Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club

Hotel review

What a joy to discover a luxury resort that eschews the usual model of cringeworthy evening entertainment and everyone-join-in pool activities (which you can often find in this neck of the woods) in order to provide an elegant and refined five-star property that exudes sophistication and style at every turn. Owned by Iconic Hotels and Resorts, a group with serious pedigree that includes the stunning Cliveden and Chewton Glen in the UK, you imagine that you’ll be in for something pretty special, and Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club delivers in spades.

This property was opened about a year ago (August 2025), and the building appears to draw inspiration from the region’s Moorish ancestry. You enter a cavernous reception area with soaring ceilings and elegant furnishings that give you a teaser for what’s in store throughout the wider property; the colour scheme is soft terracotta, sage and cream with lots of leaf prints to complement the greenery both inside and out. Head up a flight of steps, and you discover a gorgeous plant-filled courtyard that is exactly what you’d find in a smart Moroccan riad, with rooms leading off.

The bedrooms and suites are well proportioned with immensely comfy beds and beautiful décor; think more of that relaxing palette complemented with Arabic-inspired art and plenty of wood. The marble bathrooms are vast with excellent walk-in showers, huge soaking tubs and his-and-hers sinks. All enjoy either garden, pool or sea views and the best boast either a balcony or patio, some even come with a private pool or hot tub.

But in this part of the world it’s really all about outside living and enjoying the beach. The grounds may not be vast, but the gardens are lush and superbly maintained and include four different pools — one adults-only that’s a particularly nice spot to while away the afternoon with a good book, and one family one with a kids’ pool right alongside.

If you want to hit the beach, it’s a short (five-minute) stroll down the road to the hotel’s own beach club, Amù Beach Club. And for many, this is where the magic happens! It’s a cool spot with plenty of cabanas and loungers both on the sand and beside the fabulous infinity pool where the chill-out tunes are the ideal backdrop to a day of idling in the sun. Down here you’ll also find the Amù Restaurant, which serves delicious Mediterranean fare in a relaxed seafront setting. It’s open for lunch and early dinners too. It’s also where the DJs set up shop for a fun start to the night ahead and the ideal place for sundowners.

Dining back up at the hotel is equally impressive; the garden bar is the perfect spot for a tapas-style lunch, while come evening its lawns are the setting for some spectacular food. Don’t miss the Malaga-style tuna or the Iberian Pork Pluma!

The final feather in Gran Marbella Resort’s cap (and the reason why many come here, I’m sure) is its Champneys Spa. It’s located down at the beach club and is an oasis of calm where you can indulge in the thermal circuit, which includes a hydrotherapy pool, relaxation pool, cold plunge, sauna, hammam and much more. You have to book your session here (two-hour slots are allocated), not because you have to pay if you are a guest, but simply to ensure that you get the right level of attention! This also means that you won’t feel crowded out at any moment. It goes without saying that they also have an endless list of signature treatments plus a gym and a yoga studio.

My overriding impression of Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club is that it’s a really classy joint! The staff are friendly, helpful and everything you’d hope for. The vibe is relaxed and fun, and whilst it is undoubtedly a family-friendly property, I thought that the atmosphere was quite intimate and grown-up (though maybe that would be different if you visit in peak season). It’s a fabulous property, with direct beach access that will give all the other five-star resorts in the area a serious run for their money…I’d certainly come back!

Sarah Empson