beach Marbella carries the brand’s worldwide reputation for celebration and style, with its signature vibe of sun-soaked glamour and world-class DJ sets. Here, the atmosphere pulses with music and energy. Daybeds invite relaxation, while live DJs keep the tempo lively. Sharing plates such as sushi, lobster rolls, and quesadillas are a great way to start lunch, and we can recommend cocktails like Mezcal Issues. The vibe is upbeat, perfect for those who enjoy the buzz of socialising by the sea. Don’t miss the signature cheesecake served with choice toppings at the table. Live entertainment makes this a hotspot for both locals and visitors seeking the ultimate beach party experience.

Lucia Summer Club, a 2025 pop-up by Nikki Beach’s owner, offers a playful, family-friendly counterpoint. The beachside venue mixes beach sunbeds, as well as a private club area with sandy terraces, poolside sunbeds and relaxed dining areas. The menu showcases fresh, Mediterranean flavours: charred watermelon with halloumi, octopus à la plancha, honey za’atar roasted Cornish hen, and fusilli with stracciatella and cherry tomatoes. Cocktails like Costa del Sol Sunset and Thyme to Chill capture the easy-going summer spirit here. This is playful, bold, and full of the fun of summer.

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Founded in 1981 and long admired for its ability to transport diners to Imperial China, the China  Group is now bringing its unmistakable dishes to the Costa del Sol. Its Marbella residency takes place in a poolside space in the hotel’s gardens, with wonderful sea views.

Imperial Cuisine

The opening night offered a preview of the kitchen’s most iconic dishes, beginning with handcrafted dim sum filled with pork, vegetables and delicate seafood. A curated selection of sushi followed, presented in boats. The Peking duck, its skin lacquered and crisp, accompanied by housemade pancakes and a precise arrangement of cucumber and spring onion was the most popular of the night. It’s a dish that embodies what China Crown does well.

Also on the menu are dishes such as crispy prawns with spicy mango, scallop sashimi with Sichuan pepper, and grilled Iberian pork marinated in Chinese spices. There’s also a fine section of wok dishes, including lobster with chilli and garlic, and stir-fried rice with seasonal vegetables and egg.

Desserts keep things light, with options like jasmine tea ice cream, coconut mousse, and fruit with ginger syrup. The cocktail list is playful and ambitious, infused with ingredients like lychee, Chinese five spice, and kumquat, with each drink designed to complement the flavours of the kitchen rather than overpower them.

A Night at Gran Meliá Don Pepe

A few steps from the restaurant, RedLevel rooms at Gran Meliá Don Pepe offer an elevated stay. With balconies facing the sea and access to the private lounge, they’re designed for guests who value calm and comfort. Expect discreet service, priority bookings, and small touches that remind you why the hotel has become such a reference on the Costa del Sol.

Breakfast is taken in the garden pavilion, filled with natural light. In the evenings it becomes Veranda, a Mediterranean restaurant that serves dishes with a focus on simplicity and produce. Bardot, the open-air dining space by the pool, offers grilled local fish, Andalusian rice dishes and long, easy lunches beside the water.

But this season, all eyes are on China Crown. It brings something fresh to Marbella’s summer dining scene, rooted in skill, and tradition.

Gran Meliá Don Pepe will close temporarily at the end of the 2025 season for a full refurbishment, promising a return that reflects the future of luxury hospitality in this part of Spain. For now, China Crown is its culinary centrepiece.

restaurantechinacrown.com

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Arriving in the morning, I was immediately struck by the new design. Rose-coloured architectural concrete contrasts with warm hardwoods, while palms soften the space. Large contemporary parasols around the pool, and natural-material canopies in the restaurant and lounge offer cool shaded areas. Extra-large signature sun beds are arranged to catch both sun and sea views, with attentive waiters circulating throughout.

Amaï Restaurant

Lunch at Amaï restaurant was a highlight. The open-air and covered restaurant seating catches the sea breeze. Dishes arrive with care, from fresh tuna spring rolls and seafood ceviche to tempura tiger prawn rolls and salmon poke bowls with ponzu and golden caviar. The mezze platter of kebabs, falafels, and baba ghanoush and delicious sauces is perfect for sharing. The menu includes summery sushi and sashimi, healthy and light poke bowls, and salads as well as more hearty dishes from the grill. Chef Andreas Nygren’s careful attention ensures each plate is balanced and fresh. Throughout the day is live entertainment from dancing waiters to women in 1920s-inspired beachwear and platinum wigs weaving amongst the sun beds and restaurant tables.

Beach Club Vibes

The afternoon brought a shift in energy. Live DJs played a gentle rhythm that gradually built into a sunset tempo. Cocktails like Ocean Breeze and Mango Espuma Mojito prove particularly refreshing under the warm sun.

The remodel has brought renewed cohesion to the club, blending glamour with comfort and maintaining its reputation as a premier Marbella destination while creating a more considered, welcoming environment for all visitors.

oceanclub.es

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Designed by Adriana and Álvaro Sans of ASAH Studio, the ME Marbella celebrates the essence of Mediterranean architecture through bold, organic forms, natural textures, and a colour palette inspired by ochres, whitewashed lime, and the blues of the sea. The property features 200 rooms, including 24 exclusive suites, each offering views over the Mediterranean, Sierra Blanca mountains, or lush interior gardens, alongside high-end amenities and spaces crafted for rest and reflection.

ME Marbella is more than a hotel. It serves as a cultural and sensory hub, hosting live music, art installations, wellness rituals, and curated experiences that connect guests with Marbella’s vibrant spirit. At its centre lies Oasis, a striking beach club with an indoor beach, inviting visitors to enjoy sunsets, rhythmic beats, and immersive atmospheres.

Dining has been curated in partnership with Pont Hospitality. La Terraza Del Med presents locally sourced Mediterranean dishes designed for slow enjoyment, Solana offers a social experience around live flame cooking, and Barlume combines inventive cocktails with authentic regional cuisine.

The property’s lifestyle approach extends to exclusive experiences, including private studio visits with artists, electric llaüt boat excursions to explore underwater landscapes, and visits to Spain’s first underwater winery. In a nod to style and identity, ME Marbella has partnered with Lacoste to produce the hotel’s team uniforms, blending sport-chic elegance with functional design.

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This was our second visit. Before was for a lunch of fresh fish in the dappled shade of the pergola. This time, for dinner, arriving just as the parasols and pergolas cast long shadows across the tables. The open thatched pavilion offers shaded seating or choose a table overlooking the sea or by the pool. A laid-back DJ set gradually gave way to the rich sounds of a live Cuban band. By the time the desserts were arriving, the singer was dancing a few salsa steps with the more extroverted guests. Here, the evening gently evolves from sundown to dining, creating a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere.

The menu is confident in its Andalusian roots. We started with tortillitas de camarón, those crisp, lacy shrimp fritters made with chickpea flour, which taste unmistakably of the south. A white shrimp and avocado salad followed, paired with a plate of puntillitas, baby squid fried to golden precision in the classic Málaga style. The kitchen’s fritura section is full of Andalusian favourites, from red mullet to boquerones, all served simply and at their freshest. You can select you fish type from the display fisherman’s basket, and have it prepared just the way you like it.

We also noticed on the menu the larger sharing dishes, like the new orzo with carabineros, served straight from the pan, and the calamarata frutti di mare, thick ribbons of pasta with shellfish.

A Chambao sorbet, served in a slice of lemon, helped reset the plate before the main courses. From the grill, we ordered beef tenderloin cooked to order, together with the marinated baby chicken, generous, juicy and full of flavour.

Desserts were equally tempting. A cool, creamy mousse de chocolate and an arroz con leche, served with a caramelised crust.

By now, the lights shaded by esparto lamps were glowing softly, swaying from the pergolas, while lanterns around the pool began to flicker. Bougainvillaea twisted through the pergolas, offering private corners and larger alcoves for groups who wanted both atmosphere and quiet. Families, couples, groups of friends,  they’d all found their place here, in the friendly, laid-back style of this beachside retreat.

Chambao is about the details, from the tempo of the service, the warmth of the welcome. The setting is understated but considered. Tables are set with a potted herb or maybe miniature chilli. Playful and relaxed.

Chambao takes its name from the traditional improvised beach shelters where people come together for good food, conversation and spontaneous moments. That spirit lives on here, shaped into something modern.

Whether you’re discovering Marbella or calling the coast home, Chambao offers something special ,a place to linger from midday to beyond midnight, with fresh seafood, thoughtful dishes, and an atmosphere that gently builds with the day.

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