10 Best Local Restaurants in Marbella

Mercado Municipal De Marbella is the city’s fresh food market and a popular spot to pick up top-quality produce. While grocery shopping is the big drawcard here, the fully enclosed market also has a small food court serving ready-to-eat treats.

From sushi houses to seafood takeaways and tiny tapas bars, there’s a low-cost venue for almost every taste. Plus, the market offers a more authentic, Spanish-style dining experience than other gentrified shopping mall food courts. Once you’ve finished your meal, take the time to navigate the market for fresh produce to take away.

El Cordobes is an unpretentious seafood spot in Marbella specialising in all things fish. The casual, budget-friendly restaurant serves an eclectic buffet – selections range from tuna to gilt-head bream and European anchovies. Craving something salty? Try the deep-fried skewered sardines.

Tapas lovers will be pleased to hear the place plates up plenty of bite-sized snacks. Calamari is another popular option, either deep-fried or grilled. Despite the modest price point, all produce comes fresh from local fishermen that day. Just be prepared to queue during peak hours.

El Estrecho is Marbella’s most celebrated low-cost tapas bar and has been a local landmark since 1954. The busy establishment lives up to its name – estrecho means “narrow” in Spanish – so don’t expect a lot of elbow room. Most quickly nibble their tiny tasty tapas at the bar before going about their day. A limited number of tables is available (including outdoors) for an extended sit-down meal.

The friendly, family-run venue dishes out all the usual tapas favourites, from croquettes to huevos rellenos (deviled egg) and prawns al pil pil (salted). The convenient location in Marbella Old Town makes it a handy pit stop for sightseers seeking an authentic Spanish-style meal.

Rib Shack Marbella does succulent Southern American comfort food in an unassuming seafront locale. True to its name, the smoky, BBQ sauce-slathered pork ribs is the signature dish. Order the full rack to share for a proper smokehouse-style experience.

If ribs aren’t what you’re after, the joint serves excellent burgers, nachos, buffalo wings, and wraps. Reasonable pricing, top-notch comfort cuisine, and a scenic Playa del Faro location make it well worth your while. Of course, travellers craving traditional Spanish gastronomy will need to look elsewhere.

Casa Blanca is a popular tapas bar luring thick throngs of locals each day. The frantic venue consistently packs out, so don’t expect a serene dining experience. But its chaotic energy and top-notch tapas make for a fantastic – and authentic – culinary experience.

A wide range of well-priced tapas line the comprehensive menu, and customers can choose their preferred portions. Pro tip: pick several small selections of unique dishes to savour the full flavour spectrum. Crowd favourites include montaditos (open-faced sandwiches), gambas al pil pil (garlic prawns), and croquetas. Do as the locals do and wash them down with a glass of Vermouth poured straight from the barrel.

Cabaña Nagüeles is your go-to Marbella venue for succulent flame-grilled steaks. The traditional Spanish-style steakhouse grills a mouthwatering selection of meaty cuts. Not sure which to order? The ribeye, sirloin, and skirt steaks are divine. Seafood lovers, on the other hand, should spring for the grilled octopus with a tangy side of wasabi-infused purée potatoes. 

If you still have room for dessert, the venue does outstanding fried ice cream and sweet bread. The small, homely establishment has intimate indoor and outdoor dining areas with limited space. Book ahead in peak periods to secure your seat.

Restaurante Taberna Gaspar is a traditional family-run venue serving hearty Andalusian dishes in Marbella. The taverna-like establishment features a whitewashed interior with heavy wood beam supports and antique ornaments on the walls. Warm welcomes, heaving portions, and reasonable prices attract a largely local crowd.

Craving an authentic home-style Spanish tortilla? The team at Gaspar do the best rendition in town (pre-order to ensure you don’t miss out). Other stand-out favourites span Spanish-style meatballs and pisto (a tomato-based ratatouille-like dish). Save room for their white chocolate brownies for dessert.

Taberna La Niña del Pisto serves up superb Cordoban-style tapas and more sizeable Andalusian eats. Adventurous eaters will find plenty to tempt the palate, from spicy snails to salted cod and a frothy bull’s tail stew. Safer options include the signature salmorejo (a thick, cold-served soup) and deep-fried ham-stuffed croquettes.

Tucked away in a narrow plant-strewn alley, this quaint Old Town restaurant lays on the charm. Picture frames occupy every last inch of its walls, while old-timey blue and white tiles bolster the antiquated vibe. The cosy interior packs out quickly, so it’s wise to reserve in advance.

Manuka is a mecca for Marbella’s healthy-living community. Just outside La Cañada mall, this nutrition-focused eatery specialises in wholesome, low-carb treats. All its organic, preservative-free ingredients come straight from local providers to ensure everything is ethical and entirely fresh.

The menu showcases a selection of gluten-free and plant-based dishes, from zesty salads to zucchini pasta and pea protein veggie burgers. But avid carnivores needn’t miss out. There’s a wide range of well-balanced meat-based options to chew through, too. Waistline-watching and/or eco-conscious eaters won’t find a better restaurant in town.

Restaurante Conmpasión does sublime seafood-stuffed tapas and other goodies from a chic little spot in Marbella’s Old Town. The standout dish is the avocado cannelloni smothered in tartar and lime. Other tempting options include the oxtail flamenquin (Andalusian pork roll) and the homemade deep-fried croquettes.

Hungry customers should eye off the ever-popular degustation menu. Spread over several hours, this extensive culinary experience incorporates the whole gamut of tapas flavours. Indoor floor space is limited, so most patrons choose to sit around the sidewalk patio. Alternatively, head up to the pretty rooftop terrace.