Half a million golfers visit the Costa del Sol each year to feast themselves on the best golf resorts in the world! An integral part of a successful golf trip is the quality of the apres golf. Marbella is the most popular golf resort on the Costa del Sol and happily plays host to more than 1300 restaurants, pubs and bars. In this article, we have compiled a list of what we consider to be the best restaurants and bars in Marbella for golfers.
It has been our collective pleasure to sample each of our recommendations and have produced an eclectic collection of bars and restaurants in Marbella that will delight you. Featuring venues for meat lovers, Italian cuisine, Spanish, Mediterranean, fine dining and of course a good Indian Restaurant, Marbella is the ultimate golf resort, therefore as you can imagine our research has been really good fun!
In order to make planning your golf holiday to Marbella easier, you can also learn more about the Marbella golf courses, some of the ultimate golf course experiences on the Costa del Sol and of course our top ten golf hotels around Marbella.
Restaurante La Bocana & Beach Bar
A great place for groups, families and couples to come and enjoy the exquisite Mediterranean cuisine while enjoying the breathtaking view of the sea.
The menu, as you’d expect, contains quite a few fish and seafood dishes like steamed mussels, clams in white sauce, octopus, seafood and fish soup, sardines and much more. However, there is a generous offer for those who do not want fish, consisting of pasta dishes, different types of meats and salads. The restaurant also offers 5 types of paella which are a must-try when visiting Spain.
Restaurante La Bocana is located on the quieter side of Puerto Banus, so it is the perfect choice for those who want to relax, enjoy the great food and views, and let the sand tickle your feet.
Part of what makes this restaurant worth a visit is the friendly and accommodating staff that will make sure that everything is to your liking.
El Patio de Mariscal
Located in the Old Town of Marbella, next to the Ayuntamiento Town Hall, El Patio de Mariscal is truly a gem for those who appreciate traditional Spanish food and decor.
Guests can sit either on the gorgeous little patio or inside the restaurant. The decor is in a traditional Andalusian style with many plants and hanging lights that gives the place an unbeatable charm and a sense of peace.
The menu is varied, offering juicy steaks, cooked to perfection, heartwarming soups, delicious salads, rice dishes and homemade desserts. Of course, since it is a traditional Spanish restaurant, you will find incredible Mediterranean food here.
The staff are very attentive and often you will see the owner walking among the tables greeting guests and making sure everyone is enjoying the hospitality. To add to the restaurant’s charm, on some evenings you will find a couple of staff singing traditional Spanish songs.
Because this is quite a popular establishment, it would be wise to call and book a table, especially for dinner.
El Cortijo
If you happen to find yourself in Marbella’s Old Town do not miss a visit to Restaurante El Cortijo. The establishment has been open since 1969 with the same owner for 33 years.
The restaurant specialises in local cuisine, seafood and grill. They also have great options for vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free dishes. But their signature dish, the one that they have perfected for over 50 years is the paella. They claim that their paellas are the best in town (if not in Spain) so you need to convince yourself whether this is true or not.
Of course, paella is not the only dish worth trying. The gambas pil pil, shrimps in garlic and lemon, mussels in tomato, and sole in white wine sauce, to name just a few, are also incredibly tasty. Meat eaters will be delighted with dishes like oxtail in red wine, duck foie gras, slow-roasted lamb, and pork medallions in a blueberry and mustard sauce. They are absolutely to die for.
Each meal can be accompanied by the perfect wine (the waiters will be happy to help you choose the best wine for the dish) from their generous wine list.
Besides the incredible food, El Cortijo also gets top rates from us for the attentive and friendly staff and the cosy, “homey” atmosphere.
Chiringuito Los Tony’s
Whenever you want to enjoy breathtaking views of the sea while eating marvellous, flavoursome food, Chiringuito Los Tony’s is the place to go.
Located on Nikki beach in Elviria, Chiringuito Los Tony’s is well known in the area for its paella, rice recipes and fresh fish dishes.
The menu is quite generous with starters (that include melon and Iberian ham, Prawns Pil Pil, anchovies in vinegar), amazing salads, soups, delicious fish dishes (like hake in the oven, grilled whole squid, turbot baked in salt, grilled octopus to name just a few), seafood, pasta dishes, paella, meat dishes (grilled beef entrecote, lamb chops, chicken skewers, homemade cheeseburger etc) and lip-smacking desserts.
You can enjoy your meal either inside the restaurant or on the deck. Both have stunning views of the Mediterranean sea, Africa and Gibraltar.
Casa Eladio
Casa Eladio is a family business that opened its doors in 1965 when they were catering to more than 300 people a day. Since then the restaurant has evolved into a sophisticated establishment that still honours its roots and tradition.
Situated in Marbella’s Old Town, Casa Eladio has recently been refurbished with contemporary, maritime-inspired decor. However, not only the restaurant itself has changed its “face” but also the menu was updated with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
For 50+ years, Casa Eladio has elevated its cuisine and hospitality to a state of art, recognized by the Michelin star they have earned.
The menu offers scrumptious dishes plated in the most elegant ways. You will get traditional Spanish dishes as well as European ones. Anything you order from the menu, you can expect bold and intricate taste pairings, proof that the chef has a perfect understanding of cooking techniques and taste.
If you want to have a first-rate eating experience, Casa Eladio will not disappoint.
Restaurante El Lago
Located in Elviria Hills at Greenlife Golf, Restaurante El Lago has been a benchmark of Andalusian haute cuisine since opening its doors in 2000. Since then, the establishment has become a pillar of fine dining in the area, culminating with a Michelin star which was awarded in 2005.
The restaurant, as the name suggests, sits next to a splendid man-made lake, with views of the golf course that gives the place a tranquil, romantic and peaceful atmosphere. The decor inside the dining room is of understated elegance with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the natural light and give guests unobstructed views of the lake and golf course.
The menu offers phenomenal dishes with a focus on seasonal dining. You will find appetising starters ( foie gras and marinated chicken millefeuilles with roasted apple and vinegar, retinta beef tenderloin tataki with mustard emulsion and crudites etc), main dishes that include fish, meat, grilled meat and some seafood dishes and luscious desserts.
The chef, Fernando Villasclaras, makes sure that every bite is an explosion of flavour. The taste pairings intertwine perfectly to create all these outstanding dishes.
The only thing as impressive as the food menu is their wine menu, with more than 300 references in their wine cellar. They certainly have the perfect wine for each dish so make sure to ask your waiter for advice.
Restaurante Bar Garum
Wonderfully located along Marbella’s boardwalk, Restaurante Garum has been offering its guests great food and stunning views for 15 years.
The restaurant, open daily from 11 am, caters for lunch and dinner or for some of their delicious tapas.
The menu is very generous with dishes that will satisfy even the most exigent tastes. The tapas and snacks menu includes Herring tartare with egg, dill and crème fraîche, Spanish sausage chistorra from Pamplona with sweet chilli, Indian-style chicken samosas with rocket and tomato relish, Foie gras terrine with apricot brandy marinated apricots and more.
On the lunch menu, you will find different salads, homemade burgers, some steaks, fish as well as sandwiches and desserts. There are also dishes for kids
The dinner menu contains some impressive dishes like Duck confit with apricot sauce, potato & leek gratin, oven-baked pineapple with Sichuan pepper, Salmon tartare with sriracha, kimchi, sesame, mango and crispy yuca or Irish premium fillet steak with black pepper & cognac sauce, chips and cherry tomato & red onion salad to name just a few.
Restaurante Garum also spoils its guests with various events like fireworks and live music.
The Playwright Restaurant and Cocktail Bar Marbella
The Playwright Marbella is truly a unique establishment with incredible aromas and sensations in a jungle-like setting full of greenery and freshness.
Since Playwright opened in 2011 it has perfected its menu to include scrumptious, flavoursome dishes to satisfy even the most sophisticated palate. Spanish dishes are combined with international cuisine and exotic Asian tastes resulting in exquisite, modern flavours.
Besides the savoury food, The Playwright also stands out for its cocktail menu specially created by a professional mixologist. Tantalise your taste buds with a passion-fruit flavoured Port Star Martini Cocktail or a delightful Piranha Colada. There are 10+ phenomenal cocktails for you to choose from.
To make the experience complete, the restaurant also has live music and entertainment from Thursday evening until Sunday.
The Beach House Restaurant Marbella
The Beach House Restaurant is the perfect location to spend a magnificent day with friends or family.
Situated on its own secluded part of Elviria beach, The Beach House offers its guests fine dining, amazing cocktails and drinks, live performances, cosy beach beds and even a sports club where you can water ski, rent a pedalo or kayak.
The cuisine here is Spanish with strong international influences with scrumptious dishes that include Malay Style Yellow Curry, Salmon Ceviche and French Rock Oysters.
The menu is quite extensive (they have separate menus for breakfast and dinner) with food that will satisfy even the most distinguished palate. The presentation of the dishes is flawless which makes you think of the fanciest restaurants.
In fact, everything at The Beach House is done with the utmost care and attention to detail which makes the restaurant a very sought-after location.
Another thing that is worth mentioning is the entertainment. Every Sunday there is live music, however, there are various parties and events throughout the week like masquerade parties and special guests. So it would be a good idea to keep an eye on their events calendar.
The Beach House has something for everyone: sun worshipers will enjoy the luxurious, comfortable sun beds, gourmets will appreciate the fine food, guests who want quiet relaxation can choose the rustic chiringuito (next to the restaurant)with its own bar and comfy sofas, active people can give the sports club a try and those who enjoy a good party can attend the restaurant’s many events.
Erre & Urrechu Marbella
For all the meat lovers out there who want their food cooked to perfection every time, Erre & Urrechu restaurant is the place to go.
Erre & Urrechu specialises in grilled meats, barbeque, Mediterranean cuisine, and Spanish cuisine, not to mention their impressive wine menu.
The restaurant has no less than three wood grills (holm oak for meats, orange tree wood for vegetables and olive wood for fish).
Master Griller Iñigo Urrechu elevates grilling to a state of art, each dish perfectly cooked and bursting with flavour. Of course, there is nothing better than good wine to accompany and complete your steak. A professional sommelier will advise you on what wine goes best with your dish. The restaurant has more than 200 wines to choose from and numerous cocktails.
Vegans are also spoiled for choice here, Erre & Urrechu offers an extensive variety of organic dishes, all ingredients grown in the restaurant’s own vegetable garden.
Erre & Urrechu has earned a Michelin star for its top-quality food, service and ambience.
Restaurante Messina
Located next to Amare Hotel, on Marbella’s main road, Restaurante Messina is the passion project of Mauricio Giovanini and Pia Ninci. Ever since it opened its doors in 2003, Messina has won the recognition of critics ( it has a Michelin star) as well as the customers who come all over the world to experience the sensational food.
The restaurant has 2 tasting menus with 10 dishes each which can also be ordered “a la carte”. Each tasting menu has been divided into 5 different stages, each stage perfectly complementing the previous one. Mauricio, the chef, is an expert at combining European, Latin American and Mediterranean flavours to create fabulous dishes.
As one would expect in a Michelin star restaurant, there is great attention to detail, from the way the food is arranged, and the crockery to the extraordinary service.
If you want to have an unforgettable culinary experience do not miss Restaurante Messina.
Hestia Bar & Restaurant
With a fabulous view over the marina with luxurious yachts and the beautiful beach, Hestia Bar Lounge offers a wide selection of drinks, delicious food, great music and a place where sports lovers can watch their favourite games.
Hestia has been around since 2009 during which time it has managed to become popular both with locals as well as tourists. The food here, besides being reasonably priced, is absolutely delicious. Since the owner is from Holland, there are some traditional Dutch dishes like chicken satay in peanut sauce (which is undoubtedly the star of the menu). Other items off the menu include chicken and mango wrap, spare ribs, homemade hamburgers, different salads and a wide selection of mouth-watering tapas.
The drinks menu has everything one could wish for, perfectly mixed cocktails, beer, spirits and liquors.
With its fresh, modern look, Hestia, like the goddess whose name it shares, is a place of comfort, great hospitality where you can spend unforgettable moments in the company of your friends and loved ones or simply relax and watch the world go by.
Taj Mahal Marbella
If you fancy trying some Indian food, Taj Mahal Marbella is the place to go. Situated in Nueva Andalucia, just 5 minutes away from Puerto Banus, the Taj Mahal has been spoiling its customers with high-quality, authentic Indian food since 1992.
The menu is very generous with a variety of mouth-watering dishes. There are tandoori dishes, chicken and lamb, seafood specialities, vegetable dishes, all the famous and loved biryani dishes (vegetable, chicken, lamb biryani, mixed biryani and prawn biryani). There are also 6 different types of rice dishes from the simple basmati boiled rice to the flavourful keema rice (rice with minced lamb and 10 types of naan bread. The Taj Mahal specials are definitely worth checking out as well.
The decor in the restaurant is simple yet quite comfortable with a traditional Asian ambience.
The creaminess of the curry dishes, the perfectly balanced aromas and spices make each meal here a delight and is one of the reasons why Taj Mahal is so popular and appreciated in the area.
The good news is that if you cannot go to Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal will come to you. The restaurant does home deliveries.
Casa Tua Restaurant
Casa Tua is owned by chef Adriano Visentin and his wife Catherine Guilfoyle who opened this lovely Italian restaurant in 2013. The couple wanted to bring together their passion for amazing food and Irish hospitality.
Adriano has designed the menu himself, taking his inspiration from the Mediterranean environment and his global travel experiences.
The “a la carte” menu is updated according to the season so there are always different dishes to be enjoyed. They also have the “daily specials” which the waiter will tell you about. Even though some dishes off the menu may change with the season, there are a few “fixtures” like the rack of lamb, the seabass with Sicilian caponata, the pasta dishes and the chef’s special Tiramisu.
The restaurant is picturesque with a generous outside terrace and comfortable indoor seatings for those chilly evenings.
Summary
Turkey, Florida and other golf destinations around the world typically offer an experience where golfers arrive at the airport and then diverge into their respective golf resorts only to re-emerge when boredom and frustration demands that they get out of the hotel and find something to do. Costa del Sol is unique. Here on Costa Del Sol, especially Marbella, the whole place is the resort!
The Costa del Sol has more than 70 golf courses within 100km, many of which are the finest courses of their type anywhere in the world. Marbella boasts 19 golf courses within 26km. It is the ultimate golf resort. From the doorstep of your hotel, villa or apartment you are within touching distance of the finest golf on offer and once the golf is finished, similarly, Marbella offers a peerless selection of food, wine, fun and entertainment to suit all tastes.
Golf on the Costa del Sol, in particular Marbella is an experience that keen golfers and bon viveurs should inject into their lifestyle at least once a year! We hope that our guides provide some inspiration and guidance when planning your well deserved golf break.
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