
The Costa Del Sol has long had a reputation for attracting Britons looking for sea, sand, and fun in the sun without breaking the bank.
But that’s all set to change as the Costa Del Sol is on the cusp of entering a whole new era thanks to its Michelin-starred restaurants and high-end hotels.
Want to enjoy a taste of high-end luxury on your next visit to the Costa Del Sol? Here are some of the most luxurious and decadent attractions that you can enjoy on your next visit to the Costa Del Sol:
Where To Eat
Marbella is the most well-known destination in the Costa Del Sol but the region stretches between La Linea in the southwest to Nerja, just beyond Málaga, in the east. But Marbella has also earnt something of a bad reputation thanks to package holidays and its popularity with stars of the TV show The Only Way Is Essex.
But a new breed of chefs and restaurateurs are playing an important role in shaking off that reputation:
La Polaca - Located in Marbella you’ll have to walk to find this understated restaurant. Wander narrow streets and pass typical white washed buildings until you find La Polaca. A low key restaurant with a vintage feel, La Polaca is popular with both locals and local students but it offers some of the best tapas in Marbella. The mushroom croquetas and tender carillada (braised beef stew) are particularly worthy of note. And this is just the start of a culinary revolution in the region.
Balausta – Another highly regarded tapas restaurant, the dishes here are expertly crafted by Michelin-starred chef Jose Carlos Garcia. This chic restaurant is located inside the Palacio Solecio hotel, which should also be considered a spot of luxury for your list.
The Edge - This is a beautiful looking restaurant located inside the El Fuerte hotel in Malaga. It has a menu designed by star Catalan chef Paco Pérez, famed for his double Michelin-starred restaurants in Barcelona and the Costa Brava.
It’s worth noting that these are just 2 of a selection of incredible restaurants in the area. The Costa Del Sol now boasts a whopping 8 Michelin starred restaurants.
Where To Stay
It’s not just the food scene in the Costa Del Sol that’s changing. When both Google and Citibank opened large new offices in Malaga they attracted an international workforce and high end international hotels followed. Some of the best of these are:
El Fuerte – This isn’t actually a new hotel. Instead it’s a historic 1950s stalwart on the seafront in Marbella that has recently gained five-star status after a €30 million makeover. And that 5 star rating is deserved. This is a beautiful hotel!
La Zambra - This is a spa hotel located in the Sierra de Mijas mountains. It sits on the edge of a golf course and was reopened in 2022 following an extensive redesign. The spa here is excellent and the hotel is also well known for the quality of its cuisine. Some of the best features of the hotel include its curved whitewashed walls, reflecting decorative pools with Moorish tiling, and cypress-filled gardens.
What To Do
It doesn’t matter whether you’re enjoying a budget break, or a high-end luxury break, one of the very best things to do in the Costa Del Sol is to spend time on one of the region’s many beautiful beaches. And a beach day is a great leveler: we’re all swimming in the same sea, after all! But away from the beach, there is a huge selection of high-end things to see and do in the Costa Del Sol
Puerto Banus – Drive just 20 minutes southwest of Marbella and you’ll find the chic village of Puerto Banus. It’s yacht filled marina is popular with boating enthusiasts and the boutique-filled streets are perfect for a spot of designer shopping.
Shopping in Marbella – If you want to splash the cash then in Marbella you’ll find branches of Chanel and Dior as well as the local branch of El Corte Ingles – Spain’s major department store chain . A nod to just how high end this store is is that it has its own heliport as well as a high-end personal shopping service.
Museo Picasso Malaga – Malaga was Picasso’s birthplace and his childhood home has been turned into a fascinating, elegant museum. This is part of the Costa Del Sol’s bid to attract guests year-round with seasonless attractions and is a wonderful place to explore in the region.
So are budget travelers and party animals no longer welcome in the Costa Del Sol? Not at all! According to Antonio Diaz of the Costa del Sol Tourist Board: “We want quality instead of quantity. We don’t necessarily want to banish those who want to party the night away, but the two types of tourism can co-exist.”
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