Known as one of the sexiest destinations on the Costa del Sol, Marbella has two sides. There’s the Golden Mile and everything it stands for: luxury, glamour, and the glitterati. Then there’s the quieter, more down-to-earth, and authentic side. But whichever appeals to you more, holidaying in the city offers an opportunity to explore the best restaurants in Marbella.
Marbella is home to some of the best restaurants in Andalucia—and potentially even in Spain. People flock to the city for a good time and that means experiencing some of the finest food around. You’ll be in great company too. Aristocrats, celebrities, and even Michelle Obama have been known to haunt the city’s top eateries.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a perfect brunch spot, are seeking traditional cuisine in one of the charming restaurants of Marbella Old Town, or want to embark on a culinary journey as initiated by one of the world’s top chefs, Marbella’s roster of restaurants has you covered.
What’s more, many of these restaurants prioritise environmentally-friendly dining. In a world where a commitment to sustainability is just as powerful an attraction as location, price, and quality, these restaurants are embracing local ingredients, organic produce, and even including vegetarian and vegan options on their menu too. Green travel just got easier.
So here’s our pick of the best places to eat in Marbella, from the best destination for health-conscious diners to the best restaurant for all-day dining, as well as the best vegan restaurants. Plus, the most famous restaurant in the city for foodies seeking the best in the business.
The 11 best restaurants in Marbella
| # | Restaurant | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cascada | Best overall |
| 2 | Skina | Best high-end |
| 3 | Casanis | Best in Old Town |
| 4 | Wabi Sabi | Best healthy |
| 5 | BiBo | Most famous |
| 6 | The Farm | Best organic |
| 7 | Messina | Most innovative |
| 8 | Breathe | Best for all-day dining |
| 9 | Gioia | Best plant-based |
| 10 | Manuka | Best for vegans |
| 11 | Rachels’ Eco Love | Most eco-friendly |
Cascada Cocina & Bar: Best restaurant in Marbella
Located up in the hills, Cascada feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Marbella with its vibrant green gardens and the waterfalls after which it’s named. If you’re looking to get away from the crowds, then this is the spot.
Inside, the vibe is laidback and welcoming with a stylish colour palette of terracotta and teal, wood beam ceilings, minimalist furnishings, and a large wood fire for chillier days. But it’s the food that will keep you returning to this hillside escape. It’s unpretentious and straightforward, letting fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients take centre stage.
There are Andalusian classics as well as internationally-inspired dishes and endless delicious flavour pairings such as grilled black pudding with red peppers or chocolate coulant with pistachio heart. You’ll also get access to the well-stocked wine cellar.
Another reason this restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Marbella? It’s open for dinner as early as 5 pm, making it ideal for kids.
Address: Urbanizacion Montua, 39, 29602 Marbella. Opening days and hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 1 pm - 10:30 pm Price range: $$ - $$$ Website: www.cascadamarbella.com
Skina: Best high-end restaurant in Marbella
If you take your foodie status seriously, this Michelin-starred Marbella restaurant should be the first reservation you make after touching down in the city. One of the best restaurants in Marbella, Skina serves seasonal haute cuisine with creative culinary choices and masterful handling of unusual ingredients.
We’re talking combinations such as deer ham with celery or lobster tartare with strawberry. All dishes are made with an emphasis on minimal possible environmental impact and maximum possible flavour.
The restaurant only seats ten people with just four tables, which creates a wonderfully cosy and intimate ambience. You’ll probably never look up from your plate, but if you do, you’ll appreciate the bold modernism of the interior and the glass-enclosed wine cellar.
Fancy trying your hand in the kitchen? Skina offers private lessons and internships for a truly unique eco vacation experience.
Address: Calle Aduar 12, 29601 Marbella Opening days and hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 1 pm - 12 am Price range: $$$$ Website: www.restauranteskina.com
Casanis: Best restaurant in Marbella Old Town
Located in the heart of Marbella Old Town, Casanis is impossible not to like. With its walls decked in colourful modern art, welcoming lighting, and great music (curated by a resident DJ), Casanis knows how to help you relax.
In the kitchen, you’ve got Argentinian chef Fabián Cangas, who honed his craft at the likes of the Sheraton Hotel in Buenos Aires, Café Noir in New York, and Bistro El Pelícano in Sydney. Dishes unite French and Belgian influences with the most innovative and cutting-edge gastronomic methods, using seasonal products in a creative way while still respecting traditional recipes.
What’s more, Casanis sources many of its ingredients from its own garden, located just 10 minutes from the restaurant, growing their own vegetables (including ten different types of carrot) without any pesticides or other chemicals, guaranteeing dishes that are 100% natural, fresh, flavour-packed, and organic.
If you’re all about responsible travel, then Casanis is the ultimate dining destination.
Address: Calle Ancha, 8, 29601 Marbella. Opening days and hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 pm to 10:30 pm Price range $$ - $$$ Website: www.casanisbistrot.com
Wabi Sabi Marbella: Best healthy restaurant in Marbella
This is one of TripAdvisor’s top-rated restaurants in Marbella, Spain, and with good reason. This easygoing eatery is one of the more budget-friendly Marbella restaurants on our list but it doesn’t compromise on quality, delivering imaginative food prepared with fresh ingredients.
Wabi Sabi serves Hawaiian food in an informal space that’s perfect for hanging out in after a morning on the beach. They carefully select all their products from local providers with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. And if you don’t manage to get there for lunch, they also do dinner, tapas, and cocktails, as well as delivery options.
Take your pick from fresh poke bowls, steaming ramen bowls, as well as burgers, grilled dishes, and salad. We recommend the spicy pineapple or literally any of the healthy vegetarian options. They’ve also got their own IPA beer to wash it down.
Address: Av. Antonio Belón, 26, local 10, 29602 Marbella. Opening days and hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12:30 - 10:30 pm Price range: $$ - $$$ Website: www.wabisabimarbella.com
BiBo Dani García: Most famous restaurant in Marbella
Located in foodie hotspot La Plaza at Puente Romano, three-Michelin-starred restaurant BiBo is the creation of celebrity chef Dani García. This relaxed yet refined brasserie encapsulates the whole notion of ‘barefoot luxury’—exclusive yet easygoing—and is the perfect place to enjoy an innovative take on traditional tapas and great live music.
The dynamic menu will take you on a culinary tour of what seems like every corner of the globe with an imaginative mix of flavours and influences. There’s Oxtail Brioche, for example, served with thin mushrooms slices and a signature DG sauce. Or grilled artichokes served with almond soup, smoked eel, and payoyo cheese. You could also explore the Raw or Oyster bars or splash out on the spectacular Lobster Salpicon Salad.
It’s ideal for those who pride themselves on their adventurous palette. There’s also an extensive wine and cocktail list, designed to enhance and elevate the experience. Rest assured every component of your meal has been made with fresh and locally sourced ingredients.
Address: Hotel Puente Romano, Av. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe, Marbella. Opening days and hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 1 - 4 pm and 8 - 10:30 pm Price range: $$$ Website: www.grupodanigarcia.com
The Farm: Best organic restaurant in Marbella
If eating organic is your priority, then a visit to The Farm is mandatory. Slow travel meets the slow food movement in this eco-friendly restaurant that promotes fresh, seasonal and local produce with 0 food miles, as well as an emphasis on transparency so you know exactly what you’re eating.
The menu changes frequently according to what’s in season but expect to find a range of dishes to cater to all tastes, from spicy Vietnamese rolls to Thai Curry to beef entrecote. The space has the atmosphere of a beach bar, full of plants and bright colours, and is the perfect spot to unwind, disconnect, and enjoy a leisurely meal or an organic coffee.
You can also explore one of the venue’s craft markets or pop-up stores, take part in a workshop or yoga class (followed by brunch, of course), or enjoy live music or one of the venue’s popular DJ sessions. This is a top contender for the best place to eat in Marbella and a great choice for those on sustainable holidays.
Address: Plaza Altamirano, 3, 29601 Marbella. Opening days and hours: Monday, 6 - 10:30 pm, Thursday to Saturday, 12 - 10:30 pm Price range: $$ Website: www.thefarm-marbella.com
Messina: Most innovative restaurant in Marbella
Marbella has no shortage of upscale dining establishments but one of the best luxury restaurants in the city has to be Messina. With its sleek open-plan interior, featuring wooden floors and blissfully comfortable red chairs, this Michelin-starred restaurant lets you know that you’re in for a treat from the moment you enter.
Chef Mauricio Giovanni delivers exciting twists on local classics, pairing unusual flavours and textures to dazzling effect. Try the taster menu or go for one of the crowd-pleasing signature dishes like the crab curry ravioli with banana (don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it), the tuna with papaya, or even a squid sandwich.
Expect fresh local produce served in unusual ways—perfect for mature palettes that aren’t afraid to try something different. The presentation is always impeccable, the staff are super attentive, and the location in the centre of Marbella makes it a convenient choice too. It’s also one of the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurants on the Costa del Sol.
Address: Av. Severo Ochoa, 12, 29603 Marbella. Opening days and hours: Monday to Saturday, 8 pm - 11 pm Price range: $$$$ Website: www.restaurantemessina.com
Breathe: Best restaurant in Marbella for all-day dining
Located in Marbella’ world-famous port, Puerto Banús, Breathe is less a restaurant than an experience—and one that you’ll remember for a long time afterwards. The restaurant is pioneering the concept of fresh-thinking gastronomy (read: fine sustainable dining), providing an eco-friendly escape that doesn’t skimp on the wow factor.
With Breathe, you actually get three venues in one: an artisan café and bakery serving weekend brunches on the ground floor, a main dining room, and a rooftop cocktail bar. Each space is designed to suit different moods and requirements and each one is marked by seriously stylish interior design choices. There’s also a covered terrace and a beautiful garden with various chill-out zones.
But the most enticing aspect of Breathe is its focus on sustainability. The restaurant has invested in its own geothermal energy plant that both cools and heats the building and provides hot water—all for a fraction of the energy typically used. The gardens are partly irrigated using recycled rain-water and drinking water is purified through reverse osmosis and remineralised.
This is eco luxury at its best.
Address: Calle Los Lirios S/N, 29660 Marbella. Opening days and hours: Monday to Saturday, 1:30 pm - 10:30 pm Price range: $$$$ Website: www.breathe.life
Gioia Plant-Based Cuisine: Best plant-based restaurant in Marbella
Considered one of the best vegan restaurants in Marbella, Gioia’s menu is totally meat-free, making it a top choice for environmentally conscious diners. And while the food is all made from organic plants, this doesn’t mean you have to compromise on taste or flavour. The quality of these dishes easily rivals that of traditional fine cuisine.
The menu is simple but creative, featuring highly nourishing meals made from natural ingredients, with no deep-frying or microwaving. Definitely try the famous chickpea burger that reviewers rave about. And then there’s the Intenso, an overload of sweet chocolatey goodness, including raw cacao, hemp seeds, walnuts, cardamom, ginger, and topped with white chocolate and orange zest.
You’ve also got a choice of fresh, exotic, and energy-boosting juices and smoothies as well as biodynamic wines. Finish it all off with an eco-friendly coffee made with your choice of lactose-free milk. Your stomach will be happy and so will the planet.
Address: Calle Velázquez, 1, Marbella. Opening days and hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 1 pm - 4 pm Price range: $$ Website: www.gioiaplantbasedcuisine.com
Manuka: Best restaurant for vegans in Marbella
For non-meat eaters looking for somewhere to enjoy a high-quality and delicious meal in Marbella, Manuka is one of the best vegan restaurants in the city. This charming restaurant delivers clean and additive-free wholefoods to those who care about what goes into their bodies and what their food is doing to the planet.
Manuka sources all its ingredients from local producers, supporting community businesses. In fact, the menu explains exactly where your meal has come from. They are committed to using no refined sugars and those on raw food or celiac diets will also find their needs catered to. The superfood-packed dishes have been inspired by international culinary traditions and are proof that nature really does do it best.
While there is some meat on the menu (the restaurant describes itself as flexitarian), it’s all free-range, ethical, and grass-fed, so you don’t need to stress.
Address: Centro Comercial La Cañada, Carretera de Ojen SN, 29602 Marbella. Opening days and hours: Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 9 pm Price range: $$ Website: www.manukamarbella.com
Rachel’s Eco Love: Most eco-friendly restaurant in Marbella
If you want somewhere lowkey and relaxed to enjoy brunch, lunch, or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, head to Rachel’s, an organic and eco chic restaurant offering customers a major health boost with an appetite-arousing menu of clean and natural dishes.
There’s a range of reviving juices and protein shakes, various different toasts with toppings (we like the Superman Toast, with almond cream, banana, honey, and cinnamon), healthy bowls, hearty breakfasts, and sharing plates. Each dish is crafted with care, giving both your body and your taste buds just what they need.
As well as the eatery, there’s an organic kitchen garden, a terrace where you can soak up some rays, and a shop selling organic products and knick-knacks from around the world.
Address: Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa, Marbella. Opening days and hours: Every day, 9 am - 8 pm Price range: $$$ Website: www.rachelsecolove.com
Frequently asked questions about Marbella
The best part of Marbella is the old Old Town which is charming and full of authentic restaurants and shops. Downtown is very lively, Puerto Banus is home to luxury villas and yachts, while San Pedro has the beach.
It can be expensive to eat out in Marbella but it depends where you choose to dine. There are a number of expensive and famous Michelin starred restaurants but there are also more affordable restaurants too. Check our list of the best restaurants in Marbella for inspiration.
Marbella is famous for being a popular holiday resort on the Costa del Sol in Spain. It’s a favourite among holiday-makers thanks to its beaches, night clubs, luxury restaurants, and good weather.
People think of Marbella as a rich place because it’s a popular holiday destination for celebrities and VIPs. However, compared to other European cities, including Madrid, Marbella is not that expensive.
