Editor’s picks
The team’s picks
The places we’d send our own guests to first — the ones that never miss across eat, drink, beach and beyond.
Our pickEstepona
Café de Theresa
A welcoming café on Estepona's Avenida San Lorenzo, serving healthy, homemade breakfasts, fresh salads, wraps and pastries. Organic coffee and tea anchor a menu rich in vegetarian and vegan options, with a relaxed outdoor terrace. An easy, light-filled spot for a morning coffee or unhurried lunch.
Dining
Our pickNerja
Cala del Cañuelo
A secluded pebble cove tucked into the cliffs of the Maro-Cerro Gordo Natural Park, where clear, sheltered water turns over a rocky seabed that rewards snorkellers and divers. Reaching it means leaving the car at the top and taking the seasonal shuttle down, which keeps the crowds thin and the setting wild. Best for couples and small groups after a quiet, unspoilt day by the sea.
Beachfront · View · Casual
Our pickCasares
CLUB DE GOLF FINCA CORTESIN — Casares
One of the most decorated golf venues on the Costa del Sol, set in the hills above Casares on a parkland championship course designed by Cabell Robinson. Wide fairways, mature planting and sweeping coastal views define the layout, which has staged the Solheim Cup and Volvo World Match Play. A polished, tranquil setting for serious golfers and resort guests alike.
Quiet · Design
Our pickMarbella
Dune Beach Marbella – Natural Elegance on the Sand
Created by the team behind Ocean Club, Dune sits among the protected dunes of El Rosario east of Marbella, with a boho-chic look of blond timber pergolas, cactus and sub-tropical planting. The kitchen explores Eastern Mediterranean flavours across lunch and drinks by the sea. Calmer and more design-led than its sibling, it suits couples and groups seeking natural elegance.
Pool · Sunset · Drinks
Our pickMarbella
Elements Gym
A results-driven training facility on Calle Chipre in San Pedro de Alcántara, set across spacious industrial-style spaces fitted with serious strength equipment. The focus is one-to-one coaching, structured transformation programmes and body composition, with recovery touches like sauna and ice baths. It suits committed individuals who want measurable progress rather than a casual workout.
Quiet · Design
Our pickEstepona
Ikigai Food for Life
A bright, health-led café on Avenida España in Estepona, set almost on the beach with deck chairs, parasols and open sea views. The kitchen draws on Asian and Scandinavian influences, with vibrant bowls, fresh juices and vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options made from organic produce. A relaxed, restorative spot for breakfast, brunch or a light lunch by the water.
Quiet · Design
Our pickMálaga
Kelipé Centro de Arte Flamenco — Málaga
A small, fiercely authentic tablao in the historic centre near Plaza de la Constitución, where a handful of singers, guitarists and dancers perform in an intimate room. The roughly 90-minute recitals are pure flamenco rather than tourist spectacle, shaped by the energy in the room. Best for couples and culture-seekers.
Lively · Dining
Our pickMarbella
La Plage Casanis
Created by the Casanis group, this refined beach club sits on the sands of El Rosario in Elviria, just east of Marbella. Beachfront sunbeds, Balinese beds and a VIP lounge frame fresh Mediterranean cooking with international touches, with DJs scoring long lunches and sunset cocktails. The blend of relaxed beach and elevated dining suits couples and groups.
Pool · Sunset · Drinks
Our pickMijas
Mirador del Paseo de la Muralla — Mijas
A shaded clifftop walkway tracing the old Arab fortress walls of Mijas Pueblo, with sweeping panoramas across the Costa del Sol to the Mediterranean. Year-round flowering gardens and a tall illuminated stone waterfall line the path, making it a favourite for an unhurried stroll and sunset views above the white village.
View · Quiet · Casual
Our pickMarbella
NAO Pool Club
A tropical pool club tucked into Nueva Andalucía minutes from Puerto Banús, NAO surrounds two pools with lush gardens, Balinese day beds and an open terrace. Daily DJ sets, sushi and grilled sharing plates set a hedonistic but stylish tone. Its hippie-chic dress code and largely adult crowd make it a draw for groups and couples.
Pool · Sunset · Drinks
Our pickMarbella
Playa Padre
A bohemian-chic beach club on the sand east of Marbella, Playa Padre is known for its photogenic, palm-shaded design and a kitchen blending Mediterranean and Mexican flavours, from gourmet tacos to ceviches. International DJs and deep-house Sundays give it a festive, cosmopolitan energy. A strong pick for groups and couples who want music with their day on the beach.
Pool · Sunset · Drinks
Our pickMarbella
Purosushi — Marbella
An intimate Japanese counter inside the Puente Romano resort, devoted to omakase precision and handcrafted nigiri, sashimi and robata. Just twelve seats face the chefs, who prepare each course with quiet skill, alongside a more relaxed à la carte lounge. A considered choice for couples drawn to fine Japanese dining.
Dining
Our pickMarbella
Rachel's Eco love
A serene plant-based kitchen tucked inside the Puente Romano resort on the Golden Mile, with a sunny terrace bordered by its own kitchen garden. Mornings bring organic grain bowls, avocado toast and vegan pastries, drawing a wellness-minded crowd that lingers over a slow, healthy brunch.
Dining · Quiet
Our pickMarbella
Starlite Marbella
Open-air summer festival in the Cantera de Nagüeles quarry, with headline concerts most nights through July and August.
Lively · View
Our pickMálaga
Teatro Cervantes — Culture in Málaga
Málaga's grand 19th-century theatre, opened in 1870 and crowned by a celebrated painted ceiling depicting the city's trades and seafaring life. Beautifully restored, it stages a wide-ranging programme of opera, ballet, drama, flamenco, jazz and concerts, and remains the cultural heart of the old town for an elegant evening out.
Lively · Dining
Our pickEstepona
The BRO's Kitchen
A lively Estepona kitchen with an inventive Asian-fusion menu spanning rice bowls, woks, curries and burgers. The mood is relaxed and friendly, with a terrace and a strong local following built on generous, well-priced plates. A dependable, easygoing choice for families and groups.
Dining
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