Best Restaurants in Marbella: Local Foodie Guide

Coming for a holiday to Marbella?

Or perhaps you have already arrived and wondered what are the best Marbella restaurants to try?

If you’re looking for local recommendations worthy of your taste buds, you came to the right place!

Marbella is a frequent destination of mine (I live just a short drive away in Fuengirola), and over the number of trips, I have sampled quite a few restaurants here.

Compared to the rest of the destinations on Costa del Sol, I would argue that the overall quality of restaurants in Marbella is much better, especially compared to more touristy places like Fuengirola. Having said that, there are still plenty of tourist traps and overpriced places with less-than-average food.

Most of my trips to Marbella focused on the old town and the coastal area. I have not explored too many of the culinary options in Puerto Banus or more north of the city – even though I have quite a few places on my list.

I will continue extending my recommendations and tips here as I visit the rest of the places on my wishlist. In the meantime, I will leave you with the current top picks for the best restaurants in Marbella.

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2023 Best Restaurants in Marbella: Foodie Picks

Here is my slowly growing list of best restaurants in Marbella that will satisfy even the biggest foodie out there.

1. Taverna Casa Blanca: Best for Tapas

Taverna Casa Blanca is a very memorable place for me.

It was the first one of the tapas bars I ever visited in Marbella when I arrived there straight after the 3 month-long lockdowns in Spain, nearly 3 years ago.

The restaurant was recommended by our local Airbnb host and I’ve been returning there ever since, on each trip to Marbella. I’m happy to confirm the food quality remains the same – always excellent!

Taverna Casa Blanca specializes in small tapas, with a large selection and delicious flavour combinations to choose from.

The restaurant seems to be a hit among the locals too as we’ve always seen lots of Spanish people dining here, and it gets super busy almost every day.

READ FULL REVIEW: TAVERNA CASA BLANCA

Taverna Casa Blanca Details

Location: Calle Alonso de Bazan 8, 29602, Marbella Spain (right next to Alameda Park, at the corner of the road leading to Avenida del Mar)

Contact Details: tel. +34 952 77 24 78

Opening hours: I didn’t find their opening hours on their website, or Facebook page where they are not very active, but they are usually open till late 11pm

2. Manuka Restaurant

Manuka is based on the concept of locally sourced ingredients, free from additives, chemicals and preservatives, prepared freshly and focused mostly on plant-based cuisine and localy sourced ingredients, especially vegetables. I know how it could sound – don’t let that put you off – healthy food can be extremely delicious if done well, as it’s the case here.

The food is really what makes this place stand out from the rest of the restaurants in Marbella.

Focused heavily on plant-based options, but not leaving meat-eaters stranded either, the key to their success is sustainably sourced local ingredients packed with flavors and showcased in simple yet effective dishes.

In addition to the quality of the food, I was also pleasantly surprised by the unique ingredients that so rarely make an appearance on the local menus, like cashew cheese, turmeric, Halloumi cheese, kale chips and probiotic yoghurt.

As the name suggests, the menu offers a feast of healthy dining options and traditional dishes with a healthy twist. You can check their full menu here.

READ FULL REVIEW: MANUKA RESTAURANT, MARBELLA

Manuka Restaurant Details

Location: Centro Comercial Plaza del Mar, Calle Camilo José Cela SN, 29602, Marbella

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 9.30 am to 17.00 pm. Breakfast is served all day.

Parking: they offer 1-hour free parking in the commercial centre with your purchase

Contact: use their contact form here

Manuka Restaurant Marbella, Costa del Sol, Spain

3. The Farm Restaurant

The Farm Restaurant is hidden in a small alley in the old town and focuses on simple locally sourced organic food, served in a pretty spectacular setting.

It is set in a home built in 1502, one of the oldest ones in town and thankfully a lot of its original features are still very much alive.

Inside the restaurant is an impressive collection of local wines and beautifully decorated interiors. The highlight is the secluded garden, where they hold flamenco shows on Saturdays (check their facebook for times and reservations).

The menu is seasonal and typical Andalusian cuisine, but all organic and locally sourced, which is something you don’t see too often in Marbella.

Check the seasonal menu here.

READ THE FULL REVIEW: THE FARM RESTAURANT

The Farm Restaurant Details

Location: Pl. Altamirano, 3, 29601 Marbella (old town)

Contact: contact details on their website

Opening hours: every day from 1pm to 11.30pm

Looking for something a bit more fancy? Marbella has also a few Michelin star restaurants which I have not yet visited, but are certainly worth exploring!