Glamour, prestige, elegance and incredible luxury villas – The iconic Golden Mile in Marbella stands out as one of Spain’s most glamorous destinations.
With the beachside avenue at its heart, this pristine corner of Marbella remains one of Europe’s most desirable destinations for luxury travel. Exquisite rental homes are dotted within exclusive gated residential areas that have long been a glittering destination of choice for elite travellers, royalty and famous faces.
It was Prince Hohenlohe who truly put the Golden Mile on the map. Back when it was just olive groves and pine forests near the small beach town of Marbella, Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg fell in love with the area and built a summer home where he entertained his noble relatives and A-list friends.
This charming sea-view estate later evolved into the extraordinary Marbella Club, opening as a hotel in 1954. Soon enough, the area became the place to be in the Mediterranean. The exclusive villas and opulent residences led to the area being given its dazzling moniker of The Golden Mile.
Our curated collection of villas to rent on Golden Mile villas now appeal to discerning families, winter sun-seekers and the world’s elite summer travellers.
Where does Marbella’s Golden Mile start and finish?
From the slopes of the unmistakeable ‘La Concha’ mountain peak of the Sierra Blanca, to the shores of the sea, the Golden Mile is a collection of elite residential areas either side of the tree-lined avenue that connects central Marbella with its luxury marina, Puerto Banús.
The distance is actually a little over 4 miles (7 kilometres), passing some of the most desirable real estate in Spain, including the Royal Palace of the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, and some of the coast’s highest ranking places to dine out.
The route dates back millennia, with a Roman road originally running along the coast here. A Roman bridge from those times still survives, giving its name to the Puente Romano Beach Resort, where it now forms part of the resort’s lush gardens adjacent to Villa Tenang.
Today the Golden Mile begins on the edge of Marbella, and runs west to Puerto Banus, that hosts not only some of the world’s most remarkable superyachts but is also home to an impressive collection of high-end glamorous luxury boutiques.
Golden Mile to Puerto Banus – by boat or by foot
The Golden Mile offers some of Marbella’s most beautiful beaches, with a shoreline promenade, the Paseo Maritimo, that is perfect for leisurely golden hour strolls, or a relaxing bike ride.
To enjoy a truly fresh perspective of Marbella’s most desirable neighbourhood, you should take to the water. You can take on of the regular ‘catamaran taxi’ sailings or our Guest Experience Team can help you book an exclusive yacht charter from Marbella’s Puerto Deportivo marina to Puerto Banus.
From the sea you can take in unforgettable sights like the coastline of North Africa to the south, or the iconic mountain of La Concha that shelters Marbella, providing its legendary micro climate. If you’re lucky, playful dolphins will accompany the boat, diving and jumping amongst the waves.
Golden Mile things to do
© Six Senses Spa Marbella
The Golden Mile embodies the privileged Marbella good life, with active pursuits for sun-drenched days, and the pleasures of a refined world of luxury shopping, culture, upscale dining, and exclusive nightlife.
Lovers of art should visit the extraordinary collection of Latin American art at the Ralli Museum, which also shows pieces by Joan Miró and Salvador Dali. Then in Puerto Banus, the Twisted Art Gallery of contemporary and modern art, has a collection curated by Dylan King and Kevin Simpson, including works by Banksy.
For the energetic, live life to the full with a wealth of water sports from jet ski, electric hydrofoil to the exhilaration of flyboarding.
Then to rest those weary muscles, turn to the experts at Six Senses Spa Marbella, the only Six Senses on mainland Spain.
For radiant retail therapy, Puerto Banus is strengthening its position as one of the Mediterranean’s best destinations of luxury boutiques, with a new flagship Fendi boutique and even more fabulous fashion from some of the most coveted maisons, including Chanel and Dior.
Our favourite restaurants on the Marbella Golden Mile
© Leña Restaurant Dani Garcia Marbella
The Golden Mile is the epicentre of Marbella’s glamorous dining scene, with restaurants from award-winning Andalusian Chef Dani Garcia including Atelier and his grill house, Leña, recently voted world’s most beautiful restaurant, serving the best Chateaubriand and Tomahawk steaks.
Nearby, Villa Tiberio is a Marbella institution, offering classic Italian cuisine in a magical setting of sub-tropical gardens decorated with extravagant sculptures and fountains.
Nota Blu offers fine contemporary French cuisine, a seductive garden terrace and a speakeasy-style bar. Choose the Sole Miso Meunière or a classic entrecôte with Café de Paris sauce. For timeless elegance, there is Cipriani Marbella with signature dishes from the legendary Harry’s Bar in Venice, including Carpaccio “alla Cipriani”.
For lively nights out, COYA never disappoints, with its immersive dining experience and dishes of seafood ceviche, mouth-watering fish tiraditos as well as wagyu beef. Or for the most captivating dinner show, head for Mamzel at Finca Besaya, and for late night shenanigans in style, it has to be the Olivia Valere, the most famous night spot in town.
must-visit bars & places to be seen after-dark
© Rudi’s Bar Marbella Club
Whether a pre-dinner aperitif, an evening of tapas and drinks, or for late night cocktails, the Golden Mile is also home to the best bars in town.
Rudi’s is the classic choice, in Marbella Club. This elegant homage to the cherished Count Rudi, who was the hotel’s first GM, is the place for a glass of champagne before dinner.
To raise the volume, head for La Plaza at Puente Romano Beach Resort, for a lively drinks scene, sipping signature cocktails like the ‘Great Gatsby’ with Grey Goose vodka, or a rum-based ‘Hemingway’ accompanied by live DJs and light bites ‘till late.
For sundowners and golden hour aperitifs, the beach is the place. Try the stylish little beach bar chiringuitos like Trocadero Petit Playa or the charming Besaya Beach. For people watching, then Puerto Banús should be your port of call, with a visit to Sinatra’s Bar for a classic negroni or sparkling G&T.
Laze on the beach or by the pool at a private beach club
© La Cabane, Marbella
Sun, sea, and style will define your Golden Mile experience, and there are few better places to be immersed in the affluent lifestyle of the coast than at a shimmering pool or beach club.
A short drive from the Golden Mile, our newest favorite is La Cabane Marbella in Los Monteros was the very first luxury beach and pool club to open on the coast. Now completely renovated and re-imagined in collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana, La Cabane is welcoming a new generation for a refined and elegant experience including Dani Garcia cuisine.
More beach club bliss can be found at Ocean Club over in Puerto Banus, probably the most famous of Marbella’s sun-kissed hangouts. Set close to the beach, Ocean Club is legendary, with iconic circular day beds, one of the best selections of champagne, and a lively DJ scene that sets the tone for your best summer.
Fendi has also come to Marbella, with its summer pop-up at Puente Romano Beach Resort. With vibrant colours, prints, and emblematic stripes reflecting the iconic collections of the fashion house, expect a delectable menu of sea food and cocktails inspired by Fendi.
Golden Mile shopping – Designer Labels & Luxury Boutiques
We are eagerly awaiting the opening of Marbella Forum. This once emblematic destination is set to be reimagined as a boutique luxury shopping centre, opposite Marbella Club and Puente Romano Beach Resort.
These leading hotels are also home to seasonal pop-up boutiques as well as new brands to Spain, including Baindoux for colourful terry cotton jackets and bomber jackets for women and men, and Orlebar Brown, the Brit brand that draws inspiration from Slim Aaron´s iconic pictures of the Costa del Sol and the French Riviera during the 60s.
Puerto Banús, with its flagship El Corte Ingles department store, and quayside boutiques is renowned for exclusive brands like Bvlgari, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Hermes, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, and Versace.
The Golden Mile is also the epicentre of good taste for interiors and architectural design studios. To the west, El Restro showcases Italian furniture design by the Baxter brand, while to the east, closer to Marbella, the Pedro Peña Interior Design store is amongst the finest and best known in the city.
Golf courses near the Golden Mile
© Las Brisas Golf Club, Marbella
Marbella is a garden city on the shores of the Mediterranean, with its urban areas surrounded by greenery, from sub-tropical gardens and sculpture parks to even an arboretum.
Close to Puerto Banús at the western end of the Golden Mile is the Nueva Andalucia Golf Valley, an upscale residential area that has a number of the region’s best golf clubs, including the renowned Las Brisas Golf Club, Magna Golf Marbella, and Aloha Golf Club.
Understandably, the coast here is also known as the Costa del Golf, as it is said to be home to almost 70 clubs. So, while staying on the Golden Mile, you’re always close to the fairways and greens of Marbella’s best clubs.
Where is the New Golden Mile?
The New Golden Mile, or Nueva Milla de Oro as it is known in Spanish, is a sparkling new residential area that has emerged further west along from the original Golden Mile.
Starting west of San Pedro Alcantara to the seaside resort town of Estepona, this 15-kilometre stretch of coastal real estate includes some of Spain’s most exclusive communities, including Guadalmina Baja, and inland to the privileged enclave of Benahavis. Here we’re offering classic villas as well as new high-specification villas that are truly world-class.
Specialists in tailored luxury villa rentals on the Golden Mile
When it comes to finding your Marbella villa rental on the Golden Mile, our handpicked collections include exclusive properties that you just don’t come across every day, but then, this is home to some of Spain’s most expensive beachfront estates.
The Luxury Villa Collection has homes throughout Marbella, from beachside, right up to the panoramic setting of Sierra Blanca and Cascada de Camojan.
We choose homes that perfectly complement different travel- and lifestyles, whether you seek the perfect sea view villa within walking distance of the beaches, a high-tech modern pad, or maybe a home full of Andalusian character, embodying Marbella’s vintage golden age.
Just take a look at our curated villa collections and make your next stay with your loved ones on the Golden Mile truly unforgettable.
Andrew Forbes
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