The lobby, airy and drenched in light, frames the sea like a work of art. Natural woods, raffia, and creamy stone create a serene, almost shell-like color palette. My suite opened to sweeping views of both the Mediterranean and the hotel’s 20,000 square meters of tropical gardens—a private world I’d have been happy never to leave.

Afternoons of Action and Indulgence

While some guests seemed perfectly content to float between pool and beach, I couldn’t resist the draw of the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre—the first of its kind in Spain. Seven clay courts, two padel courts with sea views, and technology that tracked my every shot made me feel, if only for an afternoon, like I might actually have a forehand worth talking about.

Lunch became a leisurely affair at Lucia Summer Club 2025, a Nikki Beach pop-up that will have a permanent home here next year. Cuisine du Soleil, they call it—Mediterranean flavors kissed by the sun. Think grilled fish, vibrant salads, and just enough rosé to make the afternoon shimmer.

I highly recommend it.

Evenings to Remember

By sunset, the property transformed. At Campari Bar Manero, the aperitivo hour stretched luxuriously, with cocktails that married Italian classics and Spanish flair. Dinner back at Los Naranjos was a love letter to the region—red shrimp carpaccio risotto one night, Mediterranean-style sirloin tagliatelle the next.

And when the day’s last light slipped into the sea, I’d retreat to my balcony. The soundtrack? The soft hum of Marbella nightlife in the distance, the rustle of palm fronds, and somewhere far off, the gentle applause of the waves.

The Magic of a True Rebirth

Don Carlos Marbella has always been a name that carried weight. But what struck me during my stay was how effortlessly it blends its storied past with an entirely modern sensibility. It’s as much a destination for wellness seekers and gourmands as it is for tennis enthusiasts and sun worshippers. And for those who, like me, simply crave a place where time slows down, it delivers that too—wrapped in elegance, scented with orange blossom, and kissed by the Andalusian sun.