The rising tide of quality dining in Marbella
Marbella already has a firmly established reputation as a place where you can enjoy a wide range of dining experiences, from quaint tapas bars and a broad range of cuisines to Michelin-star fine dining. Building on this rising tide of great food is a series of new restaurants that are adding further depth and variety to one of our favourite pastimes in Marbella – enjoying gastronomy in great company and settings.
Areia – the Portuguese, not Spanish, word for sand, is also the name of a stylish new restaurant in the heart of Marbella. Located close to the town’s sandy beaches, it is a self-described tribute to quality ingredients of the Mediterranean around which beautiful food and a stylish though welcoming environment provide the perfect conditions for the ultimate gathering with friends.
Thaissence as the name suggests, draws its inspiration from the Thai kitchen – but with a difference. This is Thai/Asian food infused with Spanish/Mediterranean touches, prepared and presented with distinctly contemporary flair and panache. Once you see the venue, it all comes together, for this atmospheric restaurant is located within Maison Ardois, a gorgeously stylish boutique hotel in Marbella’s vibrant historic centre.
Nintai represents a new high point in Marbella for lovers of Japanese food. Sleek, minimalistic and yet welcoming, in the finest of Japanese traditions, it is a new labour of love by well-known two-star Michelin chef Marcos Granda, and its focus is a perfect example of quality over quantity. This intimate restaurant is an experience indeed.
Situated on the Golden Mile, Mantarraya brings the exotic flavours of Mexico’s Pacific region to Marbella, including fresh, spicy delights not yet known to many of us. Chef Roberto Ruíz, of Michelin-star fame in Madrid, is the man behind the flavours, so diners can rest assured that they are in excellent hands.
Mogli Marbella is artful and cosy – a restaurant that welcomes you in with a stylish yet warm embrace. Set in Nueva Andalucía, it creates a delicious melange of Mediterranean and Asian traditions, presented here with personal creativity and passion. Expect your taste buds to dance to the tune of quality ingredients and innovative cooking.
Young chef Fernando Alcalá is a talent indeed, and with Kava he has placed a firm marker in the centre of Marbella with signature dishes that make many of the choices on his menu an absolute must-try. The menu, however, is small, as it focuses on fresh ingredients and therefore follows the season and the catch of the day closely.
Just a small sample of the sensory experiences to be savoured in and around Marbella, these bright new restaurants are indicative of a town that is fast gaining an international reputation for its culinary offering.
