Top Dining Spots in Marbella
Visitors to and residents of Marbella are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out. Whether you are looking for a traditional tapas bar or a Michelin-starred restaurant, you will find both, and everything else in between, in both central Marbella and its charming Old Town. We’ve selected a few of the best for you to explore.
Skina
This tiny restaurant in the Old Town has one Michelin star. It offers a contemporary and stylish setting with a bold menu that includes a variety of inventive tapas, like deer ham with celery and lobster tartar with strawberry that are all based around traditional dishes from the Málaga region. Also expect on interesting wine list, plus a stunning glass-fronted wine cellar. Outside dining is available. It is only open for dinner and in summer offers a tasting menu.
Messina
Messina is another of Marbella’s Michelin star restaurants. Open for dinner only, it has a bright, contemporary interior and an innovative menu of dishes from Spain, South America and Asia. Tasting menus are also available. The high quality, fresh ingredients used at this restaurant are highly regarded for their distinct flavours and always prepared to a superb standard.
Villa Tiberio
Located on Marbella’s Golden Mile, this Italian restaurant is a local landmark due to its lavish gardens. It is perfect for a romantic dinner and for lovers of Italian cuisine. As well as a mouth-watering menu, it also offers a fabulous wine list, including a 1938 Chateau Margaux.
El Rincon de Cynthia
This small restaurant near the lighthouse on Marbella’s Paseo Marítimo may not look terribly interesting from the outside, but step inside and you’ll enter a world of fantastic Peruvian food at excellent prices. The ceviches and the yucca chips are highly recommended.
Restaurante El Estrecho
When you are looking for an authentic tapas bar, then El Estrecho is a good place to start. Located in the Old Town and tucked down a tiny alleyway, this is one of the older tapas bars and you can be sure of good food and great value for money.
La Polaca
Another Old Town tapas bar full of atmosphere. Not only does this bar have wonderful tapas and good wine by the glass, it also features a fascinating interior decorated with photos of old Spain and a collection of branded product containers from bygone days. La Polaca attracts an interesting crowd of stylish people. Others that are worth looking up are the Café de Ronda, Bodegas La Venencia, Patagonica, Pan y Mermelada and La Taberna del Pintxo.