Discover the Best Tapas Bars in Marbella

Marbella does food incredibly well, and while we love that Michelin chefs like Dani Garcia have put Spanish cuisine firmly at the top of 21st century modern menus, we still have so much love for traditional tapas. In fact, Marbella has some of the best tapas bars on the coast.

Tapas are the most sociable way of dining out with friends and family, and the buzzy atmosphere of tapas bars is infectious – you can’t help but have a good time.

So how do you eat tapas? You order a selection of small dishes – the name tapa means “cover”, as they were originally designed centuries ago, to place over a wine glass thereby keeping out unwanted dust and insects – and everyone tucks in. In this way, you can all try a wide variety of dishes – and even order a “repeat” of your favourite(s)!

Typical tapas include Jamón Ibérico (or preferably, ‘de bellota’ for the connoisseurs’), tortilla de patatas, delicious croquetas, and montaditos (small sandwiches), which may be simply presented or more sophisticated, depending on the style of the establishment.

Fish and seafood feature large on Marbella’s menus due to its Mediterranean location, and Spain’s top chefs have each had a hand in modernising some traditional favourites. Eating tapas on a terrace in Marbella old town is one of life’s pleasures.

Five of our favourite tapas bars in Marbella

The enchanting old town of Marbella, with its narrow, cobbled streets and leafy orange-tree square, is a great area to go out for tapas, although you can also find places near the marina and the vibrant urban centre favoured by locals.

One name which stands out with regards to eating out in Marbella is three-Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Dani Garcia, whose eateries can be found in New York, shortly Miami, Dubai, London and across Spain.

A native of the town, Dani has five establishments in the Marbella area, including seafood restaurant Lobito del Mar, and BiBo Supperclub at the legendary Puente Romano Beach Resort.

BiBo Supperclub

Bibo Dani Garcia ©

Located in the Puente Romano Beach Resort, the exclusive hotel that has been welcoming discerning travellers to Marbella since the 1970s, BiBo is one of star chef Dani Garcia’s five eateries in Marbella. BiBo offers original and creative gastronomic delights such as an oxtail brioche and a tangy chorizo, chipotle and quail’s egg brioche.

A high-end establishment, which has been plying innovative tapas since 2014, Bibo’s prices are logically higher than the other tapas bars listed here, but it’s worth a visit for the vanguard approach and chic décor, including spacious booths. In addition, a cabaret show plays nightly from 9.30pm in summer, and Thursday to Saturday in winter.

Address: Hotel Puente Romano, Av. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe
29602 Marbella, Málaga

Website: BiBo Supperclub

Taberna La Niña del Pisto

Taberna La Niña Del Pisto ©

With a relaxed, warm ambience – think exposed brick, wooden tables and low lighting – La Niña del Pisto has been beckoning diners for more than 20 years – lookout for the vibrant blue paintwork, a pretty tiled sign and tumbling potted plants outside. Inside, you sit at barrel tables with tall stools, as well as some regular tables.

This cosy Córdoban bar in Marbella’s old town, near Plaza de la Victoria, has an extensive menu that embraces familiar tapas such as fried eggplant with molasses (as recommended by Dani Garcia), croquettes, spinach with chickpeas, and Iberian pork cheeks, as well as the eponymous house speciality, pistou, a tasty vegetable stew of courgettes, aubergines, tomato, pepper, and onion, topped with a fried egg.

Address: Calle San Lázaro, 2, 29601 Marbella

Website: Taberna La Niña del Pisto Facebook

Taberna Casa Curro

Taberna Casa Curro ©

Taberna Casa Curro is a very popular, authentic tapas bar in Marbella old town, located close to Calle Nueva. While the specialities are prawns and lomo de Orzo (pork loin), also highly recommended are the chacinas (cured meats) such as jamón ibérico de bellota (acorn-fed Iberian ham), chorizo, and the beautifully presented cheese platters.

Open since 2007, its décor is typical for a tapas bar, with pretty ceramic tiles, and photos of traditional Andalucian events such as bullfighting and Semana Santa. You sit in high chairs or stand, either outside in the street at typical barrel tables (barrels sitting on their ends covered with table tops), rubbing elbows with the locals, or inside at the bar.

Address: Calle Pantaleon 7, 29601, Marbella

Website: Taberna Casa Curro

Bodegas La Venencia

Bodega La Venencia ©

As its name suggests, Bodegas La Venencia has a focus on wines – a venencia is a long-handled scoop-like instrument for sampling sherry straight from the barrel. Owner Pepe’s establishment, close to Playa de Venus, which opened here in 1994, has a bustling atmosphere, with the lively chat that you find in the best Marbella tapas bars.

Don’t miss the classic tapas – seafood salad is always popular, as is ensaladilla rusa (“Russian” potato salad), while in summer the locals swear by gazpacho (cold tomato soup).

Another favourite tapa is the montadito, a small grilled sandwich -.try tuna with red pepper, or the always-favoured serranito (pork fillet with pepper and ham). Order wines from the barrel – they have three types – fino and oloroso sherries, plus on-trend vermouth.

Address: Avenida Miguel Cano 15, 29602 Marbella

Website: Bodegas La Venencia

Casa Blanca Marbella

Casa Blanca Marbella ©

We love the façade of Casa Blanca Marbella, with its blue and white tiles announcing “Vinos Generosos” (sherries) and “Vermut de Grifo” (vermouth on tap), along with graphics of sevillano beer Cruzcampo. Choose from the spacious pavement terrace, or eat inside.

This buzzy, popular place, close to the Parque de la Alameda, is always full of locals. Try traditional small dishes such as ensaladilla rusa (potato salad) or salmorejo (thick chilled tomato soup). pepito (bread topped with grilled pork loin, jamón ibérico, and green pepper). They have a sister tapas bar in Puerto Banus, Casa Blanca Banus (Avenida de Julio Iglesias 5, 29660 Marbella).

Address: Avenida. Miguel Cano 1, 29602 Marbella

Website: Casa Blanca Marbella

If you’d like to spend your vacation in an exceptional villa close to Marbella old town, at Luxury Villa Collection we have a wide range of fabulous villas of all sizes – sleeping from 7 to 20 – within easy reach of excellent tapas bars in Marbella

If you fancy learning to make tapas yourself, we work with some expert chefs who’d love to come along to your villa to put on a demo, our concierge team would be happy to assist.

Fiona Flores Watson

Fiona is our local expert living in Seville, writing about life in Andalucia with all its foibles; exploring its hidden corners in cities and surrounding provinces, and finding out what makes it tick. She writes amusing tales if life an expat journalist mother with two bilingual children and a Spanish husband; helping them (and herself) to tread the path between two cultures, as an "anglo-andalusí".

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