An Iconic Resort on the Spanish Coast Is Better Than Ever at 70 – Here’s What It’s Like to Stay

pulling upwards Marbella Club Being with my family of four was like arriving at my grandmother’s house after a long day of travel. We were welcomed with open arms – even overtired kids – given refreshments and told to rest while everything was taken care of. Other than that, grandma has great taste and money to burn.

A member of the World’s Leading Hotel, the Marbella Club is one of Europe’s grand hotels, a British beach favorite for years, and is just beginning to be recognized by Americans as a worthy destination on par with the Amalfi Coast. and Mykonos. At least that’s what it seemed like to me: Nobody I talked to here before our trip had heard of it, and even though it was spring break in New York, they had almost no American accents when we arrived. But I suspect this open secret won’t last long, and the 70-year-old young resort is more than ready to expand its fame and appeal as a luxury beach destination outside of Italy or Greece.

While I’m not trying to pretend there aren’t any crowds, the atmosphere at Marbella Club is definitely different from other European enclaves where rich people frolic on the sand. Yes, you’ll want to pack your best kaftans and wedge espadrilles, and you won’t be able to help but notice the Loewe and Louis Vuitton stores in the entrance mall, but once you settle into the private, 10-acre wonderland, you’ll instantly feel at home. This is because the staff are really nice and go out of their way to make you (and your children, if you have any) feel at home.

This attitude dates back to the hotel’s beginnings as a coastal farm escape for Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, who converted the farm buildings into a clubhouse with rooms to host friends (consisting of royalty and celebrities) in 1953. More bungalows, gardens, and pools were added as more and more people sought an escape where they could really let their hair down.

Let’s fast forward to 2011, when the Shamoon family purchased the hotel. The hotel continued to expand and develop under the leadership of her daughter, Jennica Shamoon Toprak, who ensured that the family spirit of Marbella Club continued. It recently acquired adjacent land, which was gradually incorporated into the hotel through a five-year expansion plan.

The estate also ensured that Marbella Club is a place where all guests, especially families of all ages, can feel comfortable knowing that their every need and desire will be met. Every age group is catered for here, from baby items to baby care, an extensive kids’ club, an impressive wellness program, championship golf and backgammon in the cozy bar.

Our days here were spent floating between various pools and beaches, trying the many restaurants, and strolling through the magnificent botanical gardens that form the backdrop between the mountains and the Mediterranean. These gardens are filled with palm trees, olive trees, fig trees, dozens of tomato varieties, colorful bougainvilleas and drooping angel trumpet flowers, as well as fountains and painted tiles along terracotta-lined walkways and staircases.

When we needed some adult time, we sent the kids to the expansive kids’ club on Prince Alfonso’s property, visited the extraordinary Thalasso spa for thalassotherapy, or signed up for a private Pilates session because wellness was also our focus. Here. While family and wellness can sometimes seem like a contradiction, Marbella Club manages to do both exceptionally well.

Here is my review of Marbella Club.

rooms

When we first walked into our MC Suite, my kids squealed with excitement at the table full of welcome fruits and snacks, the doors to our large patio with lounge chairs, a sofa, a table with chairs, and the L-shaped sofa perfect for relaxing. Open. I shout out to the wrought-iron four-poster bed, extra-large marble bathroom with double sinks, a soaking tub, and a separate rain shower.

Since there were four of us, a baby crib was added to the living room, next to a crib with the cutest little plush flower rattle, without being too obstructive or obstructing the seating area.

The hotel has 132 rooms of various sizes and configurations, and many suites can be connected to a deluxe room for even more space. In addition to Junior, Garden and MC suites, there are also one-of-a-kind Unique Suites and Grand Suites, as well as several detached villas and bungalows.

Like mine, the palette is mostly neutral; It consists of plenty of rattan, linen, whitewashed wood and terracotta and is punctuated with botanical patterns. This being Andalusia, there are some Moorish shapes, hand-painted tiles and textured fabrics.

Food and Beverage

There are eight food and beverage outlets on the property, with El Patio at both its literal and figurative center. The courtyard restaurant has plenty of seating outside and inside depending on the weather and your mood. While the outside is livelier during the day, surrounded by hanging vines, lush plants and fragrant flowers, indoor dining is often accompanied by live music, while you can sit around the beautiful circular bar and browse the hotel’s many historic photographs. You can enjoy famous visitors from decades past or enjoy Mediterranean-inspired fare like Galician mussels with paprika and lemon and wood-fired lamb chops with pomegranate, coriander and horseradish.

There are two pools in the facility and each has its own restaurant. The beachside family pool is home to the lively Beach Club, which features a Miami-like coral and mint color palette, plenty of shell details, and palapa-style roofs. The menu is light, featuring a lengthy raw bar menu and plenty of seafood dishes, as well as entrees like gazpacho, zucchini salad, and fish tacos. Pair with fruity cocktails like piña colada or Minty Matcha.

Meanwhile, the quieter garden pool at the center of the resort features El Olivar, a health-focused patio area with a selection of juices, salads and bowls. If you’re on the beach MC Beach is typical Malaga chiriniguito – a seafood beach shack serving dishes like seafood paella, shrimp fritters and catch of the day. There are at least 12 pineapple and coconut cocktails, as well as numerous other drinks, from classics to Marbella Club creations.

The Grill is an upscale restaurant with required reservations, where the son of the property’s principal grill master is currently behind the fire. The outdoor patio is accented with decades-old candle drips, and we saw the most gorgeous rainbow the night we ate there. Choose from nearly a dozen cuts of beef, as well as lamb, veal, duck, fish and lobster thermidor.

After dinner, retreat to Rudi’s, the cozy hideaway where you can play backgammon by the fire, eat some tapas, and sip drinks like the Melon & Mint Martini or Kir Royale.

Activities and Experiences

In addition to the wide beach with cabanas, 3 outdoor pools meet swimming and sunbathing needs. For those looking for more active activities, there are tennis and padel courts, a pilates reformer studio offering private sessions, and a range of water sports rental options from SUP to bike surfing and eFoils, or you can rent the resort’s 65-metre sailboat.

The property recently expanded into the adjacent lot that now houses Finca Ana Maria. Over the next five years, the aim is to nurture 10 different gardens on the property, including an acacia labyrinth, a storytelling tree and a mandala-shaped garden with more than 300 varieties of fruits and vegetables. For now it’s a nice place for a walk, full of wild rabbits and plenty of plants.

This is also where the resort’s newest pool, for ages 16 and up, is located. Guests can book two new culinary experiences here: The Tomato Experience, where ecologist and field manager Alejandro Orioli will take guests through 100 heritage tomato varieties, followed by a tomato-inspired tasting menu.

Guests can also use the Marbella Club Equestrian Center and the Dave Thomas-designed 18-hole golf course off campus.

Spa

Technically, there is a fourth pool on the property: an indoor thalassotherapy pool filled with mineral-rich seawater. My husband and I enjoyed trying out the different underwater massagers with jets, waterfalls, and bubbles in the pool before our couple’s massage in one of the romantic, dimly lit treatment rooms.

But the wellness program here goes beyond just the spa, with a variety of holistic wellness programs on offer, including fitness and personal training assessments; one-on-one pilates, aerial yoga and meditation sessions; and even a nutritional component if desired, a health-focused private chef is available for personalized menus.

Family Friendly Offers

It’s refreshing to be in a stylish, iconic and unashamedly family resort that doesn’t compromise on either end of the age spectrum. Marbella Club’s kids’ club is legendary, and for good reason. The 53,000-square-foot kids’ club is not only huge, but located inside the original owner’s expansive villa, has multiple rooms for a variety of ages and activities (like an art studio, puzzle and game room, and aroma workshop) and has tons of premium layouts. The open space includes everything from a treehouse to a suspension bridge to a pool – OK, I guess we’re up to five pools then?

Programming includes everything from gardening to cooking to science experiments to creating your own scent. The kids’ club has a private room (adult supervision required), provides all the baby supplies you can think of, and also looks after the smallest set, including two hours of babysitting a day. (Yes, this is how my husband and I went to the spa!)

Accessibility and Sustainability

This spacious facility is suitable for walking. However, staff will gladly take guests anywhere by golf cart. There are two private rooms accessible; others can be adapted with guardrails and ramps on request.

In March 2024 Marbella Club achieved respectable success Butterfly Sign certification from Positive Luxury following a three-year process led by sustainability director Leigh Barrett. Examples of sustainability initiatives include a transition to 100 percent renewable energy, leading to a 64 percent reduction in carbon emissions from 2022 to 2023; food waste reduction programs; and a partnership with local marine biodiversity foundation FAMM to support a project aimed at protecting native seahorse populations and promoting the rewilding of the Andalusian coast.

Location

Marbella Club is located in the heart of the luxury area of ​​the city, between La Concha mountain and the Mediterranean Sea, and is approximately 10 minutes’ drive from Marbella Old Town. It also has direct access to the Marbella promenade, a 7.5-mile seaside boardwalk that runs along the beach and is ideal for walking, jogging or cycling.

It is between two airports: Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport, one of Spain’s largest airports, is a 40-minute drive to the east, while Gibraltar International Airport is about an hour to the southwest.