What to do in Marbella Old Town, Spain

Recently, we spent a few days in Marbesa (a small beach town/residential area just outside Marbella).  I’m a big fan of winter sun, so we managed to get away for a few days over the October Half Term.  The weather was incredible, and we spent a few days on the beach. However, on a cooler day, we decided to head into Marbella Old Town to explore, and it was such a fun experience.  We definitely made the most of the day and explored quite a bit, so read on to see what we got up to and what I’d recommend for spending a day in Marbella Old Town.

How to get to Marbella Old Town

From us in Marbesa, Marbella Old Town was about a 20-minute drive away, so we organised a taxi (you could also use Uber and Bolt, which are both very well known in Spain).  But to get there from further afield, you will need to fly into Malaga airport, and it is then about a 45-minute drive or taxi ride along the coast.

Where to stay in Marbella Old Town

As already mentioned, we were staying 20 minutes up the coast in Marbesa, but if you would rather base yourself in Marbella, then there are plenty of options.  Whether you like the hotel life or prefer your own apartment, there are plenty of accommodation options in Marbella Old Town.  There are some beautiful boutique hotels in the centre of the Old Town, such as La Clé Boutique Hotel, La Fonda Heritage Luxury Hotel, or, if you prefer something closer to the beach, with a sea view, you could opt for Ona Princesa Playa or the Amàre Beach Hotel.  In terms of apartments, you could choose from a beautiful boutique apartment in a secluded square in the Old Town or a modern beachfront apartment with a rooftop pool – there really is something for everyone.

Where to Eat in Marbella Old Town

We love tapas, so we were very keen to find a tapas bar – the kind of place the locals go to and not too touristy.  I was very excited to try Taberna la Niña del Pisto, having heard amazing things about it through my research.  Unfortunately, it was closed on Sundays, which is when we visited, so we had to rethink. We decided to head to another Tapas Bar, not too far away, a bit closer to the beach.  It was called Casa Blanca, and I have to say I was a little bit sceptical, as looking at the website, there were quite a few restaurants from the same company.  I was worried it might be a bit of a tourist trap, but we decided to give it a go.  When we got there, we found an empty table outside easily (not always a great sign), but we must’ve arrived there just at the right moment, as suddenly every table was taken up with local people getting ready for their Sunday lunch!

We started with a traditional glass of Vermut (vermouth) – a throwback to our days spent in Madrid, when we used to bar crawl Calle Cava Baja, and everyone’s favourite stop was the Vermuteria.  We then ordered a selection of dishes for the table. In Spain, I always order the tomatoes; they just taste differently from those in England. They usually come with a drizzle of oil, some salt and maybe some herbs, and they just taste divine.  I could eat a whole plate for lunch and be very happy!  We got some Jamón Iberico and some Manchego with almonds, which the kids devoured.  We also got the patatas bravas, bacalao croquetas, and a fabulous goat’s cheese salad.  All washed down with a delicious glass of Rioja, we left full and satisfied.  And from the queue down the street, as we left, it’s a very popular spot (they don’t accept bookings), so if you’re in town, get there early!

For dinner, I’d picked The Farm as I’d heard amazing things about the food.  It was all organic and a twist on traditional tapas with some interesting flavours.  The other bonus was that they do a dinner flamenco show a couple of times a week, so we booked in for this.

We arrived and were shown to a beautiful table outside in a courtyard, and then the dancing started.  On a balcony above us, the two dancers performed such a beautiful routine, we all loved it, but Nellie was absolutely spellbound.  As soon as they took a break, she was asking when they were coming back.  They danced throughout the night on and off all around the restaurant, and it really was spectacular.

And onto the food, now you might think that a set menu on a flamenco evening would be tourist fodder food but it was absolutely delicious.  I had an apricot and houmous salad to start, followed by duck confit, and the others tried various things, including sardines, steak and roasted pumpkin stuffed with toasted quinoa.  It really was an impressive meal and not at all the boring set menu I was expecting.  Not expensive either at €42 for 3 courses.  They also offer à la carte and tasting menus for nights when the flamenco is not on, but on flamenco nights, you have to choose from the set menu.

Some other restaurants that come highly recommended, but that we didn’t get a chance to visit are:

Casanis Bistrot – set in a 150-year-old country house, it serves authentic Mediterranean food often accompanied by traditional music.  I love the way the restaurant spills out onto the streets and would love to relax over dinner with a glass of wine, watching the evening hustle and bustle of the Old Town from my pavement table.

If you want to go high-end, you can’t go wrong with one of Dani Garcia’s restaurants.  From Lobito de Mar (traditional fish and seafood) to Lena (steakhouse) to Tragabuches (local Andalucian specialities) to La Cabane (a high-end beach club), there is something for everyone.

A more traditional option would be Tapeo Perita – a local bar that offers a wide range of tapas dishes, and as a bonus, it does all-day service!  A real plus when you’re hungry in the afternoon and lots of the restaurants are closed (they often shut between lunch and dinner service for siesta time, so it can be challenging to find anywhere open between about 3 and 6 pm.

And if you’re looking for a nice Rioja or Ribera del Duero, then head to Primeria Selection Wine Bar for some tapas washed down with a great bottle of wine.

If you want to head a bit further afield to Marbesa, I can also highly recommend Moosa Bay and Simbad Restaurant, both of which we tried and were extremely impressed with.

What to do in Marbella Old Town

Marbella Old Town is such a charming place with cobbled streets, whitewashed walls, a castle, a church, parks, and so much more.  There is plenty to occupy you for a day, so read on for some recommendations.

• Wander around the old cobbled streets – one of my favourite things to do in a new place is just walk around.  I like to get a bit lost and just head down any street that takes my fancy – you always end up coming across a hidden gem. Marbella has numerous cobbled streets, all of which are so picturesque.  Most of them are lined with blue buckets or pots, set up high on the walls, overflowing with red carnations.  Calle Carmen is the most famous street for this, but actually, they pop up all over the Old Town.  If you don’t feel comfortable finding your own way around town, you could also go on an organised walking tour of the Old Town to see the sights with a local.

  

  

  

  Head up to Plaza de la Iglesia and pop into the stunning Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnacion, a beautiful church open to visitors most days.  The interior is absolutely breathtaking with gilted statues and intricate carvings.  The square outside is very peaceful too, and a lovely place to take a well-earned break.

  

  

  

  People watch in Plaza de los Naranjas – The Orange Square is the largest square in town and a hub for various activities.  When we visited, they had started to put up the Christmas lights, and two enormous fairylight-lit angels dominated the square.  It’s a great place to grab a coffee or a juice, but due to its location, it can be quite a tourist trap, so the food here can be a bit pricey.  Best to just enjoy a drink and head elsewhere for cheaper, better food options.
• Spend some time in the shade – Marbella Old Town has 2 main parks, Parque de la Alameda and Parque de la Represa. Parque de Alameda lies between the Old Town and the beach and is an oasis from the heat of the streets.  It is full of tropical plants and fountains, and you can even take a horse and carriage ride there. Parque de la Represa lies to the east of the Old Town and has two large ponds/lakes with plenty of wildlife, and also a children’s play area complete with climbing frames and swings.
• See the castle – the castle dates back to around the 9th Century, but there is not much of it left now. You can’t enter inside, and it is protected, but you can wander around the exterior and take a look at the formidable walls that remain standing and in quite good condition, even today.

  

  

  Have a cocktail in a little square. Or a Rioja if that’s more your thing.  We found a lovely little square with a few different bars in it and enjoyed a glass of wine before dinner.  We had a lovely drink in Plaza Altamirano at a cute restaurant called Bar Guerra, and it was a nice, quiet little spot, perfect for relaxing and enjoying an aperitif.
• Share some tapas – or you could go on a tapas food tour to be shown the best spots by a local.
• Eat freshly cooked seafood from a chiringuito (beach bar/restaurant) – you can see the open fires and the fish, skewered on sticks, cooking in the flames.  The perfect chargrilled, fresh meal for an authentic taste.
• Walk along the promenade (Paseo Maritimo).  Stretch your legs and walk the promenade (the street between the beach and the town). Grab a gelato on the seafront or stop at a café for a coffee.

  

• Watch some Flamenco – either at The Farm or at the Tablao Flamenco Marbella, which is a Flamenco theatre.  You won’t be disappointed, it truly is an incredibly moving experience.
• Spend some time on the water  – Being right on the beach, you could spend a few hours on the water with maybe a dolphin watching trip or a sunset champagne cruise or even a stand-up paddleboard sunset trip.
• Walk the Golden Mile – this is the walk between Marbella Old Town and the very glitzy Puerto Banus (the port/marina).  You simply follow the Paseo Maritimo, the promenade next to the beach, all the way (walking West), but be warned, it’s definitely more than a mile – in fact, it’s about 7km.  You pass the beautiful Marbella lighthouse and get great views of Gibraltar and even the African coastline from various spots along the walk.  Once there, grab a drink or some food in Puerto Banus and people/yacht watch in the marina.  You can then either walk back, get a bus or taxi or even catch the Fly Blue catamaran back to Marbella Old Town, which takes about 20 minutes.

  

  

  So that’s my guide to what to do in Marbella Old Town.  As always, let me know if I’ve missed any hidden gems in the comments so I can add them to my list for next time!  I think it’s going to end up being an annual trip!!

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