From golf and spas to shopping, hiking, dancing and dining in some of the global, leading restaurant names that are now here, Marbella truly has a lot to offer. Known as the place ‘where the mountains meet the sea’, the Andalucian landscape here is stunning.
Every moment made into an occasion with GREY GOOSE® Altius.
Website | Instagram
A classic that’s beachfront with sea views
If you go to Nikki Beach, you likely know what you’re going to get! Great sushi, cold rosé, and a vibey poolside time. Located in the recently re-opened (after an extensive €45 mill! renovation) Don Carlos Hotel, which also has the new Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre with clay courts, it’s beachfront with beautiful sea views.
GREY GOOSE Altius Moment: Settle in for a day of ice-cold vodka and effortless catch ups with friends.
Website | Instagram
Disneyland for foodies
It’s actually pretty incredible to see how many great brands are now in Puente Romano. With over 20 restaurants, highlights include Cipriani, Coya (Club and Pool), Chiringuito, GAIA, Dani Garcia’s Leña, and of course, Nobu. There are also two restaurants found in other Nobu hotels (namely, Nobu Ibiza Bay): Celicioso and Chambao. This really is a one-stop shop for incredible dining; it feels like an open-air Vegas!
Website | Instagram
Local love
Located in the old town, come here for a bustling laid-back atmosphere, innovative tapas, and great wines.
Website | Instagram
Dinner and a show
When in Rome! Mamzel has spicy live shows, with spicy Med/French/Argentinian/Peruvian dishes to accompany. It’s outside and open every night. Check before you book as they have a selection of different shows.
GREY GOOSE Altius Moment: Nothing says high summer like outdoor entertainment and exquisitely crafted cocktails.
Dolce & Gabbana at La Ĉabane Beach Club.
Website | Instagram
Traditional Andalusian architecture and award-winning golf course
This hotel is a little out of town, which is part of its charm. Part of the group that also owns Mallorca’s excellent Grand Hotel Son Net, it’s stylish, sophisticated, and has plenty of things (spa, golf, racquet sports, fine dining), to keep you occupied. If you’d prefer to stay more central, there’s a Relais & Châteaux, La Fonda Heritage Hotel in the historic district, a Nobu Marbella in front of the beach, and a few brand new hotels: a new ME Marbella, a new Gran Marbella.
Maya Boyd, Condé Nast Traveller journalist and Assouline author says…
Once the lacquered playground of the fifties jet-set, Marbella is rapidly switching tempo, leaning into the unruly allure of Andalusia – and making it cool.
Marbella’s always had a vibe, but lately it’s trading on more than just old-school, jet-set nostalgia. The reboot – deftly steered by Jennica Shamoon Arazi (of Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay and Teranka Formentera), at the iconic Marbella Club and its sister hotel, Puente Romano – has kept the vintage charm intact while pulling in a fresher crowd. You still see the white-linen set at El Patio, but now they’re flanked by younger fashion kids ducking into the Marbella Club’s new Loewe boutique before sliding over to Sea Grill for a late lunch that turns into golden-hour cocktails.
The monolithic hulk of La Concha protects the resort from the cool winter winds that sweep down from northern Spain, meaning the season barely skips a beat. Terrace tables at Skina are packed even in January, while the old town hums harder after dark – Andalusian balconies dripping in bougainvillea, candlelit tapas at Casa Curro, and a post-dinner scene that spills into hidden gin dens like La Polaca. There’s a looseness to it, a sense that Marbella has quietly shrugged off its slightly over-manicured rep and is leaning once more into the sexy, chaotic rhythms that make Andalusia so addictive.
And then there’s the night flow. Nobu’s courtyard still delivers its scene-y buzz and Lena by Dani García is where the fashion crowd posts up, but by midnight half of them have migrated to rooftop sessions at Breathe or whatever unmarked warehouse the DJs have taken over that week. On the sandier side, Playa Padre is still the day-to-night flex, though locals swear by Chiringuito Puente Romano where DJs spin low-key Balearic-style sets as the sun drops low into the sea. Marbella’s comeback isn’t about reinvention – it’s about finally owning its contradictions and moving into a new era.
THANK YOU MAYA!
_________________
UJ Top Tip: Anytime of day, a drink at a table on the 17KM Paseo Maritimo is a great place to people watch and take it all in.
Season Closing Dates
Marbella is less busy from the end of October, but they say it gets 320 days of sun a year, so anytime is good!
