In order to get to Marbella the most convenient way is flying to Malaga and driving to Marbella from there. Marbella might at first not seem like the most attractive place. The harbour is very touristy with big yachts and people that seem, well, not the most pleasant. I’d recommend not to eat in the harbor area. The old town is very cute though with orange trees all around, pretty squares and a buzzing vibe. Although there, I haven’t tried any restaurants. The list below is of places I love that are a bit scattered throughout and a bit outside the city. I hope you’ll like them, too!!
1. Bar Guerra
Bar Guerra is the perfect spot for a relaxed late afternoon beer and some tapas. The place opened recently and is located in a suburb of Marbella, in San Pedro. A simple small bar that offers a couple of good wines, tapas like cooked gambas, ensalada rusa (Russian salad), fried crystal shrimps, delicious oysters and more. It’s all very fair priced, and the staff are nice and attentive. You can sit both inside and outside, but if you want to enjoy a nice vibe, I suggest you choose the terrace.
2. La Milla
French riviera style decoration with blue and white plates, light blue napkins and table runners, this restaurant is perfect for a chic beach lunch. The seafood here is amazing with a raw Gamba tartare, Tuna ceviche, fried egg tacos with tuna tartar, coal grilled sardines being among my favourites. A great wine selection makes it easy to have a slightly boozy lunch. La Milla is located just by the main beach promenade with a view on the ocean.
3. Takumi
Apparently the best Sushi restaurant in the South of Spain. A very simple and calm interior, with a covered terrace and a cosier, darker room inside. The prices here aren’t low, but it’s worth it. The highlight of our lunch was an otoro tuna tartare with caviar, served on a fried and battered shiso leaf. Pretty extra. But also the main sushi dishes like butterfish nigiri with a coffee cream, truffles and mushroom are fantastic. Try as many different things as you can and share with your table partners!
4. Bibo
A restaurant by Dani Garcia, a well-known Spanish chef who owns several high end restaurants. Bibo is more affordable, serving very tasty dishes. The atmosphere is vibrant and alive, and post Covid-19 probably the perfect spot to eat before going out. I loved the squid croquettes and the ensalada rusa. The vermouth I had as an aperitif was also a delight, carefully chosen by the bartender.
5. El Ancla
A seafood restaurant shining all in white decoration. When you enter, there’s a big pool at the entrance and a bar that’s great for an aperitif. Once inside, you’ll spot the fresh seafood bar to your right, just before entering the open terrace, literally 2 meters from the ocean. The food here is fresh, kept simple, but with a focus on great ingredients and served in an appealing way. Make sure to order the baby clams, the anchovies cured in vinegar and the carabinero (scarlet shrimp) pasta. Also, make sure to suck out all the juices from the head of that shrimp – it’s the best! The staff are very friendly and the atmosphere vibrant but still somehow relaxed.
