Marbella: Travel Notes

Lurking behind the cliché of Marbella as the centre of glitz, glam and celebrity wannabes, is a city surrounded by spectacular landscapes. Laughing stock of the media over the last few years, there is nothing more gutsy than to fight against a well-worn stereotype. “‘Look at your watch’, I tell my friends when they arrive. Twenty minutes later they find themselves in a place they would never have imagined,” explains Julio Leal, guitar player from the band Los Elementos. Featuring mountains, lakes and some of the best food in the area, this guide will take your preconceptions and turn them firmly on their head.

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Marbella is usually identified with the glamour of Miami and Punta del Este, but this seaside resort has another, more genuine and unpublicised side. While great weather is almost guaranteed all year round, bring or rent a car in order to escape to the best beaches and into mountains.

The perfect way to start your day is to get up early and visit the Refugio del Juanar (just 20 minutes away by car) and choose one of several hikes. The best ends at the Cross of Juanar and takes about 4 hours there and back. There is also an easier and shorter walk to a lookout point that only takes an hour. The Sierra Blanca Mountains that protect Marbella from the elements offer up a great view of the city set against the Mediterranean Sea. While the idiot box is only interested in second-rate socialites, this is one sure way to put the natural beauty of Marbella into perspective.

Another pleasant stroll takes you along the paseo marítimo, a boardwalk that follows the coastline of Marbella, from the centre to Puerto Banús. Here you can check out the yachts (if that’s what you’re into) and witness how the glamour of another era is fighting to survive. In reality, the only real reason to come to the port is because it is the point of departure to go on an assortment of adventures, including kayaking on the Istan lake. One of Marbella’s best kept secrets, this is your chance to escape and float in the silent waters of the Lago de la Concepción (Ticket to Ride, Avda. Naciones Unidas, C.C. Cristamar Local B61, 952905082, 609517517, reservation required). If you prefer salty water, the best beaches in the area are outside of the city centre, between Los Monteros Beach and Cabopino. Our favourite beach bar (and most affordable) is Copacabana (Urb. Playa del Arenal, Costabella, salida El Rosario. 952837555).

When you’ve had enough sun, the old town is great for escaping into the shade for an afternoon. Take a walk through narrow streets with remnants of Marbella’s Moorish history to the Plaza de los Naranjos and the walls of the ancient Moorish fortress, known as the muralla de la Alcazaba. Don’t miss the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Printmaking (Hospital Bazán, s/n, 952765741). The museum includes several fantastic prints by Picasso and Miró, and organizes a programme of interesting workshops. For some shopping, you’ll find shops with an artisan vibe on Calle del Peral. Otherwise, you should find everything you need by strolling along Ricardo Soriano, the main artery of the city.

Residents of Marbella gripe about the lack of a thriving cultural scene. The nuclei for alternative events can be found at Black Box Theatre (C/ Notario Luis Oliver, 6, 952779172, blackboxteatro.com), the Fnac Forum (Fnac La Cañada. C.C. La Cañada. Autovía 340, salida Ojén, 952899300, fnac.es) and Cinema Club Luis Buñuel (I.E.S Rio Verde, C/ Notario Luis Oliver, 952774638). The thriving proliferation of restaurants goes some way to make up for this weakness. Marbella offers the broadest selection of international menus on the coast of Malaga. It’s no accident that three of the Michelin Stars awarded in Andalusia were awarded to restaurants in the area. Calima Restaurant (H. Gran Meliá Don Pepe, Avda. José Meliá, s/n, 952764252, restaurantecalima.com), Skina (C/ Aduar, 12, 952765277, restauranteskina.com) and El Lago (Greenlife Golf, Urb. Elviria Hills. Avda. Las Cumbres, s/n, 952832371, RESTAURANTEELLAGO.COM) are three options you should try if you want to immerse yourself in haute cuisine. If not, the choices on offer will make sure you never go hungry: Andalusian, Mediterranean, Basque, Lebanese, Indian, Thai, Japanese, Argentinean… the choice is endless.

If what you’re looking for is seafood, just make your way to the Puerto Pesquero. While all of the restaurants serve great food, you won’t be disappointed with the Hogar del Pescador (C/ Guadalete, Puerto Pesquero, 952867529). Tapas lovers will also find something to eat in the old town. Locals love El Estrecho (C/ San Lázaro), while the Taberna Casa Curro has recently become a favourite (C/ Pantaleón, 7, tabernacasacurro.com). Our recommendations? Restaurante Gaspar (C/ Notario Luis Oliver, 1, 952779098) for delicious homemade food, and Restaurant La Virginia (La Virginia Urbanization, 9527711519), Belgian influences in a tranquil and unrivalled location. La Virginia is an urbanization that reminds locals of times gone by and leaves visitors enchanted.

In summer there is a tenfold increase in the amount of leisure options on offer. Every year new bars and clubs open up and become the talk of the town. There are choices for all tastes. The old town has several bars and terraces for those of you looking for something a little more low-key: Lolita (C/ Del Peral, 679999705, lolitamarbella.com) and Town House (C/ Alano, 1, 952861182) to name a couple. Live music can be found at Premiere Club (Plaza de los Olivos, 2, 649995277, premiereclub.es) that often has surprisingly good live gigs. If you have a little money to burn, Nikki Beach (Playa Hotel Don Carlos, CN-340, 952836239, nikkibeach.com) and Suite Del Mar (Hotel Puente Romano, Carretera De Cádiz KM. 177, 952820900) are where to go to hang out with the beautiful people. Just watch out when it comes to flirting. The oldest profession in the world appears to be thriving. If you’re more into salsa, the Ranchón Cubano (CN-340, Residencia Tiempo Libre Exit, Elviria) is the place to be. You’ll soon find your hips swinging to the music and a mojito in hand as the waves sing in the background.

 Eat

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Early morning coffee
Panadería Gaspar
C/ Antiguo Puente Málaga, 1
952860496

Menu of the day
Hermanos Navarro
Avenida Severo Ochoa, 31
952859072

Working lunch with colleagues
La Navilla
C.C. Plaza del Mar
Camilo José Cela, 9
952862085

Cheap and cheerful
La Red
Playa La Fontanilla, 6
952821450

Cheap and cheerful
Copacabana
Urb. Playa del Arenal
Costabella
952837555

Home cooked meal
Restaurante Gaspar
C/ Notario Luis Oliver, 19
952779098

Classic tapas
El Estrecho
C/ San Lázaro

Classic tapas
Taberna Casa Curro
C/ Pantaleón, 7
tabernacasacurro.com

Eat your greens!
Terra Sana
Avd. Principe de Hohenlohe
Edf. Milla de Oro, Local 5-7
952777480

Need to impress
Calima
H. Gran Meliá Don Pepe
Avda. José Meliá, s/n
952764252, restaurantecalima.com

Seafood
Hogar del Pescador
C/ Guadalete
Puerto Pesquero
952867529

Carnivore's paradise
Sidrería Usategui
Urb. El Mirador. Edf. El Palomar
952827313, sidreriausategui.com

Carnivore's paradise
Querencia, 25 €
C/ Virgen de los Dolores, 3
Casco Antiguo
952867701

High cuisine
Skina
C/ Aduar, 12
952765277, restauranteskina.com

A trip to Italy
Italian Kitchen
Avda. Ricardo Soriano, 45, local 5
952857560, italiankitchenmarbella.com

Something different
Marie's Deli (Lebanese)
Urb. Carolina Park, Local 2, Urb. Carolina Park, Local, 2
952867570

Something different
Taj Mahal (Indian)
Av Principe Alfonso Hohenlohe, km. 179
952857670, tajmahal-marbella.com

Treat yourself
Restaurante La Virginia
Plaza de Antonio el Jardinero, 3
Urbanización La Virginia
952771519

Something sweet
Goyo
C/ Alonso de Bazán, 3
952776642, goyomarbella.com

 Drink

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A few pints
Tierra Aranda
C/ San Lázaro, 1
952829597

For a cosy chat
The Town House
C/ Alano, 1
952861182

Cocktail bar
La Prainha
Puerto Deportivo, s/n
645082728

Cocktail bar
Barrocco
Avda. Duque de Ahumada
Paseo Marítimo

Cocktail bar
Terra Sana @ iLounge
Avda. José Antonio Belón, s/n
952901274

Cocktail bar
Gauguin Café
Avenida de la Fontanilla, 7

For a cosy chat
Lolita
C/ Del Peral
679999705, lolitamarbella.com

Everyone is talking about it
Premiere Club
Plaza de los Olivos, 2
649995277, premiereclub.es

Everyone is talking about it
Terra Blues
Muelle Ribera Local 116
Puerto Banus
terra-blues.com

To be seen
Nikki Beach
Playa Hotel Don Carlos CN-340
952836239, nikkibeach.com

To be seen
Buddha
Avda. del Mar, 31
952772891, buddhamarbella.com

Live music
Ranchón Cubano
CN-340, (Salida Residencia Tiempo Libre)
Elviria, Marbella

Pub theatre
Black Box Teatro
C/ Notario Luis Oliver, 6
952779172, blackboxteatro.com

Nightclub
Dreamer's
Ctra. de Río Verde, Km. 0,5
Puerto Banús
952812080, dreamers-disco.com

Last round
Locos Bar
Puerto Deportivo, 41

 Live music

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Great live music
Premiere Club
Plaza de los Olivos, 2
649995277, premiereclub.es

Rock
Locos Bar
Puerto Deportivo, 41

A little of everything
Black Box Teatro
C/ Notario Luis Oliver, 6
952779172, blackboxteatro.com

Classical
Música Con Encanto
689000944, musicaconencanto.org

 Sleep

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Business trip
Nh Marbella, 170 €
CN-340. km. 178. Avda. Conde Rudi
952763200, nh-hotels.com
 
Dependable Chain
Gran Meliá Don Pepe, 320 €
Avda. José Meliá s/n
952770300, solmelia.com
 
Cosy and central
La Villa Marbella, 115-229 €
C/ Principe, 10
952766220, lavillamarbella.com
 
Great atmosphere
Hotel Claude Marbella, 250 - 280 €
C/ San Francisco, 5
952900840, hotelclaudemarbella.com
 
Historic
Hotel El Fuerte, 250 €
Avda. El Fuerte, s/n
952861500, fuertehoteles.com

Historic
Hotel Sultán Club, 208 €
Avenida Arturo Rubenstein, s/n
952771562, hotelsultanclub.com

Luxury
Marbella Club Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, 620 €
CN-340. km. 178.
Boulevard Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe
952822211, marbellaclub.com

Luxury
Hotel Puente Romano, 520 €
CN-340A, Km.177,6
952820900, puenteromano.com

Fashionable
Gran Hotel Guadalpín Marbella, 280 €
CN-340. km. 179.
Boulevard Principe Alfonso de Hohenlohe
952899400, granhotelguadalpin.com

Cheap and cheerful
The Town House, 130 €
C/Alderete, 7.
Plaza Tetuán
952901791, townhouse.nu

Cheap and cheerful
Pensión El Castillo, 50 €
Plaza San Bernabé, 2
952771739, hotelelcastillo.com.
 
Hidden away
Marianne Nilsen
Urb. La Virginia
Plaza de la Primavera, 3
952765018, 629379974, homelidays.com

Hidden away
Hotel Los Jarales
Ctra. Marbella-Istán, Km.14
Istán, Marbella
952869942, losjarales.com

Youth Hostel
Albergue Juvenil de Marbella (en obras)
Avda. del Trapiche, 2
951270301, inturjoven.com
 
Camping
Camping Marbella Playa
CN-340, km. 192,8
952833998, campingmarbella.com

 Shop

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Native products
Sunny Shop
C/ Mendoza, 4
952859121, thesunnyshop.com
 
For the home
Ankara
C.C. Guadalmina, local 35
San Pedro Alcántara
952887012

For the home
Objects
C/ Nueva, 9
952820383‎

Getting ready for feria
Giralmar
Avenida Mercado, s/n
952821130
 
Something for yourself
Kódigo
C/ Víctor de la Serna, 12
952862086

Something for yourself
The Hat Shop
C/ Panadería, 4
952776041

Something for yourself
Muelle Benabola y Muelle Ribera
Puerto Banús
 
Music store
Fnac La Cañada
Fnac La Cañada. C.C. La Cañada. Autovía 340, salida Ojén
952899300, fnac.es

Street market
Mercado Central
Avda. del Mercado, s/n
952902578

Local produce
Vinacoteca La Cartuja
Plaza Gómez Agüera, 7
952775203, vinoslacartuja.com

Home Sweet Home
DM Properties
Avda Ricardo Soriano 72 B1
952765138, dmproperties.com

Ecological
Bionatura
C/ Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente, s/n
952900401, bionatura.es
 
Sweet treats
Goyo
C/ Alonso de Bazán, 3
952776642, goyomarbella.com
 
Something original
Cerámica G. Vega
Avda. Gustavo Adolfo Bequer, 54
952816848, gvega.com

 Skyline

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La Concha

At 1,215 metres, la Concha is one of the peaks of the Sierra de las Nieves Mountains and protects the city of Marbella at its feet. The paths that weave their way up its sides are ideal for seeing Marbella and the Mediterranean Sea from another perspective. They say that marine fossils have been found at the summit, which explains the name (La Concha means shell).

El Puerto Deportivo

377 berths in the centre of the city. This leisure port features a Moorish style building and separates the Playa del Faro (beach of the lighthouse) from Playa de la Venus (the beach of Venus). Far less glamorous than Puerto Banús, but much more friendly, you’ll find several bars and restaurants ideal for a rest from the beach or a long day’s work.

El Puerto Pesquero

The fisherman’s port is the best place to eat fish in Marbella. To the east, several fishermen’s houses and their restaurantes look out to the sea. You won’t find any swanky yachts here, only small fishing boats that bring in their catch every morning.

Muralla del Castillo

In the heart of the old town, the remains of the castle walls date back to the 10th century. Abderramán III ordered the castle built to defend Marbella from possible attacks from Africa. Today you’ll find the remains of this fortress located between the Plaza de los Naranjos and the Encarnación Church.

Puerto Banús

Known for the glitz and glam that characterised Marbella in the sixties, seventies and eighties, this is where to park your yacht if you want to be seen. Arab sheikhs, American actors and the Spanish jet set used to spend their time there in its heyday. Now a glorified shopping mall and stag weekend destination, it somehow maintains its position as one of the most visited locations on the Costa del Sol.

Plaza de los Naranjos

No matter the season, this small plaza in the centre of the old town is always full of people. During the orange season the trees are resplendent and at night the smell of jasmine fills the area.

 Sports and spas

---

Getting sweaty
O2 Wellness Plaza del Mar
C.C. Plaza del Mar
C/ Camilo José Cela, s/n
952900420, o2centrowellness.com
 
Relax
Escuela Internacional de Yoga
Avda. Ricardo Soriano 36, Edificio María III, Planta 2, Oficina 208
952775634, escueladeyoga.com

Relax
Magna Pilates
Magna Marbella Golf Casa Club
C/ Calderon de la Barca, s/n
Nueva Andalucía, Marbella
619846956, artedepilates.com

Relax
Spa Hotel GUadalpin
Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe
952899405, granhotelguadalpin.com
 
Be adventurous
Ticket to Ride
Avda. Naciones Unidades, Cristamar, local B-61
Puerto Banús
952905082, marbellatop100.com

Be adventurous
Active Scuba Divers
Puerto Deportivo
628591357, activescubadiving.com
 
Be adventurous
Equitación Los Caireles
Urb. Hacienda Cortés Finca El Almendral
Tras el Arco de Marbella
629621069, loscaireles.es

Team sports
Estadio Municipal de Marbella
C/ Travesía Huerta de los Cristales, s/n
952277010
 
Sports center
Complejo Polideportivo Antonio Serrano Lima
C/ Vicente Blasco Ibañez
952 77 15 55, marbella.es
 
Tennis
El Casco
A-7 (CN-340A), km. 188,5 Urb. El Rosario
952837651, elcasco.com

Golf
Aloha Golf Club
Urbanización Aloha
Nueva Andalucía
952907085, clubdegolfaloha.com

 Museums and galleries

---

Contemporary
Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo
Hospital Bazán, s/n
952765741

Contemporary
Museo Ralli
Urb. Coral Beach CN-340 Km 176
Puerto Banús
952857923

Classical
Museo Cortijo Miraflores
Avda. José Luis Morales y Marín, s/n
952902714

Archaeological
Colección Municipal de Arqueología
Plaza Altamirano, s/n
952774638

Natural history
Museo del Bonsái
Parque Arroyo la Represa, s/n
952862926

 Theatre and dance

---

Cutting edge
Black Box Teatro
C/ Notario Luis Oliver, 6
952779172, blackboxteatro.com

A little of everything
Teatro Ciudad de Marbella
Plaza Ramón Martínez, s/n
952903159, marbella.es

 Cinema

---

Mainstream
Cinesa La Cañada
C.C. La Cañada
Ctra Circunvalación. Salida Ojén
902333231 , cinesa.es
 
Cinema club
Cine Club Buñuel
I.E.S Rio Verde
C/ Notario Luis Oliver
952774638

In the center
Cine Sur Plaza del Mar
C.C. Plaza del Mar
Paseo Marítimo
cinesur.com

Out of town
Gran Marbella
Paseo de Ribera
Puerto Banús
952816421, cinesgranmarbella.com

 Transport

---

Car rental
Niza Cars
C/ Camilo José Cela, 3
Apartamentos Puerta Azul, E
nizacars.es

Rent-a-bike
Avda. Ricardo Soriano, 76
952867678, rentabike.org

Water Sports
Funny Beach
Ctra.N-340, Km.184
952823359

By bus
Estación de Autobuses de Marbella
Avda. del Trapiche, s/n
902143144, ctsa-portillo.com

Taxi
Taxi Sol
952774488‎

 Green zones

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La Alameda

A green gateway that leads down to the sea in the centre of Marbella. An avenue of tall trees and marble floors that take you to the Avenida del Mar, where you can see the now mythical statues by Dalí.

El Paseo Marítimo

8 km of boardwalk from the fisherman’s port to Puerto Banús along which you’ll see the trees and gardens of some of the more famous homes and hotels of Marbella.

Parque de la Constitución

Not only a park, the Parque de la Constitución also contains an amphitheatre that houses concerts and shows in the summer. A popular destination for parents with kids, pets are not allowed and the park is closed at night.

Pinar de Nagüeles

To the northwest of the city, at the foot of the Sierra Blanca Mountains, part of this pine forest is open to the public for barbecues and for kids. Behind it you’ll find what’s left of the original landscape with paths leading up into the mountains.

 Wireless

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Fnac La Cañada
Request password
Fnac La Cañada. C.C. La Cañada. Autovía 340, salida Ojén

Heladería El Piave
Request password
C/ Nuestra Señora de Gracia, 28

Terra Sana @ iLounge
Open access
Avda. José Antonio Belón, s/n
952901274

Town Hall
Plaza de los Naranjos, s/n
952761100, marbella.es

Autovía A-7 Km. 187
951976669

Plaza de Leganitos, 5
902505061

Emergency Medical Attention
061

Fire
080

Post office
C/ Jacinto Benavente, 14
952772898

Local police
092

Ecologists in Action
952355383

24-hour pharmacy
Avda. Ricardo Soriano, 4
952773187, berdaguer.es

By air
Aeropuerto de Málaga
Avenida García Morato, s/n
952048804, 952048844, 952048771, Aena.es

By train
Estación de tren María Zambrano (RENFE/AVE)
Explanada de la Estación, s/n
Malaga
902240202, renfe.es

By boat
Edificio Capitanía
Paseo marítimo, s/n
Puerto Deportivo
952775524, marbella.es

By bus
Estación de Autobuses de Marbella
Avda. del Trapiche, s/n
902143144, ctsa-portillo.com