Guidebook for Marbella
Food Scene
Excellent food and excellent prices. Italian / Mediterranean cuisine, staff are really nice. Half the price and twice as good as many others. It's always full with locals and tourists from when it opens at 7pm. Family run, a bustling restaurant every night.
13 locals recommend
Shango's
23 Av. Miguel de CervantesExcellent food and excellent prices. Italian / Mediterranean cuisine, staff are really nice. Half the price and twice as good as many others. It's always full with locals and tourists from when it opens at 7pm. Family run, a bustling restaurant every night.
Amazing views... or do the La Concha mountain walk, takes 4 hours but the best views.
61 locals recommend
Magna Cafe
s/n Av Calderón de la BarcaAmazing views... or do the La Concha mountain walk, takes 4 hours but the best views.
A small cosy cafe in Aloha. You are looked after, papers from around the world to read. Inexpensive and lovely breakfasts & lunches.
8 locals recommend
Cafe Gourmet Aloha
A small cosy cafe in Aloha. You are looked after, papers from around the world to read. Inexpensive and lovely breakfasts & lunches.
It's a kiosk outside Court Ingles on the roundabout. Set back a couple of streets from the port. It's lovely to sit and watch the world go round and round.
41 locals recommend
Starbucks
58 C/ Gran VíaIt's a kiosk outside Court Ingles on the roundabout. Set back a couple of streets from the port. It's lovely to sit and watch the world go round and round.
Drinks & Nightlife
In Aloha, filled with locals & tourists, Frank the owner is an interesting & welcoming guy from Monaco who looks after his customers. It’s spotless & real old school service-the Ritz service but cool & not stuffy. Ask for spirits he gives you the bottle, you tell him how many. If you’ve had 5 & he sees you pour small UK measures he says that's just 3. No need for door staff, all freinds. Frank’s casual in jeans & trainers but customers are usually smart & glam. It can soon become your local. Alone, with the better half, kids, friends, it’s ultra friendly & welcoming. 5pm to v late & gets v busy. It's a melting pot of nice and interesting people. 5 win walk, see our map. Not crazy €.
6 locals recommend
Bar Six
1 C. de las TorresIn Aloha, filled with locals & tourists, Frank the owner is an interesting & welcoming guy from Monaco who looks after his customers. It’s spotless & real old school service-the Ritz service but cool & not stuffy. Ask for spirits he gives you the bottle, you tell him how many. If you’ve had 5 & he sees you pour small UK measures he says that's just 3. No need for door staff, all freinds. Frank’s casual in jeans & trainers but customers are usually smart & glam. It can soon become your local. Alone, with the better half, kids, friends, it’s ultra friendly & welcoming. 5pm to v late & gets v busy. It's a melting pot of nice and interesting people. 5 win walk, see our map. Not crazy €.
As cheap as a night out in Montecarlo but the people are fun and interesting! All ages from young to exhumed. A stunning out door and indoor night club. You must dress well. It's not a cheap night out. Drinks start at around €20 for a 200ml bottle of water, but spirits, wines and champagne are only about €5 more, per glass... if that makes it sound more palatable. Attached to an open square are Michelin star and superb restaurants and Nobu Hotel. Busy from early evening until dawn. There is also an inside and open air club.
223 locals recommend
La Suite Marbella
As cheap as a night out in Montecarlo but the people are fun and interesting! All ages from young to exhumed. A stunning out door and indoor night club. You must dress well. It's not a cheap night out. Drinks start at around €20 for a 200ml bottle of water, but spirits, wines and champagne are only about €5 more, per glass... if that makes it sound more palatable. Attached to an open square are Michelin star and superb restaurants and Nobu Hotel. Busy from early evening until dawn. There is also an inside and open air club.
Jumping from around 7pm every night. Two restaurants inside, one dining area outside. Usually two live bands playing from around 9-12pm, one in the piano lounge and one in the bar. Great staff, great entertainment. It can get exceptionally busy. Professional and friendly waiting and door staff. You usually need to book well in advance.
293 locals recommend
La Sala Puerto Banús
s/n C. Juan BelmonteJumping from around 7pm every night. Two restaurants inside, one dining area outside. Usually two live bands playing from around 9-12pm, one in the piano lounge and one in the bar. Great staff, great entertainment. It can get exceptionally busy. Professional and friendly waiting and door staff. You usually need to book well in advance.
It's a legendary Super pool club and still doing great. Busy early afternoon to early evenings. It's pricey (€1k - 10k beds on champagne party days, 75% less normal days) but the staff and service is great, same staff year after year. Mid week you can be quiet enough to take the kids in the huge pool and the lifeguards keep a close watch (but no crèche). Lots and lots of entertainment provided, people watching and a can be wild.
259 locals recommend
Ocean Club Marbella
s/n Av. de Lola FloresIt's a legendary Super pool club and still doing great. Busy early afternoon to early evenings. It's pricey (€1k - 10k beds on champagne party days, 75% less normal days) but the staff and service is great, same staff year after year. Mid week you can be quiet enough to take the kids in the huge pool and the lifeguards keep a close watch (but no crèche). Lots and lots of entertainment provided, people watching and a can be wild.
A pool club that has a cosy feel compared to some of the huge ones. Good staff, service, food and prices that are not crazy. It's La Sala so always great.
28 locals recommend
La Sala By The Sea
Avenida José BanúsA pool club that has a cosy feel compared to some of the huge ones. Good staff, service, food and prices that are not crazy. It's La Sala so always great.
A 5 min walk form the villa In Aloha, directly opposite the restaurant / night club Mosh. KAH is a new restaurant / pool club / night with a €7m spend on the renovation. It’s truly stunning, like no other and prices are not off the scale (in comparison) €20 pasta dishes and €40 wines and both are lovely. It has a kids crèche so the parents relax until the evening. On certain days A rare offering is beds where the cost of the bed can be offset against food and drinks. After dinner the crowd goes to the outside bar and pool area which is stunning. It’s a range of ages but more of a 30+ as opposed to a wild early 20s venue. It gets a good mix of locals and savvy tourists.
8 locals recommend
KAH Marbella
A 5 min walk form the villa In Aloha, directly opposite the restaurant / night club Mosh. KAH is a new restaurant / pool club / night with a €7m spend on the renovation. It’s truly stunning, like no other and prices are not off the scale (in comparison) €20 pasta dishes and €40 wines and both are lovely. It has a kids crèche so the parents relax until the evening. On certain days A rare offering is beds where the cost of the bed can be offset against food and drinks. After dinner the crowd goes to the outside bar and pool area which is stunning. It’s a range of ages but more of a 30+ as opposed to a wild early 20s venue. It gets a good mix of locals and savvy tourists.
Walking distance and right next to Centro Plaza. Somehow you don't hear the music when you leave the venue. Part of the famous Olivia Valere group so not budget prices but it's a very popular pool club. Valet parking or a short walk.
26 locals recommend
NAO Pool Club
Calle los TilosWalking distance and right next to Centro Plaza. Somehow you don't hear the music when you leave the venue. Part of the famous Olivia Valere group so not budget prices but it's a very popular pool club. Valet parking or a short walk.
The name "Mosh Fun Kitchen" may not reflect the venue. It's a bit like Les Caves du Roy, St Tropez, from the outside and the Le Baoili, Cannes, on the inside. It's an upmarket Asian fusion style restaurant and all of a sudden after dinner the place is suddenly packed and buzzing. In Aloha, opposite KAH Pool club, not a cheap nite out but very popular.
166 locals recommend
Mosh Fun Kitchen
3 Av. del PradoThe name "Mosh Fun Kitchen" may not reflect the venue. It's a bit like Les Caves du Roy, St Tropez, from the outside and the Le Baoili, Cannes, on the inside. It's an upmarket Asian fusion style restaurant and all of a sudden after dinner the place is suddenly packed and buzzing. In Aloha, opposite KAH Pool club, not a cheap nite out but very popular.
Cafes, bars, live entertainment, restaurants of varied cuisines, nightclubs and pool clubs (golf, padel and tennis too ). The area is hard to beat and you can still walk to the beach, so much choice. Walking distance, suits all pockets from budget to crazy prices.
Aloha Restaurant
3 Av. del PradoCafes, bars, live entertainment, restaurants of varied cuisines, nightclubs and pool clubs (golf, padel and tennis too ). The area is hard to beat and you can still walk to the beach, so much choice. Walking distance, suits all pockets from budget to crazy prices.
Mahiki Beach
361 Av. Duque de AhumadaLa Sala has hooked up with Mahiki giving the best from both.
Shopping
It's probably best described and easily summed up as the Spanish version of Harrods... but as a tourist you get a 10% off card from customer services!
106 locals recommend
El Corte Ingles Puerto Banus
Calle Ramón ArecesIt's probably best described and easily summed up as the Spanish version of Harrods... but as a tourist you get a 10% off card from customer services!
Supercor Expres
Open 7 days early to late, English speaking
Its not an indoor mall, it's the port and has an abundance of famous brands and designer shops. Walking distance (not in heels). If you are here when the sales are on Court Ingles has many of the famous brands too, often at 50% - 70 off and then there's an extra 10% with the tourist card. But they don't always have the full range the port designer shops have access to (if spending twice the price for this seasons collection is important).
1294 locals recommend
Puerto Banus
Its not an indoor mall, it's the port and has an abundance of famous brands and designer shops. Walking distance (not in heels). If you are here when the sales are on Court Ingles has many of the famous brands too, often at 50% - 70 off and then there's an extra 10% with the tourist card. But they don't always have the full range the port designer shops have access to (if spending twice the price for this seasons collection is important).
It's not really a shopping mall... of course not. It's a lovely Chineese man and his wife in a little shop in Aloha (next door to the dry cleaners) that sell everything you could ever need on holiday, they are there whatever day and time you go. They sell everything in that little shop. He was telling me he's going to sell blow up luxury villas to go with the blow up beds and blow up pools he already sells.
MEGA CHINA
12 Av. Valle InclánIt's not really a shopping mall... of course not. It's a lovely Chineese man and his wife in a little shop in Aloha (next door to the dry cleaners) that sell everything you could ever need on holiday, they are there whatever day and time you go. They sell everything in that little shop. He was telling me he's going to sell blow up luxury villas to go with the blow up beds and blow up pools he already sells.
Arts & Culture
A theatre is not the most accurate description. It's an amazing live open air theatre show with dinner. You will be told you'll be dancing on the stage or tables later...and you will. It's as good as Londons West End... it's an amazing show. Not cheap but an amazing night out.
13 locals recommend
Teatro Marbella
Camino del ÁngelA theatre is not the most accurate description. It's an amazing live open air theatre show with dinner. You will be told you'll be dancing on the stage or tables later...and you will. It's as good as Londons West End... it's an amazing show. Not cheap but an amazing night out.
Essentials
Iceland
Sells Waitrose produce.
You'll get everything from Centro Plaza to Aloha at sensible prices. Obviously the Pool club is Pool club prices. You get more locals there so service is good. (Don't know why it's defaulted to say vacation care)
Vacation Care @ Aloha gardens
71 Av. del PradoYou'll get everything from Centro Plaza to Aloha at sensible prices. Obviously the Pool club is Pool club prices. You get more locals there so service is good. (Don't know why it's defaulted to say vacation care)
It's an indoor and outdoor shopping mall with cafes, bars, restaurants, gym, supermarket and retail shopping. The cafe at the kiosk at the road side is fantastic value and always busy from early morning until late afternoon, then the restaurants and pubs are busy. It's just up from La Sala
48 locals recommend
Centro Comercial Centro Plaza
1 Av de ManoleteIt's an indoor and outdoor shopping mall with cafes, bars, restaurants, gym, supermarket and retail shopping. The cafe at the kiosk at the road side is fantastic value and always busy from early morning until late afternoon, then the restaurants and pubs are busy. It's just up from La Sala
Everything Else
It's Puerto Banus, Marbella. It is literally alive 24/7 365. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of places to go and have fun. You can have plenty of fun on the cheap or bust the bank in a pool club / beach club / night club. You can be organic and healthy, crazy, a bit of both or somewhere in the middle. Singles, couples, families, groups. It has so much to offer for everyone and every budget... and lots of sun, fun and smiles.
1294 locals recommend
Puerto Banus
It's Puerto Banus, Marbella. It is literally alive 24/7 365. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of places to go and have fun. You can have plenty of fun on the cheap or bust the bank in a pool club / beach club / night club. You can be organic and healthy, crazy, a bit of both or somewhere in the middle. Singles, couples, families, groups. It has so much to offer for everyone and every budget... and lots of sun, fun and smiles.