The Best Beach Resorts & Bars Near Marbella, Spain

Sipping cocktails with an international DJ or relaxing in a family-friendly beach-side restaurant. There is a wide selection of beach experiences around Marbella and the Golden Mile. Here is our guide to the top 15 places to hang out by the beach in Marbella.

Marbella was awarded the title of the best European destination in 2024 via a survey of 1 million people.

If you find yourself lured to the glamorous lifestyle of Marbella, you’ll no doubt want to spend some time on the beach.

While the area is internationally recognised as an epicentre of luxury, Marbella has beach bars catering to all tastes and budgets.

Do you want VIP party vibes with luxurious sunbeds or a local bar with great quality food and friendly service?

Somewhere in the middle, chiringuitos—traditional Spanish beach bars—offer seafood straight off the BBQ and locally sourced tapas.

We’ve spent a lot of time in the Marbella area, and this guide covers our favourite beach bars and restaurants. You can spend all day lazing by the sea or pop in for lunch.

MAP – MARBELLA BEACH RESORTS

TIPS FOR VISITING THE BEACHES OF MARBELLA

Marbella is central on the Costa del Sol, the stretch of coastline broadly defined as falling between Tarifa in the west and Nerja in the east. It includes the city of Málaga and over 100 beaches.

The beaches around Marbella are considered luxurious, which is true if that’s what you’re looking for. But there are also chilled beach bars and family-friendly spaces.

Here are some tips for visiting Marbella’s beach.

Sunbeds – You pay for sunbeds at all the bars and resorts around Marbella (we list the prices below). But nothing stops you from putting your towel down on any beach.

They fill up – You may need to book ahead, especially during the peak summer period, when the good beach bars fill up.

Season—The bars and resorts are not open throughout the year. The season generally runs from around May to late September, but check with each bar.

Beach Quality – Some of the beaches in the area are not that nice, with gravely grey sand or lots of rocks. This is not a problem if you plan on staying at the resort, but it’s important to know which beaches to avoid if you plan on swimming in the sea. We cover these below as well.

WHAT ARE THE BEST BEACHES NEAR MARBELLA?

We target several beaches every time we are in the area. The beach bars we recommend further down in this article are on the following beaches.

REAL DE ZARAGOZA

Royal Zaragoza is a 1.7-kilometre stretch of beach 13 kilometres east of Marbella. Its calm water and good-quality sand make it a good choice for families with kids.

Sylt and Siroko are located on Real de Zaragoza.

EL ROSARIO

El Rosario is an upmarket residential area with a lovely stretch of golden sand just 10 minutes drive from Marbella. It’s a peaceful and well-maintained beach with lots of great beach bars.

Dune, Luuma and Bono are located on El Rosario.

GOLDEN MILE

The Golden Mile is a 5-kilometre seafront promenade from Marbella to Puerto Banús. Many of the city’s luxury developments are along it, and it’s a great place to stroll. There are plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants along the Golden Mile

Trocadero and Puente Romano are both on the Golden Mile.

CABOPINO BEACH / PLAYA DE CALAHONDA

Cabopino Beach is one of the best natural beaches on Costa del Sol, with almost no facilities. Playa de Calahonda is on the eastern end of Cabopino, and here, you’ll often find more locals than tourists.

Las Dunas is on Play de Calahonda.

PUERTO BANÚS BEACH

Puerto Banús Beach is just beside the marina, so it’s a great beach if you want the facilities nearby. The water and sand quality are very good.

Paradise Puerto Banús is here.

BEACH BARS & RESORTS NEAR MARBELLA

These beach resorts have sunbeds where you can laze about all day and bars and restaurants where you can grab a long, boozy lunch or a quick bite.

1. DUNE BEACH

Dune Beach is one of the smartest beach resorts in Marbella.

It’s located on El Rosario Beach and operated by the famous Ocean Club Marbella owners. Dune has a modern Mediterranean restaurant set back into the dunes, styled with earthy tones.  

If you’re looking for a high-end yet relaxed place to hang out by the beach, this is it.

The service and food are top-notch. The Mediterranean-inspired menu dips into tacos and burgers to create something for everyone.

It’s not cheap, but it’s a great choice if you are willing to spend more to base yourself in a beautiful setting.

2. CHIRINGUITO LAS DUNAS

At the other end of the scale, Las Dunas is a small family-run café/restaurant with a superb location and a wonderfully relaxed vibe.

We love Las Dunas. We’ve been coming here for about 10 years, and every time we return, it’s like returning to our happy place.

The smell of the BBQ firing out the back, the chilled music, and the delicious sangria immediately put us in beach mode. We really can’t recommend Las Dunas highly enough.

The food is always excellent (their BBQ fish is some of the best on the coast) and reasonably priced.

3. PARADISE BEACH BANÚS

Paradise Beach Banús has a slightly more up-market feel than Las Dunas. But it’s also right on the beach, with soft sand and great views of the mountains backing onto Puerto Banús.

The last time we went, we thought the food was amazing. Returning this year, we were slightly less impressed; the Gambas Pil Pil was downright bland. But the rest of the food was decent, and it still has much going for it.  

You need to book lunch at the restaurant as it gets very busy, but there are a few high tables along the side for which they don’t take bookings. We’re generally never organised enough to book, but we’ve never had to wait too long for a table.

It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the Puerto Banús Marina, so it’s great if you want to combine your beach day with some high-end shopping.  

4. SYLT MARBELLA

Sylt has all the right beach vibes with a multi-level deck set into the dunes overlooking the Real de Zaragoza beach. It’s relaxed and welcoming, with good music and friendly staff.

The food is generally good, although Las Dunas is much better value for money. They have a wide selection of dishes, including plenty of options for kids.

The first time we went, we really liked the food. We were a little underwhelmed the second time, but we’re keen to give it another go.

They are open from 10:30 a.m. for breakfast until around 8:30 p.m., so you can get something to eat throughout the day.    

It’s also a great place for sunset cocktails.

5. SONORA BEACH

We like Sonora Beach, it’s bright, colourful and full of energy.

The funky set-up is somewhere between bohemian and hippie, with deep wooden furniture surrounded by plants, offset with bright reds and purples.

Music is always pumping, and it’s a great place to hang out if you want rustic beach vibes.

The food mixes Asian and Mediterranean, and there are good choices for vegans and vegetarians.

It often seems to take a while to get anyone’s attention, especially if you are just going for a drink. But it’s worth the wait for the great cocktails alone.

Sonora is on Los Granados, which is not that nice. It’s very rocky and probably not very suitable for kids. Going to Sonora Beach is more about sitting in their lovely garden than visiting the beach.

6. SALDUNA

Located between Estepona and Marbella near San Pedro de Alcántara, Salduna is a classic beach bar with several different spaces to relax for the day.

They have an indoor and outdoor restaurant nicely styled in wood tones and whites. Upstairs, the roof terrace has great views of the beach.

Open until Midnight Thursday through to Monday and with live music often on the agenda, Salduna is a great place for a stylish party.

Like most beach resorts around Marbella, they describe their food as Mediterranean fusion – essentially, a bit of everything.  

We had a good time and thought the food was decent. However, some of the online reviews we read before we went were not great, so the service could be inconsistent.

The beach is rocky, with some big rocks in the water, so it’s probably not the best beach for kids.

7. TROCADERO PLAYA

Trocadero Playa is part of an empire of beach resorts across Spain, but the one on the Golden Mile near Marbella is the original.

It’s the stalwart of the Marbella beach scene: an old-school chiringuito with heavy wooden furniture set around a mini oasis of palm trees.

Background club music plays all day, and there are various spaces to chill for a long afternoon.

The food is generally pretty good, but sometimes the restaurant is very busy, and the strain on the staff is obvious. Your best option is to go for the BBQ fish, which is expensive but cooked really well. Don’t expect anything very interesting on the side.

8. CHIRINGUITO PUENTE ROMANO

Puente Romano is another fancy beach club on the Golden Mile.

They serve excellent food with professional and attentive service. The highlight of the menu is the paella, which locals rave about. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can grab something to eat whenever you like throughout the day.

You’ll sometimes find live music at Puente Romano, but generally, there’s a local DJ playing to help you relax on deep Balinese sun beds.  

It’s a great choice if you’re happy to pay extra for a higher-end experience.

9. NIKKI BEACH MARBELLA

Nikki Beach is one of the most exclusive beach resorts in Marbella.

They have locations worldwide, but the Marbella Club is on one of the nicest stretches of sand in the area.  

There’s a swimming pool with a sundeck and luxurious sunbeds, a cool bar, and a boutique if you fancy a bit of shopping. Since Nikki kicked things off in 2003, the all-white décor has become the high-end Marbella beach club design staple.

Nikki Beach is the perfect venue if you’re looking for something a bit more exclusive. On weekends, the club is in full party mode.

NIKKI BEACH DETAILS

• Location: Nikki Beach is a 20-minute drive east of Marbella.
• Parking: Parking is provided at Nikki Beach. The location is marked on the map above.

10. AMÀRE

Amàre Beach Club is a popular bar on the promenade in the centre of Marbella.  

We really like the vibe of Amàre. Being so close to the town centre, it can get very busy, but you can order food at your sunbed via your phone while sitting back and soaking up the atmosphere.

The food is fairly standard Mediterranean cuisine, plus Pizza, Pasta, Sushi, and a few Asian dishes thrown in for good luck.

They feature local and international DJs every afternoon and regular live music events.

Amàre is a great choice if you want to spend the day at the beach and then stroll into Marbella Old Town for the evening.

AMÀRE DETAILS

• Location: Amàre is on the promenade at Marbella, just a few minutes’ walk from the old town.
• Parking: There is paid underground parking between the promenade and the old town.

11. LUUMA

Luuma is a beautiful beach bar with top-quality food, classy décor, and interesting spaces to hang out in.

It’s situated directly on El Rosario Beach, which has the highest quality sand in the area. So, the setting is perfect.

The restaurant has beautiful natural furnishings and plants dotted around several different spaces. The menu consists of very well-prepared classics and a few healthy options, all delivered with exceptional service.

Luuma is a great luxury choice if you want to spend a luxurious day on the beach in Marbella.

LUUMA DETAILS

• Sunbeds: €25.
• Location: Luuma is a 20-minute drive east of Marbella on El Rosario Beach.
• Parking: You can usually find parking on the streets behind Luuma.

12. BONO

Bono Beach is another club located on El Rosario. It’s the place for swanky party vibes with a resident DJ, all-day beats, and a layout made for socialising.

With many different spaces to hang out in, it’s a great place to meet friends and spend the day watching the sun go down over the Mediterranean.

Like most beach bars near Marbella, they describe the menu as Mediterranean / Asian fusion. Still, they have pretty much everything: burgers, curries, stir-fries, Mexican food, Sushi, you name it. It’s all beautifully presented and very tasty.

They have single sunbeds and double Bali beds for which you pay a small fortune.

BONO DETAILS

• Sun beds: €35 in peak season.
• Location: Bono Beach is a 20-minute drive east of Marbella.
• Parking: There is a parking lot, which is a 10-minute walk along the beach. Otherwise, you can normally find parking on the streets behind the beach.

13. SIROKO

Siroko is a cool wooden pavilion on Real de Zaragoza beach. It has a relaxed, friendly vibe and plenty of chill-out spaces.

It is a trendy beach bar for a stylish day out without costing a bomb.

Entertainment is a priority for Siroko, with a resident DJ and regular live music events. The weekend parties are well worth going to, and they’re open late during the summer months with regular events.

The food is also very good. As with many beach bars in Marbella, the menu is exhaustive, so no one should have trouble finding something to eat.

It’s our humble opinion that Siroko has one of the best cocktail lists on the coast.

Several relaxing places are available, including a terrace, a family garden, and sunbeds. The full menu can be ordered from anywhere.

SIROKO DETAILS

• Sunbeds: €18.
• Location: Siroko is a 20-minute drive from Marbella, just a few minutes along the beach from Bono.
• Parking: Your best bet is to try and find a park on the streets behind the beach.

BEST BEACH RESTAURANTS AROUND MARBELLA

We couldn’t put a guide together about beach bars in Marbella without mentioning the following places. They don’t have sunbeds to rent for the day, but they are both great restaurants in the area.

14. KALA KALUA

Kala Kalua is a great local restaurant with tables on the sand in San Pedro de Alcántara on the edge of Cortijo Blanco Beach.

The restaurant has been in the family since 1957, showing no signs of slowing down. If you arrive for Sunday lunch, you’ll have to wrestle with a long queue of local Spaniards trying to get in.

But if you can visit midweek, you’re in for a treat. Kala Kalua is traditional Andalusian cooking in a relaxed, welcoming venue.

Mark and I have been many times, and plonking down at a table with our feet in the sand is the best way to make us feel like we’ve left London well and truly behind.  

The service is fast and friendly, and the food is simple and tasty. The adobo is worth going for alone.

15. COMO PEZ EN EL AGUA

Como Pez en el Agua is a bright restaurant on a boardwalk overlooking the sea. It’s an absolute gem.

The views are amazing if you can sit outside on the boardwalk, directly overlooking the sea.  

But even if you need to sit inside, the food alone is worth it. We believe it is the best on the coast for the price.

It’s not a particularly flashy setting, but the food takes all the glory. The menu is innovative and well-presented. We’ve been five or six times, and everything we’ve tried was delicious.

The Gambas Pil Pil is quite possibly the best we’ve had in Spain.  

Como Pez en el Agua stays open throughout the year, so booking a table is a good idea, especially when the other chiringuitos are closed for the season.

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