From Our Kitchen

Three generations of a family setting a long wooden table on a sunny winter terrace above Marbella, with La Concha mountain and the sea behind

4 November 2026

Sunday Lunch at Home in Marbella: Paella Delivery for Groups

Sunday lunch for 8 or 20 at home in Marbella, with nobody stuck in the kitchen: what to buy on Saturday, timing, which paella to order and what it costs.

A white Marbella taxi with its green roof light parked on a palm-lined seafront promenade at golden hour, a couple checking a phone beside a suitcase, La Concha mountain behind

3 November 2026

Getting Around Marbella: Taxi, Uber, Bolt or a Private Driver?

Official 2026 taxi fares, how Uber, Bolt and Cabify really work on the coast, airport transfers, buses and when a private driver is worth it — Marbella transport, explained.

A sunny Christmas lunch on a villa terrace above Marbella: grilled prawns, jamón ibérico, manchego, bread, cava and a poinsettia, with the sea behind

30 October 2026

Christmas in Marbella: What Expats Actually Eat (and Where to Find It)

Prawns on the 24th, turkey on the 25th, grapes at midnight and roscón on the 6th: how Christmas food really works in Marbella, and how expats mix both.

Friends lingering at a long table on a villa terrace after a Spanish lunch, with an empty paella pan, coffee cups and small glasses of sweet wine

28 October 2026

The Art of Sobremesa: How to Eat Like a Spaniard

Sobremesa is the hour after lunch when nobody leaves the table. What it means, the rules of eating like a Spaniard, and where to try it around Marbella.

A late lunch of rabo de toro, jamón, bread and red wine on a terrace in Ronda, with the El Tajo gorge and the Puente Nuevo bridge in the background

26 October 2026

Day Trip to Ronda from Marbella: What to Eat There (and When)

Oxtail stew by the bullring, churros on the main street, yemas del Tajo to take home: a food-first plan for a Ronda day trip from Marbella, hour by hour.

Two suitcases and a straw bag by the open wooden door of a whitewashed Marbella holiday villa, bougainvillea, a swimming pool and the mountains behind

16 October 2026

Villa Survival Guide: Your First 24 Hours in a Marbella Holiday Rental

What to ask your host, what to check before unpacking, the Sunday supermarket trap and the first-night dinner problem — a practical guide to arriving at a Marbella villa.

Olive harvest in the hills inland from Marbella — a basket of fresh green and purple olives on harvest nets under an old olive tree, white village and mountains behind

14 October 2026

Olive Oil Tour from Marbella: Visiting the Local Almazaras

Five olive mills within two hours of Marbella, from a village museum in Ojén to a Philippe Starck almazara in Ronda — plus how to taste, what to buy and when to go.

A flamenco dancer in a red dress turning on a wooden stage in a whitewashed Andalusian village courtyard at night, guitarist and singer seated beside her

12 October 2026

Flamenco in Marbella: Where to See a Real Show (and How to Tell the Difference)

Every hotel concierge sells a flamenco night. A local's guide to the best flamenco shows in Marbella and Málaga — tablao, peña or festival — and how to spot the real thing.

A corporate team gathered around a paella cooking over a wood fire on a finca terrace in the hills above Marbella

9 October 2026

Team Building on the Costa del Sol: Why Cooking Together Beats Karting

Karting, regattas, canyoning, city games or a paella over a wood fire? An honest comparison of team building activities on the Costa del Sol — and what actually brings a team together.

The Finca in Ojén at golden hour — olive trees and Sierra de las Nieves behind, the mountains where Málaga's local wines are made

8 October 2026

Málaga Wines 101: Why You Should Drink Local in Marbella

Every restaurant on the coast pushes Rioja. Meanwhile, some of Spain's most interesting wines are made 40 minutes away. A chef's guide to Málaga's two wine denominations, what to drink, where to taste it, and how to pair it with paella.

Fresh seafood paella in a paellera — the kind of dish that starts at a Marbella food market with morning-caught fish

10 August 2026

Marbella Food & Fish Markets: A Chef's Guide

The 5 Marbella food markets a local chef actually uses: where to buy fresh fish from the Alborán Sea, KM0 vegetables and cured meats. Days, opening hours and tips.

Espetos de sardinas grilling over olive wood embers in a beach barca on the Marbella coast at sunset

17 July 2026

What to Eat in Marbella: A Food Lover's Guide

Málaga has its own cuisine — sardines grilled on canes, fried anchovies, cold almond soup, and rice cooked over fire. A chef's guide to the eight dishes you actually need to try in Marbella, and where to eat each one properly.

Puente Nuevo bridge over the El Tajo gorge in Ronda at golden hour — the iconic day trip from Marbella

15 July 2026

12 Best Day Trips from Marbella: Tours, Drives & Where to Eat

Twelve day trips from Marbella, from a 15-minute drive to Ojén to Granada, Seville, Gibraltar and Tangier — drive times, guided day tours vs. driving yourself, the best places to stop and the best plates to order.

Andalusian country finca terrace at golden hour with a long dinner table set for an evening under the mountains

13 July 2026

Best Things to Do in Marbella at Night: A Local Guide to the Spanish Evening

Forget the top-10 club listicles. A local chef's guide to how a Marbella night actually flows — sunset chiringuitos, Puente Romano before dinner, late Spanish tables, dinner-shows that turn into clubs, and the private-villa option nobody talks about.

Andalusian villa terrace at dusk set up for a private event with long dining table and Mediterranean garden

10 July 2026

How to Plan a Private Event at a Rented Villa in Marbella

You rented a villa and want to host a birthday, hen do, or family celebration. Here's the honest step-by-step: rental contract clauses, Spanish noise laws, booking timelines, catering options, and realistic budgets.

View from inside a cosy Spanish café looking out at rain-slicked cobblestone streets in Marbella Old Town with churros and coffee on the table

1 July 2026

What to Do in Marbella When It Rains: A Local's Rainy Day Guide

Rain in Marbella is rare — about 45 days a year — but when it arrives, most tourists freeze. Here's what locals actually do: markets, museums, hammams, long lunches, and the villa move nobody thinks of.

Mediterranean outdoor table set with gift-wrapped experience cards at golden hour with olive trees and sea view on the Costa del Sol

29 June 2026

Best Experience Gifts in Marbella: From Cooking Classes to Private Chefs

The best gifts on the Costa del Sol aren't wrapped — they're lived. From olive oil tastings and horseback rides on the beach to a private paella class in the hills, here are the experience gifts worth giving.

Festive outdoor table setup for a large group celebration at a Mediterranean villa with warm evening light

26 June 2026

The "Day-After" Wedding Brunch: How to Feed 30 Hungover Guests

The morning after a Marbella destination wedding, you need to feed 30 scattered, hungover guests one last time. Restaurants can't handle it. Hotel buffets feel wrong. Here's what actually works.

Large group dinner at a Mediterranean villa with seafood paella on a long rustic table at golden hour

24 June 2026

Planning a Group Dinner at Your Marbella Villa: The Complete Guide

Feeding 15 to 50 people at a holiday villa is a different game from a cosy dinner for eight. This guide covers the logistics nobody warns you about — and the one option that actually scales.

Cosy restaurant terrace in Marbella old town with string lights and locals dining at wooden tables

22 June 2026

Hidden Gem Restaurants in Marbella: Where Locals Actually Eat

Forget the Michelin guides and the Instagram hotspots. These are the neighbourhood restaurants, family chiringuitos, and mountain ventas that Marbella locals keep to themselves — honest food, honest prices, no reservations needed (mostly).

Group of friends gathered around an outdoor table in an Andalusian garden at golden hour

19 June 2026

Best Things to Do in a Group in Marbella: From 4 Friends to 40

Planning activities for a group in Marbella? From catamaran cruises to mountain canyoning and private cooking experiences, here are the things that actually work when you need to keep everyone happy.

Family cycling along a coastal path in Marbella with Mediterranean sea and palm trees

17 June 2026

Marbella with Kids: 10 Activities That Don't Involve a Screen

Forget the iPad. From coastal cycling to holding baby crocodiles, here are 10 screen-free activities in Marbella that kids actually love — tested by families who live here.

Hikers on a scenic mountain trail above Marbella with Mediterranean sea views

17 June 2026

Best Nature & Outdoor Activities in Marbella: A Local's Guide

Marbella has mountains, canyons, Roman baths, and a UNESCO National Park — all within 30 minutes of the beach. Here are the best outdoor activities that most visitors never discover.

Friends celebrating a birthday with experience gifts on a Mediterranean terrace near Marbella

15 June 2026

Best Birthday Gift Ideas in Marbella: Experiences Worth Giving

Forget the scented candle. The best birthday gifts in Marbella are the ones you can't wrap — a sunset sail, a flamenco show, cooking paella over open fire in the hills. Here are the experience gifts worth giving.

Hidden courtyard with bougainvillea in Marbella old town, morning light

14 June 2026

Best Hidden Gems in Marbella: 10 Spots Tourists Always Miss

The best of Marbella isn't on the beachfront promenade. From a tapas bar unchanged since 1954 to natural pools in the mountains, here are the spots that locals keep to themselves.

Family walking along a coastal path in Marbella with Mediterranean sea views

14 June 2026

Best Things to Do as a Family in Marbella

Marbella with kids doesn't have to mean waterparks and mini-golf. From mountain cooking classes to wild beach adventures, here's everything worth doing as a family — tested by locals.

River canyon with natural rock pools in the mountains near Marbella, Andalusia

14 June 2026

Unusual Things to Do in Marbella: Beyond Beach Clubs

Marbella is more than champagne brunch and sun loungers. From canyoning in a river gorge to cooking over fire at a mountain finca, here are the experiences that break the mould.

Candlelit dinner table on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean in Marbella at sunset

13 June 2026

Best Romantic Restaurants in Marbella: 10 Places Worth Dressing Up For

From a two-Michelin-star tasting menu in a cobblestoned alley to a barefoot seafood dinner on the sand — the ten restaurants in Marbella that actually deserve a date night. Organised by mood, not by algorithm.

Traditional Spanish breakfast with churros, hot chocolate, and tostada con tomate at an outdoor café in Marbella old town

12 June 2026

Authentic Spanish Breakfast in Marbella: Best Churros & Tostada Spots

Skip the avocado toast. The best breakfast in Marbella is a tostada con tomate at a market bar or churros dipped in thick chocolate at a churrería that's been open since 1941. Here's where locals actually eat in the morning.

Narrow cobblestone street in Marbella old town with tapas bars and bougainvillea at golden hour

10 June 2026

Tapas Crawl in Old Town Marbella: A Foodie Walking Tour

Forget the tourist menus. This self-guided tapas crawl through Marbella's Casco Antiguo takes you to five bars the locals actually use — with insider tips on what to order, when to go, and how to eat like a Spaniard.

Group of women celebrating a hen party on a Mediterranean terrace with sangria and sea views at golden hour

8 June 2026

Marbella Hen Do Guide: A Classy Weekend Plan

Planning a Marbella hen do or hen weekend? A local's day-by-day plan: beach clubs, Old Town tapas, a paella afternoon at a hillside finca and the nightlife that's actually worth it.

Outdoor dinner table set for guests at a Mediterranean villa with pool and string lights at dusk

5 June 2026

How to Host a Dinner Party in Your Holiday Villa (Without the Stress)

You rented a gorgeous villa with a pool and a terrace. Now 12 people expect dinner. Here's your honest guide to pulling it off — from DIY survival tips to the option nobody tells you about.

Seafood paella in a traditional paellera with Mediterranean sea view

3 June 2026

Best Paella in Marbella: A Local Chef's Honest Guide

Skip the tourist traps. A third-generation chef shares where to find the best paella in Marbella — five beachfront spots, insider tips, and one secret experience you won't find on Google.

Panoramic view of Ojén village nestled in the hills above Marbella, Costa del Sol

3 June 2026

Best Things to Do in Ojén, Spain: A Local's Guide Near Marbella

Ojén is 20 minutes from Marbella and a world away from the beach. Churros at a village bar, caves with panoramic views, hikes to La Concha, a UNESCO National Park, and a cooking class at a mountain finca. Here's everything worth doing.

Couple cooking paella together over open fire on a Mediterranean terrace near Marbella

3 June 2026

Romantic Day in Marbella: Beyond the Restaurant

Forget the prix fixe dinner. The most romantic thing you can do in Marbella happens in daylight — a coastal walk, a hidden beach, cooking together over open fire. Here's how to plan the perfect day.