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Marbella has two culinary sides that are best not to mix: the OLD TOWN, with taverns and courtyards serving Andalusian cuisine at reasonable prices, and the the Puerto Banús area and the major hotels, international and considerably more expensive. Knowing which area you’re in completely changes how much you’ll pay and what you’ll eat.
Here you have five specific restaurants in the old town, complete with addresses and details that hardly anyone mentions — such as which days they’re closed — and then a map of areas to choose from depending on your plans for the day.
Make the most of a day in Marbella to taste the best Mediterranean gastronomy.
All five are in the old town, just a few minutes’ walk from one another. Always book during the high season: they are small and fill up when opened.
One of the most pleasant tapas bars in the old town, with a cosy interior and a terrace right on the pedestrianised street. The menu goes beyond classic tapas: cod croquettes, fish tacos, meatballs and fried aubergine.
Address: 14 Peral Street.
Timetable: It opens every day at midday and stays open until the evening. It’s the most flexible of the five.
Tavern of Córdoba cuisine in the historic centre, with walls lined with photographs of bullfighters, artists and writers. It has two areas: the upper floor with tables for a leisurely meal and a bar downstairs for a quick bite to eat.
What to order: salmorejo, scrambled eggs with ham, croquettes and the oxtail, which is their signature dish.
Address: Calle San Lázaro, 1.
Note: according to their current timetables It is only open in the evenings and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. It’s small and fills up as soon as it opens, so make a booking and confirm your time slot before you go.
It is both restaurant and gourmet food shop: you can eat and take home the wine or charcuterie you’ve sampled. It started out offering a selection of charcuterie, cheeses and lomo de orza, and these days it leans more towards the fusion cuisine, with dishes such as sea bass ceviche or tuna tataki.
Address: Calle Pantaleón, 5.
Tender notice: is the most expensive of the five by far. The wine list is its strong point, but it’s worth checking the prices before ordering.
Near the Town Hall, Mediterranean and Spanish cuisine at a courtyard which is its main attraction. The seafood paella and the prawns ‘al pil pil’ are the most popular dish, and they also serve meat cooked on a hot stone.
One thing that sets it apart: there is live music, and it’s not uncommon for a member of staff to break into an opera aria in the middle of service. It’s mentioned in almost every review.
Address: Calle Virgen de los Dolores, 3.
Note: closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and is only open in the evenings.
A long-established establishment in the old town, open since the late 1960s, and one of the classic places to paella and rice dishes in Marbella. They also serve oxtail and artichokes. It has a terrace with heaters and plenty of space inside.
Address: Calle Remedios, 5.
Note: It has rather unusual opening hours for a restaurant: closed on Saturdays and Sundays and it’s only open in the afternoons and evenings. If you’re going at the weekend, don’t count on it being open.
If you wish, you can enjoy an incredible guided tour of Marbella.
If you’d rather decide as you go along, here’s what you can expect in each area.
Cobbled streets, white houses and the largest concentration of traditional Andalusian cuisine: tapas, fried fish, stews and rice dishes. This is the area offering the best balance between atmosphere and price, and it’s entirely pedestrianised, so it’s the top choice if you’re exploring Marbella on foot.
In the heart of the old town, it is Terrace Square and the loveliest spot for al fresco dining. Bear in mind that it’s also the most touristy and most expensive part of the neighbourhood: the streets leading off it tend to offer better value for money whilst retaining the same atmosphere.
The marina, with restaurants serving international cuisine, seafood and rice dishes opposite the yachts. It’s the most cosmopolitan and most expensive area of Marbella, and it’s better for dinner than for lunch, as the atmosphere really comes alive after sunset.
A pedestrian zone between the town centre and the seafront promenade, with a range of more varied and informal: Mediterranean, international, sushi, fusion. This is where the weekday set menus and the most practical option if you’re combining a meal with a spot of shopping.
Right on the beach, the star of the show is the sardine skewer, with fried fish, rice dishes and seafood. The beach bars are dotted all along the coast, to the east and west, so there’s almost always one nearby. The beach clubs They’re something else entirely: a better atmosphere, music and long after-dinner chats, and prices in a league of their own.
The best time for espeto is at lunchtime, when the embers are just right. If you want to know what else to order in the province, you have traditional dishes from Málaga.
Marbella is the city of the chef Dani Garcia, who was born there and whose name put Marbella’s cuisine on the international map. It is worth clarifying something, as it causes confusion: the restaurant that bore his name closed in October 2019, just after being awarded three Michelin stars, which he gave up to focus on more accessible projects.
So Don’t search for «Restaurante Dani García»: what Marbella has today are its other venues, all of which are open and considerably more affordable than the previous one.
They all require booking and are best suited as the main event of the day rather than a last-minute stop.
Marbella is just under an hour’s drive from Málaga city centre via the A-7with the AP-7 via the toll road as a quick alternative. By public transport, there are regular buses from Málaga, the airport and the rest of the Costa del Sol.
The cast that works best: midday in the old town or at a beach bar, an afternoon out, and dinner in Puerto Banús, which is when the area really comes into its own. That way, you can make the most of each neighbourhood at its best and save yourself the hassle of travelling between them.
To fit the meal into the rest of the itinerary, you need to What to see in Marbella in a day and the Marbella guide along with practical information about the destination.
If you’re coming from Málaga or the Costa del Sol and would rather not drive or look for a parking space, the day trip to Marbella and Mijas It takes care of the logistics and leaves you free to eat wherever you like. It also includes Mijas, the white village in the mountains.
If you’re already staying in the area, these tours offer a pick-up service from Marbella, Puerto Banús and La Cala de Mijas, and they allow you to explore other parts of Andalusia without having to return to Málaga city. You can find the rest in the excursion catalogue.
The old town, for its abundance of traditional Andalusian cuisine and its value for money. Plaza de los Naranjos is the prettiest spot for al fresco dining, although it’s also the most touristy and expensive in the neighbourhood. Puerto Banús is best for dinner, whilst La Alameda is the most casual and varied area. For grilled fish, head to the beach bars along the coast.
Away from the main tourist hub: the taverns in the old town, away from the Plaza de los Naranjos, and the bars in La Alameda – particularly for their weekday set menus. At the beach bars, fried fish and grilled sardines are still the best value for money. Puerto Banús and the beach clubs are in a different price bracket.
The restaurant that bore his name closed in October 2019, shortly after being awarded three Michelin stars, which the chef subsequently relinquished. His other restaurants in Marbella remain open: Leña, a grill restaurant located in the same premises as the Hotel Puente Romano; Lobito de Mar, serving rice dishes and fish in a casual setting; and BiBo, an Andalusian brasserie specialising in dishes to share.
During the high season, yes, especially in the old town: these are small establishments that fill up as soon as they open. It’s also worth checking their closing days, as several of the best-known places in the centre are closed for the whole weekend or only serve dinner – something that’s quite unusual and takes many visitors by surprise.
The restaurants are clustered around the marina, serving international cuisine, seafood and rice dishes with a view of the yachts. It’s the most cosmopolitan area of Marbella and also the most expensive, so it’s worth checking the menu before sitting down. The best time to visit is in the evening, when the marina comes to life.
Sardine skewers right on the beach, fried fish and Malaga-style fried seafood, rice dishes and seafood paella, and, among the stews, oxtail. In the taverns of the old town, you’ll also find salmorejo and croquettes. These are dishes from the cuisine of Málaga and Andalusia rather than being specific to Marbella.
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