Marbella’s Old Town has some seriously stylish bohemian bars, cutting edge restaurants and elegant and eclectic shops.
At first glance Marbella’s Old Town – the Casco Antiguo – might seem to be just another quaint tourist favourite. There are the usual narrow streets that are home to souvenir shops, ‘typical restaurants’ advertising jugs of sangria while proudly displaying photos of the menu and, that millennial malaise, pop-up shops with the latest accessories for your mobile. Including inflatable halo lights to give that all important selfie, with the aforementioned jug of sangria or bucket of beers, that professional look.
Looks, however, can be deceptive. Marbella’s Old Town has much more to offer, including some seriously stylish boutique hotels, bohemian bars, cutting edge restaurants and elegant and eclectic shops.
Thirty years ago, if you had predicted that Marbella would be a gastronomic destination, you would have been laughed off your table. Marbella may have been many things, but in terms of dining it was very much a rural restaurant backwater.
Stand out restaurants in the Old Town include Zozoï, located just off Plaza Altamirano, a few blocks away from the main church square. A beautiful and stylish location, with a wonderful conservatory style terrace at the rear and an atmospheric patio in the front, the talented kitchen team believes that “fresh is best”.
Busy and bohemian, The Farm prides itself on what it calls ‘honest food’. Located on the same square as Zozoï, The Farm really is a hidden gem, as the modest façade of the converted town house opens up to a large interior patio overlooked by a terrace. Describing itself as an ‘urban beach bar’ The Farm also hosts regular events including live bands, DJs, craft fairs and workshops. It also champions slow food, at km “0”, organic, transparency and creativity with the aim of creating a vibrant and warm environment where you can enjoy life. It is certainly a different vibe!
A perennial favourite and picture postcard pretty, Casanis is a Mediterranean-style bistro restaurant with influences from French and Belgian cuisine. Located in a beautifully renovated two-story house, the ground floor houses a beautiful central patio, with an old water well that works perfectly, a cosy dining room and a terrace in the middle of Calle Ancha. The upper floor has high ceilings adorned with wooden beams, a rustic fireplace that contrasts with the walls painted with tropical motifs, the work of local artist Aldo Gigli.
If you fancy a lighter bite, then La Polaca is a must. Friendly and funky, La Poloca is possibly the most eccentric bar in Marbella. The décor in this intimate venue is brilliantly eclectic, with vintage advertisements from the 50 and 60s, model car collections, old radios, kitsch flamenco photographs and even an old coin arcade game. La Polaca also hosts live Vinyl DJ sessions, and enjoying a drink and a tapa on the upstairs terrace on a summer night is highly recommended
If you want a more traditional tapas experience, then El Estrecho is the place to go for a more traditional experince. Located down a narrow street just off a plaza featuring a bust of Marbella’s much missed aristocrat Don Jamie de Mora y Aragon, El Estrecho has been serving authentic and outstanding tapas since 1954. Needless to say, they know what they are doing and the bar is popular with residents and tourists who obviously can’t believe their luck in finding this award-winning tapas bar!
The Old Town isn’t just about food and drink. The streets are also home to several unique business. Vintage Déjà Vu, run by husband-and-wife team Rich and Amanda Zizzi, has been specialising in hard to find and beautiful items for over two decades. From designer clothing to accessories, interior design items to paintings and art prints, Vintage Déjà Vu is a brilliant place to find that ‘out of the ordinary’ item with class and style!
D·OLIVA is a family business that has selected a comprehensive collection of some of the best extra virgin olive oils in Spain, with many winning national and international awards. There is literally a world of olive oil waiting to be discovered – with a fantastic range of flavours that include Black Truffle, Wasabi and even ‘Marbella in Flower’. Many come in funky packaging (check out Malapipa) making great gifts. D·OLIVA also stocks a range of olive pastes and olive oil based cosmetics.
Take a walk around Marbella’s Old Town and you will discover that many of the neglected buildings are being given a new lease of life and turned into superb new restaurants, hotels and boutiques. The heart of Old Marbella is beating once again.
