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Boasting some of the liveliest beach bars and restaurants in Spain, Marbella, Estepona and Mijas-Costa are blessed with three superb fine dining restaurants by the sea. Namely, El Oceano Hotel, near Miraflores Beach, The Beach House, Elviria, and the wonderful Tikitano Beach Restaurant.
Don´t get me wrong. The average beachside chiringuito, selling fresh fish, salads and jugs of sangria to grateful tourists and locals, is a great place to relax and enjoy a cheap and cheerful lunch (well cheap ain´t exactly the operative word these days but … I digress), but if you are looking for something a bit more special, fine dining beach restaurants are few and far between.
El Oceano Hotel, Miraflores Beach, Mijas-Costa
El Oceano Hotel, situated on the beach side of Miraflores, Mijas-Costa, first became famous, or quite famous, when I first came to Spain in the late 80´s. Heavyweight boxer Frank Bruno, trained there and Ronnie (him of the London gold heist) was married there. It was a great place then, but offered nothing like the luxury and elegance it does today.
Privately owned, El Oceano Beach Hotel is an oasis of laid-back luxury, and boasts 40 beautiful rooms and ocean-front mini-suites with stunning views over the Mediterranean. El Oceano studios also offer guests self-catering facilities and south facing terraces.
The hotel is open to non-residents and it´s famous water-front terrace attracts visitors from far and wide looking for excellent food and a luxurious setting. Live music is also a regular feature at the Oceano, especially in summer, and you will be hard pushed to find a better place to celebrate a special occasion. The bar and lounge areas are comfortable, elegantly furnished and well equipped for large parties.
Another welcome addition to El Oceano is the Ocean Spar, offering guests an indoor heated pool, a Jacuzzi, a swim-spa and steam room. Also featuring El Oceano Treatment Centre, where highly qualified hairdressers and nail technicians are on hand to provide some luxurious treatments. Imagine being pampered while sipping a cocktail with the waves lapping the shore in front of you.
El Oceano Lunch Menu includes delicious, light meals including: Spicy Thai fishcakes with mango chutney and spicy pickle garnish (a personal favourite), Chicken tikka skewer with mint yogurt and poppadum, Spinach, cream cheese, avocado and tomato relish wrap or warm goat´s cheese and bacon salad with an olive oil dressing. Main courses include: Fish and Chips with chunky chips, peas and tartare sauce, (go on, I dare you), Butterfly king prawns with spaghetti aglio olio, and Seafood pasta bake with salmon, shrimps, mussels and clams. The fillet steak and home made steak burger are also excellent. Also offering a superb wine list and ample parking.
Sunday lunch is one of the most popular days to dine at El Oceano, and the menu is superb. For €32.50 per person for three courses and €25 per person for two courses, a good choice of starter dishes includes: Caesar salad, home made chicken liver pate, oven-baked creamed spinach, and always a wonderful home made soup.
Main courses include a fabulous Fillet of beef with glazed vegetables and Yorkshire pudding, grilled rosada with hot oil and an authentic Indian tandoori curry. Menu is subject to change, but I am reliably informed that the beef fillet is always available!! The a la carte menu includes such specialities as foie gras, rack of lamb with herb crust and herby mash and oven-roasted crispy duck with orange and mandarin sauce.
The food and location at El Oceano is unbeatable. If you are staying in Marbella or Puerto Banus, the hotel is only 15 minutes drive away. Check out their website for directions, or spend a night in one of the hotel´s fabulous suites.
Telephone: (0034) 952 587550
Website: www.oceanohotel.com
Contact: info@oceanohotel.com
Tikitano Beach Restaurant, Estepona
Tikitano Beach Restaurant is a legend in its own lunchtime, so to speak. Combining simple ideas with quality ingredients and an innovative chef, Tikitano offers exciting, frequently changing menus and original dishes.
I have dined in many top restaurants on the Costa del Sol over the past 15 years, and Tikitano is one of the best. Situated right beside the beach, overlooking the Mediterranean, which is ideal if you are with the kids, this fabulous restaurant attracts visitors from all over the Costa del Sol, and is just 15 minute´s drive away from Puerto Banus and Marbella, in the direction of Estepona.
The food is exquisite. Cold starters include such delights as: Asparagus salad with tuna sashimi, marinated salmon with avocado vinaigrette, basil risotto with forest mushrooms, open ravioli of scallops with white truffle sauce and chilled tomato soup with langoustines and ginger. You will find dishes on the menu at Tikitano that you won´t find anywhere else, and that is the beauty of this innovative restaurant. Keeping with the ocean background, superb fish dishes offered include: Sea bass with champagne sauce, Turbot in a pan crust with tarragon sauce, and cod with pepper sauce. If you are a meat eater, there is no need to feel left out, as the choice of carnivorous offerings is excellent. T-bone steak with chimmichurri is a personal favourite, along with roast duck and mustard grain sauce. If you fancy something lighter at lunchtime, try the wonderful Lobster with spaghettini salad and ceps, summer salad with fruits, fresh fish and langoustine or tartar of salmon with potato rosti and crème fraiche.
And now for the desserts. If you have room, you won´t be disappointed. I find many beach restaurants in Spain are let down by their dessert menu. So many offer various ice creams, flan and fresh fruit which may be adequate, but hardly tempts the tastebuds.
Try the sumptuous cinnamon parfait with caramelized pineapple, the quark dumplings with ragout of plums or the chocolate chartreuse with warm cherries. Wow!!! Find directions to Tikitano from the website. It is easy to get to, and offers ample parking by the beach.
Telephone: (0034) 952 79 2820
Website: www.tikitano.net
Contact: info@tikitano.net
The Beach House, Elviria, Marbella
Of all the beach restaurants we have visited on the Costa del Sol, The Beach House is probably our favourite. Situated literally on the sand of Elviria´s golden beach, this family-run restaurant offers diners exquisite cuisine in a stunning location.
We have enjoyed days out here in winter and in summer, and the live music on Saturday afternoons is brilliant. Whether you fancy a special night out on the beach or a light lunch, The Beach House will cater to your every whim.
Guy and Lucy run the restaurant, and you are always guaranteed a warm welcome and excellent service. It is the small touches that make the Beach House so special for me, and of course, the superb food.
We normally order a couple of G and T´s while we peruse the menu, and they arrive, stacked with ice and a small jug of fresh lime juice on the side. A range of breads are offered along with herby cream cheese to nibble at.
Last time we visited The Beach House, we only wanted a light lunch as we were dining out in the evening (well we thought we were until that second bottle of white wine scuppered those plans by the end of lunchtime).
We ordered three starters to share, including: The superb large prawns teriyaki with lime and chilli sauce on a ginger and bean sprout salad. These were, without a doubt, the most delicious king prawns I have ever eaten, not only in Spain but anywhere in the world. We also enjoyed a delicious chicken Caesar salad, which was served in an edible parmesan lattice basket, and included grilled chicken, croutons, marinated boquerones and crisp lettuce. The real piéce de resistance came with the fresh tuna niçoise salad, which included a beautifully cooked tuna steak (pink in the middle) on top of a wonderful salad of baby potatoes, French beans, cherry tomatoes and a superb home made dressing.
The desserts are wonderful and home made. I am reliably informed that the lemon tart is second to none, and the fresh berry brulée which I enjoyed over a year ago at The Beach House still sticks in the memory as being one of the most exquisite desserts I have ever tasted.
The food, the wine, the ambience combines to make the whole Beach House experience a thoroughly enjoyable one. Whether you are looking to celebrate a birthday, any special occasion or simply want to dine out in style and enjoy the best food on the Costa del Sol, The Beach House will not disappoint.
Telephone: (0034) 952 839 458
Website: www.thebeachhousemarbella.com
Contact: info@thebeachhousemarbella.com
None of the above restaurants are cheap, but they don´t profess to be. What they can offer is true value for money in some of the most amazing locations you will find in Andalucia.
Tags: About Andalucia, Malaga, Restaurants
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