Where to eat in Marbella’s restaurant scene - paella, patatas and perfect beach views

Going abroad is the ideal opportunity to get away from the tireless kitchen activity of your everyday life. Luckily, Marbella is littered with restaurants for all diners, meaning you can try something new each night and never have to think about the washing up. With traditional Spanish cuisine on every street corner, extravagant beach restaurants and cosy cafes to suit all types of traveler, you’re guaranteed to find somewhere to get your taste buds tingling. 

Fay Jones & Jess WhiteMy Destination local expert onMarbellaWhen visiting Spain, your trip wouldn’t be complete without a traditional Spanish meal and whether you fancy tapas, a chunk of chorizo or a pile of paella, Marbella has plenty of establishments that can whip them up in authentic style.

 

Spanish cuisine

 

The old town of Marbella is lined with tapas bars, many of which serve a piece of tapas with each caña (small beer) ordered. One of the most acclaimed tapas bars in the city is Bar El Estrecho. Tucked neatly away in Old Town, the restaurant was founded in 1954 and is still family run today. With a wonderfully varied menu, you’ll find all the classic tapas dishes, and you mustn’t leave without trying the tantalising white bait or octopus salad. Tapas tends to be popular with the locals later in the evenings, so if you want a table, it’s best to head there before 9pm.

 

• Bar El Estrecho, Casco Antiguo, Calle San Lazaro, Marbella Centre. Tel: +34 952 770 004

 

Beach restaurants

 

If you can’t face leaving the beach for a moment, the coastline is crawling with a wide selection of restaurants to follow a day soaking up the sun. One of the best is Estepona’s Tikitano Beach Restaurant; a large Polynesian style building with a thatched roof and high ceilings. Their regularly changing menu offers top class cuisines, supplemented by live music at the weekends and spectacular views from the large balcony astride the sand. If you’re not looking to indulge in a full dinner, they serve delicious bar snacks after 4pm to be enjoyed on the terrace accompanied by the idyllic sunset.

 

• Tikitano Beach Restaurant, Urb. Guadalmansa, Crta. De Cadiz km. 164, Estepona. Tel: +34 952 79 84 49

 

Cafes

 

Passion Café in San Pedro is a great café known for its tasty food, chilled atmosphere and friendly service. Their diverse menu means there truly is something for everyone; sandwiches, salads, burgers, woks and from the grill, you can even order a full English breakfast any time of the day.

 

• Passion Café, Centro Commercial La Colonia, San Pedro de Alcantara. Tel: +34 952 781 583

 

International cuisine

 

There is such a diverse range of cuisines on the Costa del Sol; from Mediterranean and Thai, to the more specific Scandinavian and Fusion. One place that has become synonymous with eating on the coast is La Sala, a complete social and dining experience open from 10am until 3am. With eight areas to enjoy your food, choose from their breakfast menu, ever-changing set menu, a la carte or daytime bites, one thing is for sure that each mouth-watering dish is created with the utmost precision and care.

 

A little further afield is La Casita in the picturesque village of La Heridia. Just 10 minutes from the coast, they offer a wide range of the most exquisite home cooking with a modern gourmet twist. They change their menu every month, so you can try something different on each visit, and their groundbreaking kitchen-cam allows you to watch the chefs creating your delicious dishes.

 

• La Sala, Calle de Juan Belmonte, Puerto Banus. Tel: +34 952 814 145• La Casita, Ctra de Ronda, Km43, La Heredia, Benahavis. Tel: +34 952 788 033