Marbella travel recommendations: TiC´s guide

TiC travel: Marbella recommendations

In 1600 BC, the city of Marbella was founded by the Romans but had started as a small farming and fishing village. It was home to many civilizations including the Vandals and Visigoths. However, the Moors had the most significant influence on the city. It officially became Spanish territory in 1485 upon the claims of the Catholic Kings. In the 19th century, industrialization started to thrive after Marbella worked on the surrounding farmland for agricultural production. Hotels and residential properties slowly started to form in the 1940s by business people, and it was in 1990 when the tourism skyrocketed in popularity. Marbella has been growing into the “Universal city” we all love today. As a result, the TiC team gets many questions about Marbella travel recommendations.

History of Marbella

 

The city of Marbella is situated in Andalusia within the Costa de Sol region, nestled between the Sierra Blanca mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. This chic, sun-drenched town combines its former Moorish occupation that includes remnants of a ninth-century Arab fortress with modern-day resort amenities that tourists and celebrities flock to each year. Its Andalusian charm holds true with the town´s white-washed buildings and fragrant orange trees, while the charming beaches, famous ports and unique nightclubs create the ultimate hot spot all year round.

Because Marbella is situated between the coastline and mountains, an appealing micro-climate is present with an abundance of warm, sunny days. The average temperature stays around 19 degrees Celsius or 66 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a perfect median for all kinds of holiday makers.

Marbella is an ideal destination to visit on your next vacation because it is fun for the whole family and there is always something to do. As the TiC headquarters happens to be based here in Spain, we have been lucky enough to experience all the city has to offer first-hand. We definitely have some favourites in what´s known to become the “Los Angeles of Spain”! 

Read on to discover the best Marbella travel recommendations: from breakfast spots to chiringuitos and nightclubs, we have you covered in this extensive guide below.

puerto-banus-marbella

 

First stop: Breakfast

Whether it’s for aesthetics and the details of the location or a delicious coffee and healthy dishes to feel refreshed after partying the night before, there is always a breakfast or brunch spot for everyone in Marbella.

Rosas café

Unique and colourful coffees, energizing juices, healthy post-workout meals and brunch with a sweet treat with the girls…What tickles your fancy? Rosas café is one of the most popular breakfast and brunch spots in Marbella and it definitely has the most “instagrammable” venue. From the minute you walk into Rosas´s doors, its iconic pink aesthetic and unique interior is enticing. It boasts two massive flower walls with over   35 000 roses, and a swing.

ROSAS opened as a bistro café in summer 2018 in the busy area of Playa del Duque in Puerto Banús. This elegant, on-trend Café Restaurant focuses on Healthy Organic Eating. Furthermore, it also caters to those with a sweet tooth, with its scrumptious patisserie, display of cakes and vibrant cupcakes. It was the owners of Rosas Ana and Amy´s love for small furry pawed friends that truly captured our hearts however, which is shown in their doggy friendly menu. It includes treats and desserts, where 5% of the price goes to         Animal Charity!

One of our favourite dishes is the delicious Torrijas. It includes Handcrafted brioche, brûlée banana, chocolate chips, custard cream and a selection of fresh mixed berries.

Rosas is open every day from 9am-5pm and can be found on Gaviotas IV, Av. Playas del Duque, Local 3, 29660 Marbella, Málaga

For more info, click here. 

Hustle and Flow eatery

Second on the list of Marbella travel recommendations is a spot centrally located in the Oasis Business centre on the famous palm-lined Golden mile. The Hustle and Flow health food café creates visually gorgeous dishes that can be upgraded with superfoods. Their menu is flexible with vegan and gluten free alternatives for every dish, giving you food packed with nutrients for any kind of lifestyle, without compromising on taste.

The fun and vibrant atmosphere of Hustle and Flow eatery makes any customer leave feeling energized and inspired to take on their day after a healthy, organic and guilt-free meal. Each food dish is free from GMOs, artificial additives and preservatives. This helped Hustle and Flow gain the title of being one of the best health restaurants in the world, awarded by the Traveler’s Choice Awards.

Hustle and Flow eatery is bringing healthy back, in style! From supercharged smoothie bowls to an upgraded brunch menu, TiC highly recommends this trendy café. One of our favourite dishes includes the Morning Glory brunch item, a Hustle and Flow original favourite! It includes a sweet potato rösti served with smashed avocado, two poached eggs, drizzled with homemade hollandaise sauce and sprinkling of chili flakes. Served with a side of rainbow slaw. See more of their amazing menu items here.

The restaurant is open Monday to Friday from 9AM – 5PM, and the kitchen closes at 4pm. It is located in the Oasis Business Center, Office 11, N-340, Km 176, 29600 Marbella, Málaga.

For more info and bookings: +34 952 636 107

 

Hit the chiringuitos at sunset for tapas and drinks:

Firstly, what is a chiringuito? Chiringuitos are Beach establishments ranging from seasonally open huts serving just drinks to year-round buildings with full restaurant facilities. They are extremely popular in Andalusia, attracting many tourists and acting as favourite meeting points for locals. Here are some of the TiC team´s go-to chiringuito spots within Marbella travel recommendations!

Playa padre

A destination for the mind, body and soul. Playa Padre is considered to be a twist on the traditional Malaga beach bar and was the second project founded by the Mosh group: including Roberto Santamaría, Albert Beniflah, Dom Pastoressa and Carmen Navarrete. Optimism is a word that has always accompanied this group of entrepreneurs from different professions (lawyers, publicists, engineers) who are looking for a new luxury based on experiences. And they won’t stop.

Tropical palm trees, golden sand, popular DJs playing good music and clear blue waters can be expected at Playa Padre. With the option to rent one of their beach beds, you can savor their range of exotic signature cocktails. Furthermore, taste their delectable Mediterranean cuisine with a Mexican touch all under   Marbella´s sun.

Fresh, locally-sourced ingredients drive the simple yet modern approach in the Playa Padre kitchen – where the focus is on purity, authenticity, and the reinterpretation of iconic recipes. Predominantly vegetarian, their dishes are organic and gourmet allowing for an all-round extraordinary beach experience.

Playa Padre is open on Friday and Saturday from 12:00 – 21:00 and on Sunday from 12:00 – 00:00. You can find it on Calle playa del cable, 29603 Marbella, Málaga.

For more info and reservations, contact (+34) 650822226 or visit their website here. 

Chiringuito Puento Romano

Located at the Puento Romano resort in the golden mile, this casual, chic-style chiringuito serves a combination of healthy food and positive vibes. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, this beach-side haven is perfect for a good bite to eat any time of the day. Chiringuito serves up nourishing and health-conscious breakfasts including fresh juices, wellness lattes and a range of vegan options to suit all tastes.

Enjoy lunch and dinner alfresco style by French chef Jèrome Palayer. You can taste sauteed lobster with chef´s sauce, organic fried eggs, potatoes and jalapenos, seared Tuna crusted in sesame seeds with sauteed mangetout and zucchini and many more mouth-watering dishes. As the sun sets, unwind on an ocean-side sun lounger whilst an in-house DJ provides good tunes into the night. Their unique cocktail menu is well worth a sample on warm Marbella afternoons, including the spiced Pina Colada with spiced Bacardi, Coconut, Pineapple and fresh lime juice.

Chiringuito Puento Romano is open every day from 09:00 – 01:00 and can be found on Bulevar Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, 29602 Marbella, Málaga.

Click here for more info.

Wining and Dining in Marbella

It´s no secret that the nightlife is totally unique and unforgettable when it comes to Marbella travel recommendations. Why not start your night off with a delectable dinner? With so many luxurious dining options around the city, it´s hard to choose. However, we have searched for our favourite spots and narrowed them down to make it easier for you. Check them out below!

Mosh Fun Kitchen

Another project owned by the Mosh group, this restaurant is the ultimate social experience in Marbella. It is an all-in-one trendy place to eat, drink and party with unique décor, great music and interesting gastronomic concepts.

With the catchy slogan of ´Eat, drink, party, repeat´, Mosh embodies the Urban Chic style with VIP table service, themed events such as Hallowmosh and Urbano nights and signature cocktails. TiC´s recommendations include the Bramble with Gin, Chambord, lime, blackberries and raspberries, as well as the Apple Martini.

The food menu combines innovation and luxury with its Asian fusion. Consisting of small bites, mini hamburgers, starters, mains, sushi and dessert, there is something for everyone. Some notable dishes include the Spicy Tuna Uramaki with Tuna, avocado, tougarashi and spicy mayo; the Burratina “straciatella”; Crunchy prawns – Black tiger prawn wrapped in a brick paste with basil and kimchee mayonnaise. End the night with Apple pie and vanilla ice cream.

For the shisha lovers, you can end the night off with one – Mosh style and dance the night away in their unique club setting. This dining and club experience is an absolute must when visiting Marbella!

Mosh is open from Monday – Sunday from 20:00 – 02:00. It is located on Avenida del Prado, Aloha 29660, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella, Spain.

For more info and bookings click here.

Da Bruno Sul Mare

Located in Marbella, Da Bruno Sul Mare resembles a Florentine palace and overlooks the Mediterranean. It is one of the five restaurants run by Bruno and Giuseppina Filippone and their family. Each Da Bruno restaurant has its own personal touch to it, serving premium quality food accompanied by great customer service and fresh ingredients.

Enjoy a drink at their bar while you wait for friends or family, and sit down to eat at one of their beautifully decorated and detailed tables.

Da Bruno´s extensive Italian menu includes original Italian dishes as well as some Spanish starters. TiC´s favourite dishes include the Gambas al pil-pil (best pil-pil on the shore), ravioli with pear and gorgonzola, “Da Bruno” pizza and vitello tonnato. It is best paired with their house Lambrusco, that takes one directly to the idyllic Italian country side. Each wine of the menu which is high quality matches the dishes perfectly, and their delicious desserts to end the meal off cannot be missed.

Furthermore, Da Bruno a Casa´s food can also be enjoyed at home with their full take away service. It is available from 12 noon until 12 midnight.

Da Bruno restaurants are perfect for an elegant, scrumptious dinner for family, friends and Italian food-lovers alike when visiting Marbella. They are open every day except Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. and reservations can be made on their website here.

Origen

Meat lovers will enjoy this one. Discover delicious Argentinian cuisine cooked in a large-scale homemade kitchen in the comfort of this relaxing, ambient steakhouse. Each cut of beef is personally selected to get the maximum expression in their olive, orange and almond dry woods and cooked on their open grill. This results in delicious and decadent dinners at attractive prices.

Origen is also known for their exceptional customer service, knowledgeable staff and high-quality meat that has been dry aged for 30-45 days in their maturation chamber. They serve the meat of ‘Novillo Argentino’, raised in extensive cattle farming, it is selected meticulously to maintain the highest quality standards. Also on the menu is `Galician Cow´ meat, artisanal dry aged by Origen themselves.

It was difficult to choose, but some of our favourite dishes include grilled octopus and different meat or cheese pasties to start with, the slow cooked pork ribs in a charcoal oven for mains as well as the Hereford ground beef burger and slightly smoked, pan-fried salmon. End it all off with a variety of scrumptious desserts including homemade ice cream, tiramisu, crepes, brownies and more!

Origen is open every day except for Tuesday for a lunch and dinner service and is located on Calle Gregorio Marañón s/n esquina, C. Camilo José Cela, 29601 Marbella, Málaga. For more info, click here.

Something to do during the day

Marbella is famous for its jaw-dropping beach and pool clubs, where tourists from all over the globe come to experience this unique day to night experience. Sip on cocktails while sun bathing on elegant loungers, dance to hit music from famous guest DJs, feast on sushi and fruit platters and take a dip in the luxurious pools. If lying by the pool with a bit of a party atmosphere is your thing, you have to visit one of these top pool club Marbella travel recommendations from the TiC team.

Nido

Uninterrupted sea views and a sea breeze, music that speaks to the soul, the pleasure connected to its food and an extensive cocktail menu…Nido beach club in Estepona is a newly opened haven for party and beach lovers alike.

Nido is from the renowned Mosh Group. They recently reopened for the 2022 season, emerging as the go-to beach restaurant. This boutique beach club with a casual style is based just half an hour from Marbella, close to Estepona. It is comprised of a grand swimming pool, an interior restaurant, exterior beach bar and a relaxation area that overlooks the open Mediterranean Sea. These beautiful facilities were designed by Chema Sobrado from the Archidom Studio.

The Nido menu – by executive chef Óscar Cuevas – has an original concept of KMO cuisine. It consists of Mediterranean Sea food and fresh plates full of textures, colours and flavours. Amongst all the delicious appetizers, the TiC team recommends the Beef Sirloin Steak Tartare with Truffle and Caviar as well as the Galician Octopus. With so many amazing options as mains, we opted for the Lobster with Vermicelli pasta, Black Rice with Cuttlefish and Baby Squid (to share) and the Salmon & Mango sushi rolls. To end it all off on a sweet note, the Almond Cake with White Chocolate and Ginger Citrus Cream was delicate and divine.

Nido is a perfect beach getaway on a warm day in Marbella, they are open from Thursday to Monday: 11:00 am to 19:30 pm and can be found by The Edge Chiringuito Costa Natura, Carretera de Cádiz Km 151 Urbanización, 29680 Estepona, Málaga.

For more info and reservations, click here.

Nosso Summer Club

Nosso Summer Club is a beautiful, Ibiza-like restaurant/beach bar located in East Marbella. It has a luxurious Mediterranean menu, classic cocktails and a peaceful atmosphere – the best example of the ideal beach life.

Bask in the sun on their single, double and lounge hammocks that include towels and water bottles while you enjoy the vibey beats from the DJ. If that´s not appealing enough, you can also drink and eat to your heart´s content with their beach, restaurant and sushi menu carefully crafted by Chef Gema González and her kitchen team. Some of our favourite dishes include the Bouchot mussels in leek sauce, cream and white wine; the Goat cheese salad with tomato confit, Modena vinaigrette and truffle honey; their signature sushi menu. Choose the Cheesecake for a sweet ending with raspberry coulis and almond crumble.

Nosso´s cocktails are definitely worth a try and are the perfect pairing to a hot Summer´s day. Our favourites include the Flor de Nosso with Roku, elderflower, cucumber, apple lime, cava; and the Chica Sour with Pisco Barsol Quebranda, purple chica syrup, lime and egg white. Furthermore, they also have a wide range of wines, champagnes, spirits and sangrias that include red wine, white wine and cava.

Nosso is definitely an exquisite beach spot to add to your bucket list in Marbella this Summer! For all the Bohemian lovers, stop by their shop selling all different boho boutique items to help you style your summer.

Nosso is open from Monday-Thursday from 11am-8pm and Friday-Saturday from 11am-12am. You can find them on Av. del Limonar, 124, 29604 Marbella, Málaga. Click here for more info.

Marbella´s renowned Nightlife

After a long day sun tanning, swimming and eating Paella and tapas, it´s time to hit the dancefloor. Here in Marbella, you will never run out of original, fun night clubs and bars to visit. After all, the night scene is one of the parts of Marbella that makes it so popular when it comes to tourists and celebrity sightings. Here are three of our favourite clubs that we return to every time!

Momento

Momento is a unique electronic dance club in the centre of Marbella that is temple-themed. It was founded by business partners Maria Bravo and Nico Escanez, as well as the owner of Mosh – Albert Beniflah. As you walk through the doors of Momento, you´re immersed into a new, picturesque world that plays on all your senses.

Powerful sound and lighting take over as you walk through the patio with ornamental details such as arabesque lamps, stone walls with waterfalls and vegetation. Enjoy shisha or a cocktail at your table and dance to the tunes from some of the world-famous DJs including Black Coffee, Benny Benassi, Andrea Oliva and many more inside the club with general and VIP seating areas.

Furthermore, if you´re feeling peckish, the in-house restaurant – RESTO – with its own terrace, will delight your tastebuds with its suggestive menu that will spice up your night. Enjoy the likes of unique dishes such as Rissoto yayo or Akami tataki, as well as Asian influenced bites such as Nigiris and sushi rolls. Other notable dishes include glazed black hake, sirloin and popcorn salad and charcoal asparagus. Furthermore, their menu includes a variety of interesting cocktails as well as a selection of wines – the perfect end to a great meal.

Momento is the perfect club to make the most of summer nights, make sure to book your spot to make your summer unforgettable! The temple club is located in Urbanizacion Villa Parra Palomeras, 68, 29602 Marbella and more info can be found on their website here.

La Suite

Dare to dream: a Manhattan loft meets the authentic Marbella style. This eccentric nightclub is located in the Puento Romano resort in the Golden Mile Marbella. It is known for late nights that consist of VIP tables, cold champagne showers and non-stop dancing. La Suite is unlike any other place in Marbella, as you can step into the heart of New York City when entering this fashionable loft-inspired club that interestingly combines with the impressive Roman heritage of the Puento Romano property.

La Suite caters to fashionable partygoers, boasting table service, performers and world-renowned DJs all tucked into a studio 54 style club environment. The dress code is smart casual and the club is open from Thursday to Saturday from 10:30pm – 05:00am.

Book your table now or find out more info here.

Occo

Occo first started in Sweden and a second establishment was opened in Marbella in 2018 that has recently been renovated. Occo was born from the idea that the founders have different nationalities and they would be merged together to make an entirely different world – combining local and international influences.

Feast on over 13 different, delicious Lebanese mezzes with fresh ingredients. Sip tasty cocktails and dance the night away as you enjoy an experience that encapsulates the mysterious oriental essence with local charm. You can also get set menus to share and experience the real taste of Beirut. Furthermore, there are full Vegan and Gluten free menus available to order from.

TiC recommends starting off with delicious cocktails such as the Gentle Passion with White rum, passion fruit, lemon, vanilla and corn; as well as the Strawberry obsession with White rum, strawberries, lemon and ginger. Then sample tantalizing Lebanese dishes including marinated chicken wings with garlic, lemon & coriander; Fatayer: baked pastry parcels filled with spinach, onions and lemon; Fattoush: mixed salad with herbs, toasted Lebanese bread, vinegar and a touch of garlic. We loved the Lahme Mishvie as the main that includes a grilled marinated beef skewer, with Armanian salad & choice of rice or Batata Harra.

End the night off with baklava or chocolate fondant for all dessert lovers. From their instagrammable interior with opulent décor and a grand golden entrance with giant velvet dome tables, to the great food and cocktails, this is one hotspot you shouldn´t miss when visiting Marbella.

Occo is open every day from 8pm-2am and can be found on Av de Manolete, Local 7, 29660 Marbella, Málaga. For more info and bookings click here.

There are so many interesting and unique places to visit on Costa De Sol, making it the ultimate getaway destination for anyone looking for sun, sea and palm trees with plently of Marbella travel recommendations. To make your vacation in Marbella even better, you can download the TiC Life app – where you can keep all your money in one place.

Sign up in a matter of minutes with your ID and earn TiC tokens with every purchase you make; they will accumulate and you´ll be able to choose a reward customized to your lifestyle – eliminating that spending guilt after your getaway! Click here to read our blog about how you can save money while on vacation. Furthermore, you can send and request money instantly around the world with TiC´s built in request function, making it easier for you to quickly receive money if needed while you are on vacation. Download the TiC app now and have your holiday budgeting sorted – available on Google Play and the App store.

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