Hotels Above Par
Issue No. 1429 May, 2026
Hotels Above Par

DON CARLOS MARBELLA

Marbella’s Most Familiar Address Welcomes Their New Chapter

Inside Don Carlos Marbella, reworked—pairing fresh, Mediterranean design, locally driven cuisine, their Rafa Nadal Tennis Center offering elite, academy-led training, and a Marbella guide from someone who knows it best.

THE DESIGN

Restoring a Marbella Original

By Ruby Gregg

THE DESIGN

When a Spanish landmark like Don Carlos Marbella undergoes a transformation, the biggest risk is losing its character to a sea of uninspired hotel luxury—a feat that takes precision, patience, and design expertise. To avoid falling into the generic trap, the property looked to Jaime Beriestain, a Chilean interior designer and architect known for his mastery of soulful renovations.

What came to life is a bridge between the hotel’s 1969 heritage and current high-design. Beriestain treated the project as a heartfelt tribute to Marbella’s golden age, swapping cold, corporate surfaces for a palette of cream and coral. He softened the building's bold geometric lines with tactile Andalusian textures like natural raffia, local stone, and warm woods.

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Rather than imposing a new identity, Beriestain works with the building’s existing character. The reimagined lobby is designed to open toward the surrounding gardens, allowing natural light to shape the space.
The residential-style suites echo this intention, pairing custom furniture with wallpapers inspired by traditional Spanish shawls—a nod to the 1960s when the hotel first became a sanctuary for the world’s most stylish travelers.

Beyond their core tones, the design captures the shifting Mediterranean light through shimmering sands and aquatic blues, with the residences grounded in a soft palette that adds warmth to their generous proportions.
Jaime Beriestain brought Marbella’s original spirit back into focus at Don Carlos Marbella, with a lighter, more contemporary touch.

SPORT & WELLNESS

Courtside on the Costa del Sol



Don Carlos Marbella transcends the typical Mediterranean hotel experience—it’s a dedicated sports and wellness sanctuary anchored by the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center, the legendary Spaniard’s first outpost in mainland Spain. Here, guests get the rare chance to train under the exact methodology used at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.

The Center is grounded in a holistic approach to the sport, prioritizing the same technical, tactical, and mental development used by the pros. This structured methodology brings a new level of intention to the hotel, allowing guests to engage with the game in an elevated way. While it’s rare for a hotel to center its identity around sport, the integration here feels entirely natural—blending elite training with the relaxed, lifestyle-driven spirit of Marbella. Beyond its tennis offering, the complex also includes two padel courts, extending the racquet-sport experience in line with the region’s broader sporting culture.

Framing it all is Break Point, the social heart of the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center. An easygoing café-bar with a distinctly Mediterranean feel, it’s where players drift in between sessions to reset over coffee, smoothies, and light, nourishing bites. A big screen keeps the day’s matches in constant view, while the atmosphere naturally lends itself to conversation—an informal meeting point where recovery, energy, and community quietly overlap.



The Center’s most striking physical asset remains its clay courts, framed by uninterrupted Mediterranean views where the coastal backdrop rivals the training itself. Wingfield technology introduces a subtle analytical edge, while integrated fitness and recovery spaces extend the experience well beyond the baseline. That sense of balance carries through to the Don Carlos SPA, where post-session recovery becomes part of the ritual—most notably through sport-focused treatments like targeted massages included in select tennis packages. With an intentionally relaxed atmosphere, the program avoids the rigidity of a traditional training camp, instead offering a cadence of structured sessions and private lessons that keep the game both elevated and approachable.

“Our tennis program stands out for combining world-class facilities within a 5-star resort setting with the unique philosophy and energy inspired by Rafael Nadal,” says Head Coach Yohan Dalies. “At the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center, players experience high-performance training in an exceptional environment, where attention to detail, passion for the game, and a true ‘Rafa’ spirit create a unique and memorable tennis experience.”

By harmonizing elite athletic progression with an authentic sense of Andalusian luxury, Don Carlos Marbella has established itself as the premier destination for active travelers who refuse to choose between world-class training and the Mediterranean.

THE GASTRONOMY

Flavors of the Andalusian Coast

THE DESIGN

The culinary selections at Don Carlos Marbella seamlessly align with the rhythm of a day spent basking in the Andalusian sun and sea—breakfast with tropical gardens as a backdrop, lunch and cocktails by the pool, and dinner overlooking the sea—making it hard to justify ever leaving the property for a single meal. As the hotel itself puts it, “From sunrise to sunset, every moment is a feast.”

The gastronomic direction is rooted in Andalusian tradition, which is brought to life by Chef Francisco Zafra Collado, who reinterprets classic recipes with his four guiding principles: the finest produce, a deep connection to the land, technical mastery, and providing an exceptional culinary experience for guests. Drawing on what is grown and caught in southern Spain, the kitchen works with seasonal ingredients to let flavor and technique lead each dish. The result is a coherent and beautifully varied cuisine—an immersive taste of Andalusia communicated through bites like chilled gazpacho, freshly-caught Mediterranean fish, and decadent finishes of olive oil and citrus—making each plate feel homegrown.

The property is home to eight restaurants and bars in total, including five operated in-house and three distinct partnership concepts that expand its culinary reach. Among the newest is Manero Marbella, a multi-concept venue spanning a bar, bistro, and terrace, bringing a dynamic, all-day dining energy to the property, alongside beachside staples like Lucia and Nikki Beach. Los Naranjos remains the gastronomic heart of Don Carlos Marbella, opening each morning for garden-side breakfasts shaped by sea breeze and birdsong. By evening, the setting turns warm and refined, with views across tropical gardens to the Mediterranean framing a menu that reinterprets Andalusian tradition with quiet modernity. Alongside it, Oasis Kitchen offers an ingredient-driven approach to mindful dining, while Sol & Sombra overlooks the main pool and brings a contemporary take on Mediterranean cuisine, defined by seasonal local produce, market-fresh fish, and shareable dishes.

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Wherever you find yourself across Don Carlos Marbella’s gastronomy spaces, expect to be immersed in a setting designed for unhurried meals and long conversation over local dishes and well-crafted cocktails.

SHOW ME YOUR CITY

Managing Director Jorge Manzur’s Guide to Marbella

SHOW ME YOUR CITY

For Managing Director Jorge Manzur, leading the reimagined Don Carlos Marbella is about honoring the coast’s storied heritage. After steering a multi-year transformation of the legendary estate, Manzur understands that the Mediterranean’s true allure lies in the intersection of high-design elegance and local authenticity. Below, the seasoned hotelier and wellness advocate steps away from the lush hideaway hotel to share his expert guide to the Costa del Sol. From tucked-away coffee shops, to local independent stores you can’t miss, this is the only Marbella guide worth reading.

Jorge Manzur’s Top Marbella Recommendations
“Marbella is an incredible place—it takes a little time to truly understand it, but once you do, it’s very hard to leave. It’s a wonderful place to live, to enjoy life, and to invest. Marbella has a way of captivating with its culture, atmosphere, variety, and location, creating a lasting pull for anyone who comes close to it.”

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Where To Eat
“I don’t have just one favorite restaurant, I have many. I always choose depending on my mood. But if I had to recommend one, I’d always say Casa Curro, right in the center of Marbella. For lovers of wine and great food, it’s a relaxed, unpretentious spot where you can have a truly lovely time.”

“The restaurant near Don Carlos Marbella that I really enjoy is Tony’s. It’s right by the sea, with excellent service and fantastic fish. I love the atmosphere—and having a chilled rosé at sunset… even better if you have a cigar with you.”

“For gourmet provisions, Madre Mía Delicatessen stands out for its selective range of fine cheeses, wines, and champagnes.”

Where To Drink
“When it comes to coffee shops, I have to say the best one I know is inside Don Carlos Marbella — Oasis Kitchen. Their organic coffee and infusions are truly special. You should definitely seek them out.”

Where To Shop
"As for independent shops, without a doubt, my top choice in Marbella is D’ OLIVA—a gourmet olive oil and wine shop that you’ll fall in love with. There you can find some of the finest olive oils in Spain, along with wines that might surprise you.”

A direct seasonal United flight from Newark to Málaga, operating May through mid-September, makes reaching Marbella easier than ever for U.S. travelers—offering even more reason to experience Don Carlos Marbella’s reimagined blend of sport, wellness, and Mediterranean design firsthand.

By Ruby Gregg

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