The biggest resort on the Costa del Sol has a reputation for seriously delicious food, but with such a wide choice, it can be difficult to choose the best restaurants in Marbella. We’ve done the hard work for you and compiled some suggestions depending on what sort of cuisine you fancy trying. 

The Best Restaurants in Marbella

Arguably the very best restaurants in Marbella are those with Michelin awards. The resort boasts an unusually high concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants with a total of four proud to sport the accolade. Marbella restaurants with a Michelin star are:

Dani García Restaurant – perhaps the most famous and definitely the most local, Dani García Restaurant with two Michelin stars is based in Puente Romano Hotel.

Messina – a newbie on the Michelin star list, this restaurant is handy if you’re in the centre of Marbella as it’s on the main street near Hotel El Fuerte. 

Restaurante El Lago – this restaurant has had a Michelin star since 2005 and is located in Elviria, on the eastern side of Marbella.

Skina – among the smallest restaurants on the Costa del Sol and definitely the tiniest in Marbella, Skina lies right in the centre of Marbella Old Town.

Discover all the restaurants in Marbella in the Michelin Guide.

The Best Restaurants in Marbella for tapas

At the other end of the culinary spectrum but just as delicious are tapas bars. The best places to find these in Marbella is to head for the Old Town or La Fontanilla area where you’ll find a range of restaurants. They serve tapas that range from simple classics such as Spanish omelette to sophisticated mini-dishes. Try El Estrecho and La Niña del Pisto in Marbella Old Town. In La Fontanilla, visit Lekune and La Trilla.

The Best Restaurants in Marbella for seafood

Your best bet for seafood in Marbella is to head for the beach and try one of the many beach restaurants known as chiringuitos. Here you’ll find some of the best local food on the Costa del Sol, which specialises in fried fish known as pescaíto and grilled sardines. There’s probably no better lunch or dinner than a few sharing plates of fried anchovies and squid plus some sardines, accompanied with a glass of ice-cool beer or white wine.

The Best Restaurants in Marbella for international dishes

The Costa del Sol has a very international population and this cosmopolitan vibe comes through in the choice of international restaurants in Marbella. You can literally try anything from anywhere in the resort. From European such as French and Swedish to Oriental such as Thai and Japanese via India, Africa and America, you can easily go around the world in 80 dishes in Marbella!

The Best Restaurants in Marbella for golf players

If you’re on a golf break in Marbella, you may prefer to eat in at your golf hotel. The good news is that most golf courses in Marbella has an on-site restaurant, some of which offer exceptional cuisine. Not only can you enjoy some delicious food, you can also make the most of views over the greens on the golf course.

El Lago, next to the Greenlife Golf, is one example and Rio Real Restaurant is another worth trying during your stay.

Combine exceptional cuisine with world-class golf on a golf break in Marbella at Rio Real Hotel & Golf.