Over recent decades, Marbella has transformed from a seasonal seaside retreat into a cosmopolitan city with year-round appeal. Alongside its golf courses, luxury hotels and galleries, gastronomy has become a defining part of the lifestyle. Restaurants here are no longer tied to the ebb and flow of summer visitors with chefs delivering creative, surprising menus throughout the year, drawing both international recognition and a devoted local following. For residents, second-home owners and visitors alike, the depth of Marbella’s dining scene adds to its reputation as one of Europe’s most desirable destinations.
At the centre of this transformation is a cluster of Michelin-starred kitchens, supported by an array of chef-driven dining rooms that have earned Michelin recommendations and global acclaim. Within ten minutes of the Golden Mile and the Old Town, you can move between intimate omakase counters, Andalucian tasting menus and freshly caught seafood specialities with panoramic sea views. Below is our curated list of the essential tables to secure in 2025.
The Michelin stars
Two Stars
Skina
Cánovas del Castillo 9 (29601), centre/Old Town edge
Celebrating its twentieth anniversary, Skina has grown from an Old Town townhouse into a 19th-century farmhouse setting on the Golden Mile. Sommelier-owner Marcos Granda directs finely tuned Andalucian tasting menus alongside one of Spain’s most serious cellars. Its expansion has brought space for a private dining room and champagne bar, but the experience remains focused and exacting.
One Star
Messina
Av. Severo Ochoa 12 (29603), seafront
Argentinian-born chef Mauricio Giovanini explores contemporary Mediterranean cooking with precision and originality. Located a short walk from the beach, Messina combines creativity with hospitality you will want to return for, offering tasting menus that balance technical flair with lightness and approachability. Book the chef’s table for a close view of the kitchen at work.
Nintai
Ramón Gómez de la Serna 18B (29602), centre
Also under the direction of Marcos Granda, Nintai is Marbella’s benchmark for Japanese fine dining. With just twelve counter seats and a minimalist omakase format, the focus is on reverence for product and technical purity. Service is discreet but warm, and the sake list is unrivalled in the region.
BACK
Pablo Casals 8 (29602), near Parque de la Constitución
David Olivas delivers modern Andalucian cooking that is playful yet assured. Divided between ‘classics’ and seasonal creations, the menu shows confidence and versatility. The apple-wood-smoked duck is already a local legend, while the wine list reveals an international outlook without pretension.
Michelin-selected and destination rooms
Leña Marbella
Blvd. Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe (29600), Puente Romano/Golden Mile
Dani García’s temple to the grill sets the standard for fire-driven dining. Expect prime cuts, polished service and an atmosphere that shifts seamlessly from serious gastronomy to celebratory evenings. Leña remains one of the social centres of the renowned Puente Romano Hotel and Resort.
La Milla
Urbanización Los Verdiales (29604), on the sand at Nagüeles
A beachfront address that has reset expectations of what a chiringuito can be. Chef Luis Miguel Menor sources scarlet shrimp, salt-baked fish and seasonal rice dishes with unwavering attention to freshness and provenance. Two terraces offer privileged sea views, making it one of Marbella’s most complete dining experiences.
TA-KUMI
Calle Gregorio Marañón 4 (29602), centre
Run by its Japanese owners, TA-KUMI offers polished precision without theatrics. A broad à la carte menu ranges from nigiri and sashimi to signature rolls, consistently prepared to a high standard. It is one of the city’s most reliable reservations for lovers of Japanese cuisine.
Kava
Av. Antonio Belón 4 (29602), centre
This five-table restaurant by Fernando Alcalá is famous for its award-winning cheesecake, voted the best in Spain, no less! Its ambition continues to grow. With two evolving tasting menus, Kava blends Andalucian produce with broader influences, supported by house-made ferments and even Iberian pigs raised by the team in Seville.
Areia
Ramón Gómez de la Serna 23 (29602), centre
Minutes from the Golden Mile and seafront, Areia offers a confident, elegant take on Mediterranean dining. Interiors are calm and custom-detailed, service is attentive yet discreet, and the kitchen focuses on seasonal produce. A short à la carte is complemented by a tasting menu that avoids spectacle but delivers depth.
Erre & Urrechu
Hotel Gran Meliá Don Pepe (29602), west beachfront
Basque grill expertise meets Marbella glamour in this grande-dame hotel setting. The menu centres on line-caught fish and prime meats prepared over embers, supported by a notable wine cellar. It is a restaurant that combines heritage with contemporary polish.
Don’t miss
Beyond the headline names, several other restaurants shape Marbella’s reputation. Lobito de Mar, another Dani García concept, delivers seafood and rice dishes in a quirky Golden Mile setting with an unpretentious confidence that appeals to both locals and visitors. In the Old Town, Casa Eladio, now in its third generation, offers precise but approachable Andalucian cuisine, a reminder of how tradition evolves with time. Candeal, also in the Old Town, gives a creative and thoughtful interpretation of regional produce, while Sukhothai, with over thirty years of history, remains the reference for authentic Thai dining on the coast. These names may not hold stars, but they offer a quality dining experience in congenial surroundings.
Why this matters for buyers
For those considering buying property in Marbella, the dining landscape has become part of the value proposition. Having four Michelin-starred restaurants and a growing roster of Michelin-selected rooms within minutes of your home underlines the city’s status among Europe’s elite gourmet destinations. Whether your preference is an omakase bar, a lakeside tasting menu or a glamorous beachfront table, Marbella ensures you are never far from serious cooking. This level of consistency and ambition adds a tangible layer of lifestyle value to homes on the Golden Mile, the Old Town and across the seafront.
Whether you are considering making Marbella your prime residence, holiday home or looking to invest in property, let our team at Luxury Living Marbella guide you. We specialise in properties that put you at the heart of the city’s finest experiences, from Michelin-starred dining to life on the Golden Mile. Get in touch today and take the first step towards your new home in Marbella.