Marbella in May

Your guide to the Costa del Sol this May May is the month the coast properly wakes up. Beach clubs reopen, restaurant terraces fill out and the evenings start to feel like summer. If you're here or…

Your guide to the Costa del Sol this May

May is the month the coast properly wakes up. Beach clubs reopen, restaurant terraces fill out and the evenings start to feel like summer. If you're here or planning to be here's what's worth knowing about.

BEACH CLUBS

La Sala by the Sea — Opening 1st May

La Sala Beach returns on 1 May with a complete renovation. One of the most established names on the Marbella beach scene comes back this season looking noticeably different the bones are the same but the whole space has been reworked. It's one of the more anticipated openings of the month.

Ocean Club — Roaring 20s Opening Party, 1st May

Ocean Club kicks off the season on 1 May with a Roaring 20s themed opening party. Expect a well-dressed crowd, serious production values and the kind of energy that sets the tone for the months ahead.

Playa Padre — Sunday Sessions

Playa Padre's Sunday Sessions remain one of the most consistent draws on the coast. Good food, the right soundtrack and a beach setting that's hard to argue with every Sunday throughout the season.

La Siesta, Puerto Banús — Sundown Sessions

A more relaxed alternative for the late afternoon. La Siesta is well-positioned in Puerto Banús and works well as a first stop before the evening progresses.

DINING

Marbella's dining scene has become one of the strongest on the Mediterranean. Two venues in particular stand out not just for individual restaurants but for the concentration of world-class names they've brought together.

Puente Romano Beach Resort — Golden Mile

Puente Romano is the benchmark for dining on the Golden Mile. The resort has assembled a line up of international names that would be impressive in any major city.

Nobu The globally recognised Japanese Peruvian concept. Precise, consistent and always worth booking. One of the most popular tables on the coast.

Leña Wood-fire and charcoal cooking from Marbella born chef Dani García. Exceptional meat, serious produce and a menu built around live-fire technique. Book ahead.

Cipriani The Venice born institution, now in its ninth decade. Classic Italian carpaccio, handmade pasta, risotto delivered with the kind of consistency the name is built on.

Le Petite Maison The newest arrival at Puente Romano. The French Mediterranean concept from Nice, with outposts in London, Dubai and Hong Kong, brings shared plates and south of France flavours to the resort this season.

The Forum — Golden Mile

Just along the Golden Mile, the Forum is a well-rounded dining complex that has become a reliable destination in its own right a strong selection of restaurants in a setting that's easy to return to throughout the season.

Cilo Modern Mediterranean cooking with a seasonal, produce led menu. A local favourite that has built a loyal following for good reason.

Florentine Classic Italian done well. Pasta, antipasti, wood fired dishes, reliable, unfussy and one of the easier bookings in the area for groups.

Our May Calendar

1 May
La Sala by the Sea is back unveiling its new makeover.

Ocean Club opening in style with a spectacular Roaring ’20s themed party, setting the tone for a glamorous season ahead in Marbella.

1–4 May
First May bank holiday weekend. Expect full beach clubs, busy restaurants, and strong energy across Marbella. The season starts properly here.

21 May
REVE Festival in La Campana featuring HUGEL, a midweek date that brings a more festival-style crowd into Marbella.

22 May

Max & Luke Dean take the stage in the Marbella Arena.

23 May
LoveJuice at Mogli Marbella a highenergy, UK-led event that will draw a younger crowd.

24 May

NAO Pool Club’s Vanity Black Party, one of Marbella’s most exclusive nightime events.

There’s a brief window in May where everything feels perfectly balanced, warm enough for long nights, busy enough to have energy, but not yet at full summer intensity. It’s the calm before peak season, and arguably one of the best times to be on the coast.