Tag: spanishfood

72 Hours In Marbella; Where to Eat, Drink & Soak Up Marbella Energy

July 19, 2026

One of the things Marbella does exceptionally well is dining. Whether you’re sipping cocktails overlooking the Mediterranean, enjoying tapas beside the yachts of Puerto Banús or discovering hidden gems tucked away in the hills, every meal feels like part of the holiday experience.

Over our long weekend, we ate our way through some of Marbella’s most popular restaurants, alongside a few local finds, and every venue brought something different to the table. So here’s everywhere we ate and drank during our stay.

Lunch at LaLaLa, Puerto Banús

We kicked off our Marbella weekend with lunch at LaLaLa, perfectly positioned overlooking the glamorous Puerto Banús marina. 

Watching luxury yachts drift in and out while people wandered the waterfront was the ideal way to ease into holiday mode.

Keeping things traditional, we shared a generous spread of Spanish tapas including cured meats, local cheeses, fresh bread and of course, a plate of perfectly blistered Padrón peppers. Simple, authentic and exactly the sort of lunch you hope for on your first afternoon in Spain.

Friday Night at Zellij, Forum Marbella

For our first evening we headed to Zellij Restaurant, located amongst the stylish cluster of shops and eateries in Forum Marbella.

On a Friday night the atmosphere was electric with restaurants buzzing and the whole area filled with people enjoying the start of the weekend.

We began with barbecue chicken croquettes before moving on to the charcoal baby chicken served with roasted carrots, homemade za’atar, chicken jus and fresh herbs. Alongside it we ordered the fragrant saffron rice and a beautifully fresh salad of mixed leaves, roasted beetroot, orange blossom dressing and aged Parmesan.

Everything was packed with flavour without feeling overly heavy, making it the perfect meal before soaking up Marbella’s vibrant Friday night energy.

A Relaxed Lunch in Marbella Old Town

After a morning exploring the charming cobbled streets of Marbella Old Town, we found ourselves in the picturesque Plaza de los Naranjos and stopped for lunch at a local spot called Annare Italiana.

My boyfriend chose a comforting homemade lasagne while I fancied something lighter, opting for a fresh salad of lettuce, tomatoes, sweetcorn, onion and olives. Sometimes a big bowl of crisp, nutritious greens is exactly what you need.

Before continuing our wander through the boutiques and hidden alleyways, I picked up an iced long black from Kafein and it was without doubt one of the best coffees I had all weekend.

Saturday Night Glamour at La Petite Maison

If you’re looking for that iconic Marbella aesthetic, La Petite Maison delivers it effortlessly on all levels.

Overlooking the Mediterranean as the sun began to set, the restaurant came alive with singers and musicians entertaining guests throughout the evening, exactly what you imagine when you picture a chic Marbella date night.

Rather than ordering individual courses, we shared several dishes across the table including a fresh green lentil salad, creamy dauphinoise potatoes, steamed broccolini and the star of the meal, a beautifully grilled 400g sirloin steak.

Rich, perfectly cooked and everything you would expect from classic French cuisine; the steak just melted in the mouth.

After dinner we wandered over to the Puente Romano Plaza Bar for a night cap.

The atmosphere here was fantastic with people spilling out into the plaza enjoying the warm evening air.

The lovely bartender personalised our drinks to suit our tastes and my margarita, with the subtle addition of cocoa powder, was genuinely one of the most memorable cocktails I’ve ever had.

An impeccable ending to a wonderfully romantic evening.

A Casual Sunday Lunch by the Sea

Following a morning out on the water, we stumbled across Diblu while walking along Marbella’s beachfront promenade.

With uninterrupted views across the Mediterranean, it made an ideal relaxed lunch stop.

Still full from our hotel’s generous breakfast buffet, we kept things simple. I ordered an iced coffee while my boyfriend chose a tropical fruit milkshake blended with frozen yoghurt, then we shared a portion of crispy, salty sweet potato fries.

A Final Dinner at Nota Blu Brasserie

Our last evening took us to Nota Blu Brasserie, a recommendation from Chat GPT that absolutely lived up to expectations.

Nestled slightly inland among Marbella’s leafy hills, Nota Blu perfectly balances sophisticated dining with Marbella’s effortlessly cool, laid-back style.

Although there wasn’t live music on a Sunday evening, the restaurant was still filled with stylish locals and visitors enjoying one final weekend dinner.

For our meal we went back to some old favourites; a classic Caesar salad topped with prawns for her and a traditional margarita pizza for him.

The Caesar dressing was a little richer than I would usually choose, with what felt like an entire block of Parmesan generously sprinkled on top, but there was no denying how delicious it tasted. The pizza disappeared just as quickly and was equally enjoyable.

The service was attentive throughout and the views of the surrounding Spanish hills were stunning, making it a lovely place to finish our Marbella weekend mini break.

The Final Verdict

Dining in Marbella certainly isn’t the cheapest, but every meal felt like an experience rather than simply somewhere to eat. From elegant waterfront restaurants to bustling local squares and hidden hillside gems, every venue had its own unique personality.

If you’re searching for those iconic Marbella moments, La Petite Maison takes the crown. Between the sunset views, live music, exceptional food and effortlessly glamorous atmosphere, it’s everything you imagine a Marbella evening should be.

For a slightly more relaxed but equally stylish experience, Nota Blu Brasserie would be my recommendation. Chic without trying too hard, fantastic service and a wonderfully laid-back ambience make it the perfect spot for a memorable final evening dinner.

If there’s one thing Marbella excels at, it’s making every meal feel like a special occasion ❤

72 Hours In Marbella: The Ultimate Long Weekend Itinerary

June 28, 2026

With its golden coastline, designer boutiques, picturesque old streets and effortlessly glamorous atmosphere, Marbella is the perfect destination for a luxury long weekend.

We spent three unforgettable days soaking up everything Marbella has to offer, from leisurely marina strolls and hidden vintage treasures to sunset dinners overlooking the Mediterranean. Here’s exactly how we spent 72 hours on Spain’s most stylish stretch of coastline.

Where We Stayed

For our long weekend, we based ourselves on Marbella’s iconic Golden Mile at Eurostars Oasis Hotel.

Perfectly positioned between Marbella Old Town and Puerto Banús, it made exploring the area incredibly easy while offering a peaceful retreat after long days in the sunshine.

The room was nice and modern with plenty of space, we had our own large terrace and the breakfast buffet was one of the best we’ve had yet!

Friday: Puerto Banús & Golden Hour Glamour

After arriving late the night before, we woke up on the Friday and headed into Puerto Banús for the afternoon.

There’s something about strolling around the marina that never gets old.

Luxury yachts gently bobbing in the water, Ferraris casually cruising past and rows of designer boutiques make it feel like you’ve stepped into a postcard of Mediterranean luxury.

Naturally, we couldn’t resist browsing the designer stores before stopping for lunch at LaLaLa overlooking the marina.

Spanish tapas, chilled drinks and unbeatable views, it was the perfect way to ease into holiday mode.

After some time relaxing by the pool back at the hotel, we made our way to Forum Marbella for dinner at Zilij Restaurant.

By Friday night, the Golden Mile was buzzing and the atmosphere was electric.

Stylish crowds, beautifully dressed diners and music spilling out onto the terraces created that unmistakable Marbella energy.

Delicious fresh food, local Spanish white wine in hand, and the golden hour light lingering into the night, I felt fully settled into Marbella mode.

Saturday: Wandering Through Marbella Old Town

Saturday morning was dedicated to exploring Marbella’s enchanting Old Town.

We began in the beautiful park, where elegant fountains and tropical greenery provide a peaceful contrast to the lively coastline.

From there we wandered through the maze of ancient cobbled streets, whitewashed buildings overflowing with colourful flowers and hidden little squares.

Every corner looked like a postcard.

Lunch in Plaza de los Naranjos was wonderful as we enjoyed more yummy food and embraced that slow Saturday mood.

A post lunch stroll complete with an iced coffee was idyllic.

Hidden amongst the charming streets, we stumbled across Deja Vu Vintage; a beautifully curated designer vintage boutique that completely stole my heart.

With everything from homewares, clothes, bags and shoes, it’s all presented so tastefully, almost like you’ve stepped into a chic Spanish home.

I found myself drawn to the brilliant selection of designer shoes so naturally, I had to try some on. From the classic YSL‘s to the Chanels, they were all in perfect condition and basically unworn.

But it was a pair of sparkling Valentino heels which I fell in love and for just €330 barely worn, they felt like the bargain of the century. Needless to say, they came home with me.

On the way back to our hotel, we stopped by the legendary Marbella Club Hotel to wander through its stunning grounds and tropical gardens.

We also found the famous dock with the iconic Marbella Club sign which I’d seen on Pinterest and had to get that ultimate Insta pic beneath.

Saturday Night: Date Night at Puente Romano

With my new Valentino heels waiting patiently in their box, Saturday evening called for full glamour.

Dinner was booked at La Petite Maison within Puente Romano Resort, and it exceeded every expectation.

Modern French cuisine, elegant interiors and a sophisticated yet lively atmosphere, made it one of the most memorable meals of the trip.

As the sun slowly disappeared behind the Mediterranean and live music filled the air, the entire evening felt effortlessly magical.

After dinner, we wandered into the Plaza area of Puente Romano for cocktails.

If Marbella has a place to see and be seen, this is undoubtedly it.

As night falls, the resort completely transforms. Every bar spills onto the plaza, music fills the warm evening air and beautifully dressed guests gather beneath the palms by moonlight.

A fun yet super classy way to end our Saturday date night on Marbella’s Golden Mile.

Sunday: Cruising the Mediterranean

Sunday began with something we’d been looking forward to all weekend, a morning out on the Mediterranean.

Originally, we’d planned on taking one of the tourist ferries, but after spotting a company offering private boat hire in Marbella Old Town marina, we decided to upgrade the experience.

For just €150, we enjoyed a private one hour speedboat ride with our own skipper.

We cruised along Marbella’s spectacular coastline before arriving at Puerto Banús from the water, passing incredible super yachts that looked even more impressive from the sea.

We then ventured slightly further offshore in the hope of spotting dolphins, although they remained elusive this time.

Even so, gliding across that impossibly blue water under the Spanish sun was one of those moments you wish could last forever.

If only every Sunday could look just like this.

After returning to shore, we enjoyed a leisurely walk along the beachfront promenade, before stopping at one of the relaxed beach restaurants for a coffee and bite to eat.

One Final Golden Hour

For our final evening, we ventured into the hills above Marbella for dinner at Nota Blu Brasserie.

Surrounded by mountain views and glowing in golden hour sunshine, it was the perfect setting to end the weekend.

The aesthetic was effortlessly chic, making it the ideal excuse to wear my stunning new Monday maxi dress.

Dinner was simple but exactly what we were craving; a classic prawn Caesar salad for me, a Margarita pizza for him.

To round off our final evening, we headed back into Puerto Banús for one last drink while admiring the endless parade of supercars cruising through the marina.

It felt like the perfect full stop to an unforgettable weekend on the Costa Del Sol.

Final Thoughts

Marbella has a way of making even ordinary moments feel luxurious.

Whether you’re wandering through flower filled streets in the Old Town, discovering hidden vintage gems, dining beneath swaying palm trees or watching the sun melt into the Mediterranean, every part of the experience feels beautifully curated.

If you’re planning a long weekend in southern Spain, this itinerary offers the perfect balance of luxury, sightseeing, incredible food and those unforgettable Mediterranean moments that leave you counting down until your next visit.

Mentally, I’m still in that magical Marbella mode ❤

Mallorca Diaries; Port de Pollensa Eats

June 29, 2025

During our stay in Port de Pollensa at the start of June, as usual we scoped out and tried some of the best restaurants in the area. So I thought I’d share my top pick of the finest places to eat at in this picturesque town on the South coast of Mallorca.

My first recommendation is Stay Restaurant located on the jetty, providing sweeping views of the port from their large terrace seating area. The stunning setting, brilliant service and top quality food makes this place one of the highest rated spots in town.

We visited twice as we enjoyed it so much here, once for an early dinner and another day for lunch. They serve a more varied menu until 6pm which includes classics like Patatas Bravas, Calamari and Chicken Wings, as well as more international dishes like a Thai Curry and Currywurst.

The next must visit spot in Port de Pollensa is the famous Cappuccino Grande Cafe, an aesthetic restaurant and bar offering an elevated dining experience.

We chose to sit on the terrace amongst the gorgeous blooming flowers overlooking the port at sundown, but they also have seating out on a small jetty right on the water.

My Greek style salad was exquisite and my boyfriend enjoyed his delicious bowl of creamy bacon pasta.

I was inspired by the olives served so elegantly in a champagne coupe; I’ll definitely be doing that at home for a chic Friday arvo aperitif moment!

Another highly rated restaurant for the best local food in town is C’an Josep, located a little out of the main port meaning uninterrupted views of the coast.

We ate here for a big family meal of about twenty of us so they certainly had their work cutout, but everything was on point and the food was fantastic.

I had Padron Peppers to start followed by the Goats Cheese Salad which was divine. I also had a taste of my sister’s Seafood Paella which was delicious too.

For a more casual evening tapas dinner we went to Plaza Uno Restaurant just off the main square of the port.

We had the Chicken Wings to share as a starter, then to follow I had some tapas plates including a classic, hearty Ratatouille and the Goats Cheese, Serrano Ham, Honey and Rocket Bruschetta.

Ryan had the Penne Pasta Arrabiata and shared the bruschetta with me too, which we both agreed was the stand out dish of the evening.

So those are my top four picks for dining out in the area of Port de Pollensa. Of course there are plenty of local places which do great Spanish food too, but these are my recommendations for something that bit more special and elevated for when you want to treat yourselves on holiday ❤

Girly Getaway; Alcudia Mallorca

August 14, 2023

Last week, me and my two best girlfriends jetted off to the stunning Spanish island of Mallorca for five days in the town of Alcudia. We’ve been besties since we were in infant school, so we get on like sisters and couldn’t wait to be going on a proper girls vacay together this summer.

Arriving at a busy Gatwick Airport on Friday 4th August, we treated ourselves to the lounge for bottomless pre-flight bubbles and a bite to eat at leisure, before our plane departed that afternoon. Holiday mode was on!

We didn’t stop nattering the entire journey and before we knew it, we had arrived at our hotel later that evening following a smooth flight and transfer with easyJet. The next morning we awoke fresh and ready for a day of sunbathing at our hotel.

We stayed at Sol de Alcudia Apartments where we shared a room complete with a kitchenette and balcony. Whilst this is a family resort, it wasn’t too busy and the staff were friendly and helpful too.

I was very happy with the gym which was just down the corridor from our room and almost always empty, so I had the space to myself for my morning workouts.

We spent most mornings getting in our sunbathing time whilst reading our books, cooling off in the pool and chatting away of course.

The hotel was a five minute walk from the main beach of Alcudia, so we took a stroll there on the first day to see that golden white sand and dip our feet in the ocean.

After a refreshing glass of Sangria for me and Spanish beers for the girls, we found a nearby Lidl to stock up on essential holiday snacks and food for lunches.

This is what holiday lunches are all about; a mezze of picky bits including crisps, crackers, hummus, olives, cold meats, cheese, grapes, bread and of course, the iconic tub of Aioli. Sat out on our balcony soaking up the Spanish sun and chatting with my girlies with a wine in hand, now that’s an ideal holiday scene right there!

If you’re a regular here you’ll know I’m a salad lover and when I’m holiday, it’s all about a Greek Salad, so I suggested we do this for our balcony lunch one day. We just went to the local grocery store where we managed to get some tomatoes, cucumber, onion, olives and feta. Usually I would put oregano and lashings of olive oil on my Greek Salad, but seasoning wise we could only find salt in the shop, so instead my friend came up with the idea of mashing the feta with the juice of a lemon and some of the salty olive brine. This was a delicious twist on a classic and definitely something I’ll try again at home too.

It was so fun getting glammed up for warm summer evenings out with the girls. My friend did my hair a few times with her Dyson Air Wrap and I’m obsessed, I might have to get one for myself now.

On the Sunday night we decided to book a nice dinner out at Ca’an Matevet just over in Port d’Alcudia. As usual I did my research on Instagram to find the trendiest looking place and this restaurant was our kinda vibe.

I love being a bit more experimental and playful with my holiday outfits, so for this occasion I wore my leopard print swimsuit as a body paired with my Stradivarius wrap skort, chunky pearl sliders, a pair of oversized gold shell drop earrings and my Dune woven white handbag. My girlfriends are so effortlessly cool and always look very trendy in all black and neutral tones. How cute that my friend’s pearl hair clips matched my pearl sliders. ❤

We were seated at our table outside overlooking the port as the sunset and a live band played, setting the perfect evening dinner mood at golden hour.

Being in Spain we couldn’t resist ordering a number of incredible tapas to share. We all agreed potatoes bravos were a must as well as the fresh scallops. The toasted bread with cured Mahón cheese, sobrasada from the island and honey, was simply divine.

This goat’s cheese salad with walnuts, hazelnuts, capers and homemade fig jam was a highlight for me. We also got the garlic prawns, olives and some bread with Aioli to accompany our meal. Service was great, I couldn’t fault anything and don’t be fooled, we ate every last bit – us girls like our food!

We finished up with a round of cocktails instead of dessert as we were full from our feast. I had a Paloma whilst the girls had a Mojito and a Tommy’s Margarita which we enjoyed as the sun went down and the live band continued their second set. The staff were so friendly and attentive, the food was amazing and the ambience on point; I’d highly recommend visiting C’an Matevet if you’re in the area –https://canmatevet.com. 

The weather was perfect during our stay reaching highs of 30 degrees, so a classic orange ice pop was the ideal poolside refreshment.

Another night, another bar, and on this evening we actually stumbled across this fun hotel bar just around the corner with another live band playing. They were called Von Bros and played reggae style covers, we were loving it!

Once again my besties were looking super stylish in chic black outfits, whilst I was in a baby blue mini dress bringing a splash of colour to the group. 

On our final day we got up early to visit the markets in the Old Town of Alcudia.

There was so much to explore, from beautiful fresh produce to lots of gorgeous clothes and jewellery from local sellers. 

My friend bagged herself a lovely cream crochet top and I got a white crochet cutout Grecian style dress.

I just wish I had a local market back home selling fresh fruit and veg as marvellous as this!

And not to mention the variety of olives to choose from, I was in my element.

The streets of Old Town Alcudia are so picturesque lined with ancient buildings, blooming bright flowers climbing the walls and exotic plants in terracotta pots.

We stopped for a morning coffee at a cute cafe where two coffees and a water was less than 4 Euros!

It was scorching hot so we took it in turns with my friend’s ‘World’s biggest diva’ hand fan. 😀

I’m also loving this headscarf on my friend giving market girl vibes paired with her gingham playsuit, so cute. ❤

We then explored more of the town and took a walk up on the ancient walls which boarder the Old Town of Alcudia.

I saw an old open air theatre and decided to put my gymnastics practice to good use with a handstand balance centre stage.

For lunch we found a quieter restaurant with a courtyard off the beaten track.

I had this simple but super tasty green salad and a refreshing Coke Zero.

Our final afternoon we spent back by our hotel pool soaking up the final few hours of Spanish sun.

I also brought this floppy hat on our way out of the markets which is exactly what I was looking for, I can’t wait to wear it on my next holiday.

We had a chilled dinner at our hotel before packing that night, as our transfer back to Palma Airport the next morning was at 7am.

We had a fantastic time in Mallorca together with plenty of chats, giggles, sunbathing, good food and drinks, pool time, reading, relaxing and just having lots of fun. Thank you girlies for such a wonderful trip, lets get planning girls vacay 2024! ❤ ❤ ❤