Marbella, located along the sun-kissed shores of the Costa del Sol, attracts visitors with its Mediterranean charm.

This luxury town, known for its beautiful beaches, dynamic nightlife, premium stores and fantastic restaurants has long been a summer hotspot for the wealthy and famous.

With that being said it is possible to visit Marbella without a huge budget. When you arrive in this place you will feel a seductive atmosphere of elegance and sophistication, set against a backdrop of beautiful mountains and blue waters.

The town is home to some beautiful hotels that will provide you with an unforgettable experience.

So let's dive in and find the perfect hotel for your stay.

Best Hotels in Marbella

• Best Hotel Marbella Overall: Marbella Club Hotel

• Best Boutique Hotel Marbella: Casa El Castillo Hotel

• Best Hotel Marbella for families: Puente Romano

• Best Hotel Marbella for couples: Nobu Hotel

• Best Luxury Hotel Marbella: Marbella Club Hotel

Nobu Hotel Marbella

Nobu Hotel Marbella

This famous resort is a destination in and of itself, positioned just minutes (500 metres) from the nearest beach and offering a variety of on-site activities. Notable surroundings include tennis and paddle courts, a mini-golf course, a variety of eateries, and an open-air nightlife. Marbella's Old Town and Puerto Banús Marina may be reached in 15 minutes by renting bikes from the hotel.

Public interiors with dark woods and a modern approach to ryokan-style design exude elegance, while you'll see unexpected furnishings of classic Hollywood memorabilia and neon-bathed artwork that lend an element of urban cool.

Nobu Hotel Marbella

Outside, a space is shared with the far more traditional Puente Romano Beach Resort that results in a combination of stunning tropical spaces, flora-topped wall ceramics, fountains, and walkways that are frequently intertwined with traces of both Andalusian and Asian influences.

Smartly attired staff are on hand to meticulously grant your every need, from planning exclusive regional tours to boat outings, golfing bookings, and booking daybeds by the ornately tiled pool.

The tennis club has 10 courts and offers on-demand lessons. The nearby fitness club has all of the necessary equipment for staying in shape, while the Six Senses Spa offers bespoke treatments, an immense indoor pool with massage jets, and a spa circuit.

Nobu Hotel Marbella

The Owners Club, an upmarket private playroom intended for Marbella residents and featuring a lounge/library, bar and pool area, offers a unique invitation to hotel guests to enjoy the facility throughout their stay. La Plaza Village, the resort's vibrant dining and entertainment hub, is an open-plan gallery area with high-end restaurants, a lounge, and a nightclub.

Natural wood and wicker furnishings, marble flooring, and a neutral colour scheme merge oddly well with clever art pieces and cutting-edge controls for ambient lighting, among other things.

Nobu Hotel Marbella

The bathrooms are big, featuring rainfall showerheads and luxurious Natura Bissé products. Kimono robes, a carefully crafted cocktail of choice before turndown, vanity basics, and a private patio with views of fig and jasmine-scented La Plaza Village are among the standout offerings.

Plaza Village, simply defined, is a foodie's paradise. Residents frequently come here to experience some of Marbella's best cuisine. Nobu Marbella delivers their distinctive black cod miso alongside innovative meals inspired by the local riches, such as fresh scallops with fois gras and vanilla miso.

The buffet breakfast includes the typical suspects with a Japanese twist, but for a particular culinary treat, you can request à la carte items such as egg toban with dry miso or blueberry and yuzu soba pancakes.

Nobu Hotel Marbella

Other notable nearby restaurants include an Argentinian asado (barbeque), an Italian trattoria, and inventive local food at Michelin-starred Dani Garcia's namesake establishment.

If want to continue, the night can keep going at the Nobu Lounge, where guests can order from an extensive variety of sake and cocktail creations before entering the elite nightclub La Suite via private access.

Marbella Club Hotel

Marbella Club Hotel

The hotel is located on Marbella's Golden Mile, between the Old Town and the upscale Puerto Banus. The spectacular Sierra Blanca mountains provide a backdrop; buzzy Malaga, with its cathedral, Picasso Museum, and Pompidou Centre, is a 55-minute drive away, while Ronda is 45 minutes by bus or vehicle.

Once a rural finca (a Spanish country house), Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe converted it into a hotel in 1954, and it has since functioned as a party pad and Costa del Sol hideaway for a number of prominent guests. The property maintains a Andalucia-meets-Hollywood-motel style, with whitewashed cottages leading down a driveway to the seaside.

Marbella Club Hotel

Each neighbourhood has its own particular style, which ranges from breezy seaside chic to decadent drinking dens to magnificent country homes. El Patio's vibrant retro-Cali-inspired décor was created by Spanish design studio EMCI and features black and white images of renowned guests such as Brigitte Bardot and Cary Grant in their prime. Schumacher print wallpaper, bougainvillea-clad terraces, hand-painted tiles, and intricately carved fireplaces offer a burst of Spanish colour.

Back then, the hotel had the sole telephone in the area, and guests would go from as far away as Tangiers and Madrid to socialise, swap news, and make phone calls. Nowadays, guests may keep themselves engaged with Netflix and Amazon Prime, and they can stay fit and relaxed at the Holistic Studio, a wellness club. A Qest machine is available for bioenergetic testing, and there is also an award-winning staff of naturopaths, nutritionists, personal trainers, and a specialised wellness chef on standby.

Marbella Club Hotel

The Beach Club features sunbeds on the sand and three pools: two heated and outdoor, and one indoor seawater pool that is so soft it feels like swimming in milk. A hair and beauty salon, a florist, and a gift store are located near the Clubhouse, and the hotel features a fully equipped gym as well as a Thalasso spa that offers seawater treatments and massages.

Service is both professional and friendly, with workers addressing guests by name. There are more activities nearby, including 14 tennis courts at the hotel's sister property, the Puente Romano Tennis Club, as well as the Marbella Club Equestrian Centre and Dave Thomas-designed 18-hole golf course, both of which are 20 minutes away.

Marbella Club Hotel

A total of 131 rooms, villas, and suites provide peaceful and pleasant retreats after a day out, with gentle pastel tones, natural wood, and plump sofas. Six Grand Villas are more opulent, with Rincon del Mar providing direct access to the Holistic Studio next door. All rooms feature terraces with sunbeds and yoga mats, a Nespresso machine and minibar, marble bathrooms with double vanity, separate shower and bathtub, robes and slippers, and Votary amenities.

Marbella Club Hotel

Breakfast is served on the patio in the summer and in the restaurant during the winter. Both pools have their own restaurants: the Mexican-style thatched Beach Club serves sushi and shellfish platters, while the Garden Pool is smaller and features a menu prepared by Andres Ruiz, the in-house wellness chef.

Oceanfront MC Beach resembles a typical chiringuito (small beach bar) and serves traditional Malaga cuisine such as sardinas al espeto. Candlelit El Grill serves silver service and classic dishes such as parmesan souffle and grilled T-bone steak. El Patio, the Clubhouse's day and night courtyard cafe, serves everything from breakfast to pizzas and martini pitchers.

Marbella Club Hotel

The legendary Rudi's bar, named after the hotel's first general manager, Count Rudi von Schonburg, is a low-lit Bohemian room that comes alive at night with live music, tapas and tasselled barstools. In the warmer months, the Summer Bar is ideal for pre-dinner beverages, and if you're a wine connoisseur, plan a tasting with head sommelier Angel Gonzalez Garrido at La Bodega.

Puente Romano Beach Resort

Puente Romano Beach Resort

The property goes all the way down to the ocean on Marbella's Golden Mile, with the Sierra Blanca mountains looming behind it. To reach Marbella's refurbished old town and the Puerto Banús marina, walk 45 minutes along the palm-dotted coastal promenade or pedal 15 minutes (the hotel offers bikes).

Málaga, with its wonderful art galleries and international airport, is a 50-minute drive northeast; relaxed Estepona is 25 minutes west; and breathtaking Ronda is an hour inland.

Puente Romano Beach Resort

The Puente Romano takes its name from the first-century Roman bridge at its core (formerly part of the road connecting Rome and Cádiz), which you can see while strolling through the vibrant main bar and restaurant square, La Plaza.

While this is a well-established Marbella destination hotel, it also seems fun and new, with a lively beach chic ambience. The entire place is influenced by Andalusian village architecture, with blue and white tilework, whitewashed walls, and terracotta staircases. However, there is a lot of design-forward ingenuity in the rooms, restaurants, and common areas. To enhance solitude, apartments are carefully organised in low-rise huddles named after Andalusian towns (Zahara, Ronda, Nerja).

Shady walks go from one end of the lush, vast grounds to the other, passing multiple swimming pools and through beautiful gardens with over 400 plant varieties, including geraniums, orange and fig trees, birds of paradise, and night-blooming jasmine. The complex also includes the uber-cool adults-only Nobu Marbella Hotel.

Puente Romano Beach Resort

The outstanding facilities include four pools, a tennis club, a Six Senses spa, and over 20 restaurants, many of which cluster around La Plaza, where things stay up late. The cheerful, efficient personnel do an excellent job of looking after customers, from booking prime tables to arranging Ronda wine-tasting tours and Granada day trips.

The renowned 10-court tennis club organises a regular schedule of high-profile contests, as well as guest lessons; Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have both trained here. The design-led gym also makes a splash with its own DJ, Technogym equipment, and a full schedule of beach yoga, pilates, and other activities. Horseback riding, golf, paddleboarding, and other water sports are all easily organised.

The four pools (climatized during the cooler months) feature a popular Mediterranean-facing option and a tropical chic pool club hosted by the party-themed COYA restaurant.

At the intimate spa, skilled therapists provide specialty massages, scrubs, wellness consultations, and beauty treatments in pods overlooking the seafront; the Mediterranean Breeze exfoliation uses local olive oil and sea salt. The spa also features a heated ocean-blue pressure-jet pool, steam room, sauna, ice bath, contrast showers, and heated beds.

Puente Romano Beach Resort

The 162 light-washed suites and three villas scattered over the grounds, each with a view of either the gardens or the sea, take advantage of the easy-breezy Mediterranean setting and feel like your own private hideaway to relax. Warm geometrical prints, botanical-stamp walls, peaceful natural-feel hues, and monochromatic photos all contribute to the fresh, simple style. Andrew Martin, a British designer, created the Grand Suites and Villas.

Yoga mats and blocks, robes and slippers, capsule coffee makers, king beds, kettles, and glass-bottled water are among the many amenities, and all rooms lead out to huge, furnished terracotta-floor balconies. Marble-style bathrooms have rainfall showers, dual sinks, and Natura Bissé products (in recyclable aluminium containers); some additionally have whirlpool baths or soaking tubs.

The Puente Romano's vibey culinary scene pulls people from miles around — you could easily eat here every night, starting (or ending) with cocktails beneath the stars at La Plaza. Celebrated Marbella-born Dani García owns gourmet steakhouse Leña and bistro-style tapas eatery BiBo, both overlooking La Plaza. Or book in at Spain's original Nobu, where chef Eleni Manousou combines iconic Japanese-fusion dishes such as black cod miso with fresh Mediterranean produce and Andalusian wines.

Puente Romano Beach Resort

Then there are paellas and Málaga-style espetos (sardine skewers) beside the sea at Ibiza-esque El Chiringuito; sophisticated world menus at Sea Grill; and mezze feasts at Les Jardins du Liban. The latest entrants are contemporary Peruvian COYA and an offshoot of Venice-founded and celebrity-loved Cipriani.

Hotel Don Pepe

Hotel Don Pepe

The azure blue waves of Playa Fontanilla are simply a stone's throw from the hotel's sprawling garden and pool area. Stroll Paseo Maritimo, the nearby palm-tree-lined boulevard, and stop at any of the numerous outdoor cafés and businesses along the way. Continue on to Puerto Banus, which is well known for its shopping and maritime activities. For a more rustic experience, the picturesque flowerpot squares of Marbella's provincial old town are only a 20-minute walk away.

The open-plan foyer is equal parts modern and chintz. Marble flooring and walls, braided wicker chairs, exotic vegetation, white leather furnishings, and mirror accents embellish the entire unique room. During the day, the gaze is frequently directed to the head-to-toe glass doors that lead to the outdoor amenities and the shimmering sea beyond. In the evening, the lights are darkened, changing this area into a retro star attraction, alive with clamouring patrons dining or lounging by the bar.

Hotel Don Pepe

The hotel's centre is its huge circular pool area, complete with Balinese-style day beds. Other amenities include a spa, a fitness centre, and, if the whim strikes, the beach. While drinks and snacks are conveniently available poolside, a garden terrace with outdoor lounge furnishings is now being planned.

Attentive staff may arrange city-wide excursions and maritime activities, such as seasonal tuna fishing and yacht rentals, as well as more personalised services such as access to the Red Level members-only lounge, Mercedes shuttles, and a personal shopper. In addition, the lobby features a little gallery of store displays.

Hotel Don Pepe

Classic bedrooms are finished in natural tones that match the marble and wood furnishings trimmed with gold and black. Though well-kept, with huge comfortable mattresses and sea or mountain views, the overall décor may use a refresh. Thankfully, the ultra-modern facilities, which have both bath and rain shower options and Clarins amenities, are a welcome pleasure.

Hotel Don Pepe

The open-plan lobby area offers a variety of eating alternatives for discerning palates. The T-bone Grill specialises in premium cuts of meat with side dishes made at the table. Tahini serves sushi and other Japanese dishes.

Cappuccino, the hotel's renowned beach club, serves lighter meals and features jazz music. Salazonia is known for its high-end cuisine, including oysters and caviar. Darcis caters to those with an insatiable sweet taste, serving artisan chocolates, ice cream, and macarons. The Whisky Lounge functions as both a typical bar and a cafe.

Hotel Don Pepe

Buffet breakfast is offered till 11 a.m. in the spacious, bamboo-ceilinged Veranda. Guests can choose from a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, deli cuts, and juice, all of which are served at separate stations. A cooking department serves made-to-order pancakes, waffles, and eggs.

Marbella, located along the sun-kissed shores of the Costa del Sol, attracts visitors with its Mediterranean charm.

This luxury town, known for its beautiful beaches, dynamic nightlife, premium stores and fantastic restaurants has long been a summer hotspot for the wealthy and famous.

With that being said it is possible to visit Marbella without a huge budget. When you arrive in this place you will feel a seductive atmosphere of elegance and sophistication, set against a backdrop of beautiful mountains and blue waters.

The town is home to some beautiful hotels that will provide you with an unforgettable experience.

So let's dive in and find the perfect hotel for your stay.

Best Hotels in Marbella

• Best Hotel Marbella Overall: Marbella Club Hotel

• Best Boutique Hotel Marbella: Casa El Castillo Hotel

• Best Hotel Marbella for families: Puente Romano

• Best Hotel Marbella for couples: Nobu Hotel

• Best Luxury Hotel Marbella: Marbella Club Hotel

Nobu Hotel Marbella

Nobu Hotel Marbella

This famous resort is a destination in and of itself, positioned just minutes (500 metres) from the nearest beach and offering a variety of on-site activities. Notable surroundings include tennis and paddle courts, a mini-golf course, a variety of eateries, and an open-air nightlife. Marbella's Old Town and Puerto Banús Marina may be reached in 15 minutes by renting bikes from the hotel.

Public interiors with dark woods and a modern approach to ryokan-style design exude elegance, while you'll see unexpected furnishings of classic Hollywood memorabilia and neon-bathed artwork that lend an element of urban cool.

Nobu Hotel Marbella

Outside, a space is shared with the far more traditional Puente Romano Beach Resort that results in a combination of stunning tropical spaces, flora-topped wall ceramics, fountains, and walkways that are frequently intertwined with traces of both Andalusian and Asian influences.

Smartly attired staff are on hand to meticulously grant your every need, from planning exclusive regional tours to boat outings, golfing bookings, and booking daybeds by the ornately tiled pool.

The tennis club has 10 courts and offers on-demand lessons. The nearby fitness club has all of the necessary equipment for staying in shape, while the Six Senses Spa offers bespoke treatments, an immense indoor pool with massage jets, and a spa circuit.

Nobu Hotel Marbella

The Owners Club, an upmarket private playroom intended for Marbella residents and featuring a lounge/library, bar and pool area, offers a unique invitation to hotel guests to enjoy the facility throughout their stay. La Plaza Village, the resort's vibrant dining and entertainment hub, is an open-plan gallery area with high-end restaurants, a lounge, and a nightclub.

Natural wood and wicker furnishings, marble flooring, and a neutral colour scheme merge oddly well with clever art pieces and cutting-edge controls for ambient lighting, among other things.

Nobu Hotel Marbella

The bathrooms are big, featuring rainfall showerheads and luxurious Natura Bissé products. Kimono robes, a carefully crafted cocktail of choice before turndown, vanity basics, and a private patio with views of fig and jasmine-scented La Plaza Village are among the standout offerings.

Plaza Village, simply defined, is a foodie's paradise. Residents frequently come here to experience some of Marbella's best cuisine. Nobu Marbella delivers their distinctive black cod miso alongside innovative meals inspired by the local riches, such as fresh scallops with fois gras and vanilla miso.

The buffet breakfast includes the typical suspects with a Japanese twist, but for a particular culinary treat, you can request à la carte items such as egg toban with dry miso or blueberry and yuzu soba pancakes.

Nobu Hotel Marbella

Other notable nearby restaurants include an Argentinian asado (barbeque), an Italian trattoria, and inventive local food at Michelin-starred Dani Garcia's namesake establishment.

If want to continue, the night can keep going at the Nobu Lounge, where guests can order from an extensive variety of sake and cocktail creations before entering the elite nightclub La Suite via private access.

Marbella Club Hotel

Marbella Club Hotel

The hotel is located on Marbella's Golden Mile, between the Old Town and the upscale Puerto Banus. The spectacular Sierra Blanca mountains provide a backdrop; buzzy Malaga, with its cathedral, Picasso Museum, and Pompidou Centre, is a 55-minute drive away, while Ronda is 45 minutes by bus or vehicle.

Once a rural finca (a Spanish country house), Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe converted it into a hotel in 1954, and it has since functioned as a party pad and Costa del Sol hideaway for a number of prominent guests. The property maintains a Andalucia-meets-Hollywood-motel style, with whitewashed cottages leading down a driveway to the seaside.

Marbella Club Hotel

Each neighbourhood has its own particular style, which ranges from breezy seaside chic to decadent drinking dens to magnificent country homes. El Patio's vibrant retro-Cali-inspired décor was created by Spanish design studio EMCI and features black and white images of renowned guests such as Brigitte Bardot and Cary Grant in their prime. Schumacher print wallpaper, bougainvillea-clad terraces, hand-painted tiles, and intricately carved fireplaces offer a burst of Spanish colour.

Back then, the hotel had the sole telephone in the area, and guests would go from as far away as Tangiers and Madrid to socialise, swap news, and make phone calls. Nowadays, guests may keep themselves engaged with Netflix and Amazon Prime, and they can stay fit and relaxed at the Holistic Studio, a wellness club. A Qest machine is available for bioenergetic testing, and there is also an award-winning staff of naturopaths, nutritionists, personal trainers, and a specialised wellness chef on standby.

Marbella Club Hotel

The Beach Club features sunbeds on the sand and three pools: two heated and outdoor, and one indoor seawater pool that is so soft it feels like swimming in milk. A hair and beauty salon, a florist, and a gift store are located near the Clubhouse, and the hotel features a fully equipped gym as well as a Thalasso spa that offers seawater treatments and massages.

Service is both professional and friendly, with workers addressing guests by name. There are more activities nearby, including 14 tennis courts at the hotel's sister property, the Puente Romano Tennis Club, as well as the Marbella Club Equestrian Centre and Dave Thomas-designed 18-hole golf course, both of which are 20 minutes away.

Marbella Club Hotel

A total of 131 rooms, villas, and suites provide peaceful and pleasant retreats after a day out, with gentle pastel tones, natural wood, and plump sofas. Six Grand Villas are more opulent, with Rincon del Mar providing direct access to the Holistic Studio next door. All rooms feature terraces with sunbeds and yoga mats, a Nespresso machine and minibar, marble bathrooms with double vanity, separate shower and bathtub, robes and slippers, and Votary amenities.

Marbella Club Hotel

Breakfast is served on the patio in the summer and in the restaurant during the winter. Both pools have their own restaurants: the Mexican-style thatched Beach Club serves sushi and shellfish platters, while the Garden Pool is smaller and features a menu prepared by Andres Ruiz, the in-house wellness chef.

Oceanfront MC Beach resembles a typical chiringuito (small beach bar) and serves traditional Malaga cuisine such as sardinas al espeto. Candlelit El Grill serves silver service and classic dishes such as parmesan souffle and grilled T-bone steak. El Patio, the Clubhouse's day and night courtyard cafe, serves everything from breakfast to pizzas and martini pitchers.

Marbella Club Hotel

The legendary Rudi's bar, named after the hotel's first general manager, Count Rudi von Schonburg, is a low-lit Bohemian room that comes alive at night with live music, tapas and tasselled barstools. In the warmer months, the Summer Bar is ideal for pre-dinner beverages, and if you're a wine connoisseur, plan a tasting with head sommelier Angel Gonzalez Garrido at La Bodega.

Puente Romano Beach Resort

Puente Romano Beach Resort

The property goes all the way down to the ocean on Marbella's Golden Mile, with the Sierra Blanca mountains looming behind it. To reach Marbella's refurbished old town and the Puerto Banús marina, walk 45 minutes along the palm-dotted coastal promenade or pedal 15 minutes (the hotel offers bikes).

Málaga, with its wonderful art galleries and international airport, is a 50-minute drive northeast; relaxed Estepona is 25 minutes west; and breathtaking Ronda is an hour inland.

Puente Romano Beach Resort

The Puente Romano takes its name from the first-century Roman bridge at its core (formerly part of the road connecting Rome and Cádiz), which you can see while strolling through the vibrant main bar and restaurant square, La Plaza.

While this is a well-established Marbella destination hotel, it also seems fun and new, with a lively beach chic ambience. The entire place is influenced by Andalusian village architecture, with blue and white tilework, whitewashed walls, and terracotta staircases. However, there is a lot of design-forward ingenuity in the rooms, restaurants, and common areas. To enhance solitude, apartments are carefully organised in low-rise huddles named after Andalusian towns (Zahara, Ronda, Nerja).

Shady walks go from one end of the lush, vast grounds to the other, passing multiple swimming pools and through beautiful gardens with over 400 plant varieties, including geraniums, orange and fig trees, birds of paradise, and night-blooming jasmine. The complex also includes the uber-cool adults-only Nobu Marbella Hotel.

Puente Romano Beach Resort

The outstanding facilities include four pools, a tennis club, a Six Senses spa, and over 20 restaurants, many of which cluster around La Plaza, where things stay up late. The cheerful, efficient personnel do an excellent job of looking after customers, from booking prime tables to arranging Ronda wine-tasting tours and Granada day trips.

The renowned 10-court tennis club organises a regular schedule of high-profile contests, as well as guest lessons; Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have both trained here. The design-led gym also makes a splash with its own DJ, Technogym equipment, and a full schedule of beach yoga, pilates, and other activities. Horseback riding, golf, paddleboarding, and other water sports are all easily organised.

The four pools (climatized during the cooler months) feature a popular Mediterranean-facing option and a tropical chic pool club hosted by the party-themed COYA restaurant.

At the intimate spa, skilled therapists provide specialty massages, scrubs, wellness consultations, and beauty treatments in pods overlooking the seafront; the Mediterranean Breeze exfoliation uses local olive oil and sea salt. The spa also features a heated ocean-blue pressure-jet pool, steam room, sauna, ice bath, contrast showers, and heated beds.

Puente Romano Beach Resort

The 162 light-washed suites and three villas scattered over the grounds, each with a view of either the gardens or the sea, take advantage of the easy-breezy Mediterranean setting and feel like your own private hideaway to relax. Warm geometrical prints, botanical-stamp walls, peaceful natural-feel hues, and monochromatic photos all contribute to the fresh, simple style. Andrew Martin, a British designer, created the Grand Suites and Villas.

Yoga mats and blocks, robes and slippers, capsule coffee makers, king beds, kettles, and glass-bottled water are among the many amenities, and all rooms lead out to huge, furnished terracotta-floor balconies. Marble-style bathrooms have rainfall showers, dual sinks, and Natura Bissé products (in recyclable aluminium containers); some additionally have whirlpool baths or soaking tubs.

The Puente Romano's vibey culinary scene pulls people from miles around — you could easily eat here every night, starting (or ending) with cocktails beneath the stars at La Plaza. Celebrated Marbella-born Dani García owns gourmet steakhouse Leña and bistro-style tapas eatery BiBo, both overlooking La Plaza. Or book in at Spain's original Nobu, where chef Eleni Manousou combines iconic Japanese-fusion dishes such as black cod miso with fresh Mediterranean produce and Andalusian wines.

Puente Romano Beach Resort

Then there are paellas and Málaga-style espetos (sardine skewers) beside the sea at Ibiza-esque El Chiringuito; sophisticated world menus at Sea Grill; and mezze feasts at Les Jardins du Liban. The latest entrants are contemporary Peruvian COYA and an offshoot of Venice-founded and celebrity-loved Cipriani.

Hotel Don Pepe

Hotel Don Pepe

The azure blue waves of Playa Fontanilla are simply a stone's throw from the hotel's sprawling garden and pool area. Stroll Paseo Maritimo, the nearby palm-tree-lined boulevard, and stop at any of the numerous outdoor cafés and businesses along the way. Continue on to Puerto Banus, which is well known for its shopping and maritime activities. For a more rustic experience, the picturesque flowerpot squares of Marbella's provincial old town are only a 20-minute walk away.

The open-plan foyer is equal parts modern and chintz. Marble flooring and walls, braided wicker chairs, exotic vegetation, white leather furnishings, and mirror accents embellish the entire unique room. During the day, the gaze is frequently directed to the head-to-toe glass doors that lead to the outdoor amenities and the shimmering sea beyond. In the evening, the lights are darkened, changing this area into a retro star attraction, alive with clamouring patrons dining or lounging by the bar.

Hotel Don Pepe

The hotel's centre is its huge circular pool area, complete with Balinese-style day beds. Other amenities include a spa, a fitness centre, and, if the whim strikes, the beach. While drinks and snacks are conveniently available poolside, a garden terrace with outdoor lounge furnishings is now being planned.

Attentive staff may arrange city-wide excursions and maritime activities, such as seasonal tuna fishing and yacht rentals, as well as more personalised services such as access to the Red Level members-only lounge, Mercedes shuttles, and a personal shopper. In addition, the lobby features a little gallery of store displays.

Hotel Don Pepe

Classic bedrooms are finished in natural tones that match the marble and wood furnishings trimmed with gold and black. Though well-kept, with huge comfortable mattresses and sea or mountain views, the overall décor may use a refresh. Thankfully, the ultra-modern facilities, which have both bath and rain shower options and Clarins amenities, are a welcome pleasure.

Hotel Don Pepe

The open-plan lobby area offers a variety of eating alternatives for discerning palates. The T-bone Grill specialises in premium cuts of meat with side dishes made at the table. Tahini serves sushi and other Japanese dishes.

Cappuccino, the hotel's renowned beach club, serves lighter meals and features jazz music. Salazonia is known for its high-end cuisine, including oysters and caviar. Darcis caters to those with an insatiable sweet taste, serving artisan chocolates, ice cream, and macarons. The Whisky Lounge functions as both a typical bar and a cafe.

Hotel Don Pepe

Buffet breakfast is offered till 11 a.m. in the spacious, bamboo-ceilinged Veranda. Guests can choose from a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, deli cuts, and juice, all of which are served at separate stations. A cooking department serves made-to-order pancakes, waffles, and eggs.