Marbella Restaurants
My recommendations
Marbella has a wide selection of places to eat, from tapas bars to the finest restaurants. If I had just three nights in Marbella, this is where I would eat. Below these restaurant reviews is a directory of Marbella and Puerto Banus restuarants. There is also a guide to tapas in Marbella.
Villa Tiberio
When Sandro Morelli moved on from serving the sixties swining set at the Ritz, Cavendish and Barberellas in London, he took over this villa on the Golden Mile and made it into THE place to dine in Marbella. The food is cosmopolitan Italian, the service is out of this world, and the atmosphere refined but informal. Can you take kids there? Yes, if they enjoy sitting at the table. In the summer you can dine in the gardens or on the terrace. It is located between the Marbella Club and Puente Romano. Photos on the wall show that visitors range from Shirley Bassey to Robbie Fowler.
Signature dishes include
scallops and king prawns served in a cream and brandy sauce; duck baked with orange and curaçao liqueur, lamb braised in Barola, and my favourite, Tournedos Rossini. Expect to pay £30-40 a head. Not an enormous price for an unforgettable evening.
Reservations recommended:
(0034) 952 77 17 99
Puente Romano 
Can one signature dish ensure a listing on this page? The answer is yes, because it is simply the best thing I have ever tasted. The restaurant may be lacking in atmosphere but it has exceptional service. And the dish in question is the mille feuille of foie gras and caramelised apple. It is simply sensational. It melts in your mouth and the contrasting textures and flavours make every mouthful a revelation. Also recommended is the endive salad with roquefort sauce. Pre and post-dinner drinks can be enjoyed in the Bar Cascada which adjoins the restaurant. This dark, comfortable lounge/bar usually has a pianist playing and serves exceptionally good cocktails. Can you take kids? Well, I did with no problems at all.
Reservations recommended:
(0034) 952 82 09 00
Red Pepper
A great place to go after a spot of Promenading on Puerto Banus's marina. Located right on the front, the shops are open late too so after you have done window shopping this lively Greek style restaurant is a good place to be. It's not cheap, but the food is good. I recommend especially the moussaka for a main, and the baclava for dessert.
Reservations recommended:
(0034) 952 812 148
More Marbella & Puerto Banus Restaurants
Picasso's
Probably the best-known pizza and pasta place in Marbella. Located on the front-line in Puerto Banús. Great for kids and the no-frills, reasonably priced menu makes it fine for a quick bite to eat.
Tel: 952 811 717
The Lonestar Brasserie
Sister restaurant of the famous Lonestar Hotel in Barbados – good food in trendy surroundings. Frontline Puerto Banús, it isn't cheap, but it is good. The menu is simple but with a Caribbean twist, and includes starters such as Langostine Bisque and Gravadlax and mains such as Beer Battered Fish and Chips and Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb.
Tel: 952 908 808
TG I Friday's
Set further back in Puerto Banús – near the big square and McDonald's – and you know what it does. Not cheap but they do have special menu deals from which you can pick from a three-course selection for just under 20 Euros. Tel: 952 815 993
Metro
Near TGI Friday's it's quite reasonable and serves decent pasta, salads, fish, as well as having a kids menu.
Tel: 952 907 037
Liquid Lounge
Is where the beautiful people lunch with a glass of white wine and a club sandwich or nicoise salad. Modern, striking interior design, and amenu that boasts pastas, salads and eastern-style dishes, it is pretty good. During the evenings a DJ plays. Be sure to book in the evenings
Tel: 952 908 831
Aretusa
One of the more expensive places to dine in Puerto Banús, Aretusa is an elegant Italian restaurant positioned on the frontline.
Tel: 952 812 898
Pizza Marzano
Pizza Marzano is situated just on the corner opposite El Corte Ingles. With an expansive terrace perfect for enjoying a range of pastas and pizzas al fresco. The Goat's Cheese and Sun-dried Tomato Pizza is exceptional.
952 810 448
Regina's
Situated a little further back from Puerto Banús in Nueva Andalucia, Regina's is one of the best fine dining restaurants in all of Marbella. With an extensive Italian menu that puts some top London restaurants to shame, and live music and dancing well into the small hours, it's great for couples looking to wine and dine. Valet parking adds that extra special touch.
Tel: 952 814 529
Khans
Arguably
Tthe best Indian restaurant in Marbella, Khans offers sophisticated Indian cuisine right on the frontline. Closed Tuesday lunchtime.
Tel: 952 814 371
Jack's
An imitation of TGI Friday's, cheaper but not quite as good. Situated on the frontline Jack's is great forfamilies looking for casual, no-frills dining in funky surroundings.
Tel: 952 813 625
Rudy's
Set back from the hustle and bustle in Nueva Andalucia, Rudy's East is known to be the best Chinese restaurant in the vicinity. A little pricier than your usual Chinese, but good.
Tel: 952 814 579
Tapas
La Bodeguita Marbelli
Pablo Casals, 9 Marbella
Tel: +34 95 286 5543
Marbella's Little Bodega is right in the centre of Marbella. Specialities of the house include salt-cured ham and fried fish. A young and lively atmosphere
Bodega La Sacristía
Nuestra Señora de Gracia, 8
Tel: +34 95 282 3286
Fax: +34 95 282 4035
Located in the centre of Marbella Old Town, Bodega La Sacristia offers a large list of tapas, fried fish on weekends, paella, and lots more. You can order a single racion (large sized tapas) or a variety of small dishes.
Tasca Don Matute
Arte, 9
Tel: +34 95 282 2818
Located in the heart of the old town this authentic bar is one of the few remaining where they still keep tabs of what you drink and write down what you owe with chalk on the wooden bar. Excellent range of cold meats, cured pork loin, salchichon, chorizo, morcilla and really good Jamon Serrano. The bar is small and fills up quickly, so always there are people standing outside.
El Burladero
Avenida Miguel Cano, 10
Tel: +34 95 286 6112
Situated halfway between the Paseo Maritimo boardwalk and Alameda Park, El Burladero offers a true bullfighting atmosphere with bulls' heads, old posters from festivals in the Marbella Bullring, banderillas and autographed photos of famous matadors. Be sure to try the revueltos (scrambled eggs with tasty ingredients like garlic shoots or asparagus) and sartena for sharing with friends: pork fillets, roasted peppers, and potato omelette. Attracts a lively thirty-something clientele.
La Querencia
Tetuán, 9
Tel: +34 95 277 1208
La Querencia bar-restaurant serves some of the best tapas in Marbella. There is a great choice of Moroccan dishes including lamb tagine with cherries and pine-nuts and couscous. The atmosphere is relaxed with customers tending to be aged 30+.
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