10 Great Restaurants in Marbella

Messina Restaurante is a top choice for refined Mediterranean dining in Marbella. Located near the town centre, the elegant venue wows well-heeled diners with exquisite 10- to 12-course tasting menus. Creative bite-sized morsels span everything from seafood to steak and veal in mushroom Béarnaise.

A la carte dishes represent excellent value for the quality of the cuisine. Whatever you order, wash your meal down with a glass or 2 of Messina’s regional sommelier-selected wine. While it’s not the cheapest place in town, Messina is well worth the splurge.

Restaurante Skina is a Marbella restaurant specialising in upscale Andalusian tasting menus made from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The award-winning restaurant is helmed by a prestigious Barcelona-born chef passionate about high-quality produce. All ingredients come straight from pre-vetted local suppliers to ensure everything is 100% fresh.

The 7-course Andalusian tasting menu exemplifies haute cuisine with traditional regional dishes prepared in innovative new ways. Order the optional wine pairing to sip handpicked bodega with your meal. This intimate, low-key venue only has 4 tables – book well in advance.

Lobito de Mar is a perennially popular dining spot in Marbella and is a go-to for an upmarket seafood experience in Marbella. The hip multi-room venue is awash with chic rustic décor together with plenty of leafy greenery and warm natural tones. Michelin-starred chef Dani García describes this eclectic restaurant as ‘a chiringuito without the beach’.

Budget-conscious diners can choose from the cost-effective tapas and light bites menu, while big spenders should browse the full a la carte selection. Both menus span an array of traditional seafood treats, from paella to espeto (spit-roast) BBQ. In addition to the solid wine selection, Lobito has a comprehensive sangria menu.

La Bocana is a popular Andalusian restaurant straddling the port in Puerto Banús. The homely family-style affair sets tables right up on the waterfront for breezy alfresco dining with a mesmerising view. Excellent service from life-long career waiters adds to the elegant ambience.

The longstanding venue has been plating up Andalusian classics since 1987. While the chefs specialise in freshly caught fish and soupy Andalusian rice dishes, you’ll also find a broad range of other options on the menu. Highlights include gazpacho, salmorejo (a traditional southern Spanish soup), and succulent beef-based dishes. Diners get a complimentary glass of limoncello to cap off a memorable meal.

Hacienda Patagonica is a much-lauded Argentine grill house in Marbella that serves succulent cuts. Juicy steaks span filet to flank and rib-eye, each sourced from quality regional providers and flame-grilled al gusto. Chunky, filling-stuffed burgers (including a fantastic vegan option) offer a tempting alternative.

The well-priced restaurant offers exceptional value with the weekday almuerzo (lunch special). It’s an option where you get an entrée, meaty mains, and dessert. This hip and modern venue also offers tasty tapas-like bites, including the classic Argentine-style empanada. Hacienda Patagonica regularly packs out with local beef-loving foodies, so don’t expect a secluded dining experience.

Bustling La Bodega del Mar is your best bet for delectable seafood-stuffed tapas with a spellbinding Mediterranean view in Marbella. The carefree venue features vibrant, pastel-coloured furnishings and creative, off-the-wall decor. You can check out the attached boutique to see if there’s something you like. Nonetheless, most prefer to sit outside on the terrace to soak up the seafront scene.

Typical tapas comprise cold cuts of high-quality Iberian meats plus an assortment of locally-sourced cheese. On the signature seafood tapas menu, you’ll find freshly-caught staples like white wine mussels, smoked salmon wraps, and prawn tempura in mango sauce. Grab a big jug of sangria and get stuck into their sociable table games while you wait.

True to its name, Paellas y Más specialises in the iconic Valencian dish and other assorted Spanish delights. Its humble chef-owner typically greets each table, and his floor staff have become famous for exceptional service. Chic interior decor and a cosy open-air patio round off the pleasant gastronomic setting.

The shellfish-strewn paella is Javier’s signature dish – some say it’s the best in town. Their pasta-based seafood fideuá (pasta version of paella) offers a tempting alternative, as does the Catalan-style arroz negre (cuttlefish paella). Guzzle down some of their house-made sangria to keep the conversation humming throughout your long and lazy meal. 

Cascada Cocina & Bar is a fabulous farm-to-table venue set high in the Sierra Blanca hills. Located north of La Cañada mall, this tranquil rural restaurant sits among bubbling brooks and trickling waterfalls. Inside, chic Scandinavian-style furnishings and warm terracotta tiles set a sophisticated contemporary scene.

As for the menu? You’ll find an eclectic array of mouthwatering international favourites, from crispy garlic naan to fried tempura and wood-grilled Iberian pluma. The mains may take a while to come, but the elegant setting and excellent appetisers (try the beef carpaccio) make the wait worthwhile. All ingredients get sourced fresh from local Andalusian providers.

La Nueva Venencia de la Fontanilla is a longstanding Andalusian institution serving delicious local dishes since 1991. The authentic taverna-style venue boasts dark hardwood furnishings and homely traditional decor. Most diners sit outside on the sidewalk patio to people-watch while devouring a hearty meal.

Come hungry because this generous venue is famous for serving sizeable portions. Crowd favourites include the spicy potato-based patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) and the garlic prawn-laden gambas pil pil. A lengthy tapas menu offers a buffet of tasty bite-sized morsels to share.

The Farm is a boho paddock-to-plate venue in the heart of Marbella. Set in a historic townhouse, the charming whitewashed establishment features a leafy open-air courtyard illuminated by fairy lights after dark. Yoga workshops, pop-up handicraft stalls, and nightly flamenco shows fortify the bohemian vibe.

The rustic slow-food venue exclusively sources organic produce from sustainable local providers. Start with the famous handmade hummus or guacamole before moving on to one of their wholesome mains. Unsure which to order? Try the Argentine-style beef vacio (beef cut) with veggies and baby potatoes.