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There is no shortage of beach clubs along the Costa del Sol, but not all of them seek the spotlight. By The Sea Beach Club occupies a quieter corner of Marbella’s coastline, bringing together the easygoing atmosphere of a traditional Andalusian chiringuito with the polished service expected from Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort.
Set directly beside the Mediterranean, the venue offers a different pace from many of Marbella’s headline-making beach destinations. Days unfold over seafood lunches, long afternoons beneath parasols, and unhurried dinners as the sun disappears beyond the horizon. The result feels refreshingly grounded in its setting, drawing inspiration from local culinary traditions rather than fleeting trends.
A Beach Club Away From The Crowds
Located on the shoreline near Marbella and Estepona, By The Sea serves as the resort’s dedicated beachfront venue. A shuttle connects guests from Anantara Villa Padierna Palace to the coast, creating a seamless transition from the resort’s palatial surroundings to a more relaxed Mediterranean environment.
The setting immediately establishes the tone. Sunbeds stretch towards the water, palm trees provide welcome shade and the sound of the sea becomes a constant backdrop throughout the day. While many Costa del Sol beach clubs centre themselves around DJs and large-scale social scenes, By The Sea remains focused on comfort, good food, and uninterrupted views of the Mediterranean.
That approach makes it particularly appealing for couples, families and travellers looking for a beach club experience that feels sophisticated without becoming overly formal.
A Menu Inspired By Andalusia’s Coast
The culinary direction is firmly rooted in southern Spain’s fishing traditions, with sustainability and regional sourcing woven throughout the menu. Fresh seafood naturally takes centre stage, but there is enough variety to appeal to a broad range of tastes.
Starters From The Sea And Garden
The opening section provides a strong introduction to the kitchen’s style. Gillardeau oysters are served with a choice of lemon and shallots, classic mignonette or a ponzu and ginger dressing, while sea bass ceviche arrives with passion fruit tiger’s milk and fresh coriander. Red tuna tartare paired with Axarquía avocado adds another distinctly Mediterranean option.
Elsewhere, artisan smoked sardine loin is served with crystal bread and seasonal tomatoes, while red prawn carpaccio combines citrus and tomato dressing to allow the shellfish to remain the focal point. Guests seeking something lighter can opt for the burrata with tomato textures, fresh pesto and basil ice cream or the lobster salad with avocado, mango, and tender leaves.
Traditional Andalusian flavours also feature prominently through dishes such as sherry-marinated anchovies, Andalusian gazpacho with marinated prawns, and Málaga-style peach ajoblanco.
Málaga’s Seafood Traditions On Display
One of the menu’s most appealing sections celebrates the fried seafood dishes for which this stretch of coastline is known.
Fried Málaga anchovies, Andalusian squid, green-adobo dogfish and fresh baby squid from Málaga’s fish market all feature alongside shrimp fritters and sea-and-garden croquettes with prawns, mushrooms, and seaweed aioli. Even guests seeking plant-based options are accommodated through vegan Roman-style calamari.
These are the dishes that feel most closely connected to the venue’s beachfront location, bringing generations of local coastal cooking directly to the table.
Rice Dishes Worth Settling In For
A proper lunch here often revolves around the rice selection, designed for sharing and prepared to order.
The Mediterranean seafood paella remains an obvious choice, but several alternatives stand out. Creamy saffron lobster rice delivers richer flavours, while the prawn and scallop rice with confit peppers offers a more delicate profile. Guests looking beyond seafood can choose free-range chicken paella with seasonal vegetables, while Málaga-style noodles with fresh market fish provide an interesting regional variation.
These dishes encourage a slower style of dining and suit the setting perfectly.
From The Grill
The grilling section showcases both seafood and meat.
Sea bass, turbot, black sole, octopus tentacles and potera squid can be prepared in a variety of traditional styles, including grilled, baked, salt-crusted, or cooked on the espeto. Fresh fish sourced daily from the market further reinforces the venue’s connection to the local fishing industry.
For those favouring meat, options include Marela beef tenderloin, rack of suckling lamb, grilled baby chicken, Frisona beef burgers, and ribeye. Each arrives with a choice of sides such as grilled seasonal vegetables, wrinkled Canarian potatoes or traditional confit potatoes.
A Sweet Finish
Desserts continue the balance between familiar comforts and contemporary presentation.
Highlights include homemade caramelised custard, banoffee soufflé, chocolate fondant and a Dubai chocolate bar served with ice cream. The creamy Payoyo cheese dessert with heather honey offers something distinctly Andalusian, while the artisanal ice cream trolley introduces flavours ranging from mascarpone and vanilla to Nutella and strawberry.
Long Lunches Beside The Mediterranean
The experience at By The Sea is best appreciated when there is nowhere else to be.
Lunch naturally becomes the focal point of the day, with tables filling steadily as guests move between the beach and restaurant. The atmosphere remains relaxed throughout, encouraging diners to linger over a second glass of wine, share another seafood dish or simply enjoy the sea views.
The venue captures the spirit of Mediterranean coastal dining remarkably well. Meals rarely feel rushed, and the combination of fresh seafood, sunshine and uninterrupted views creates the sort of afternoon that easily extends beyond its original plans.
Drinks Made For Warm Afternoons
The drinks menu complements the beachside setting without becoming overly complicated.
Fresh lemonades are available in classic, ginger and peppermint varieties, while natural juices include orange, watermelon, and melon. Detox blends featuring combinations such as celery, cucumber, spinach, pineapple and ginger provide lighter alternatives during hotter afternoons.
Cocktails lean towards familiar beach-club favourites. Aperol Spritz, Mojitos, Piña Coladas, Margaritas and Porn Star Martinis all feature, alongside alcohol-free alternatives such as the Garden mocktail with mango and pineapple or the Pérgola, combining apple, strawberry, and rosemary sugar.
Wine receives just as much attention as the cocktails. The list draws heavily from Spain’s leading wine regions, with Albariños such as Lagar de Cervera and Pazo Señorans proving natural companions to the restaurant’s seafood dishes. Local Andalusian selections, including Bréñal from the Sierras de Málaga, help maintain a strong sense of place.
Guests looking further afield will find French classics ranging from Chablis and Sancerre to prestige Champagnes such as Pol Roger and Dom Pérignon. Provençal rosés also feature prominently, offering an easy pairing for long afternoons overlooking the Mediterranean.
Sunset Dining By The Water
As evening approaches, the atmosphere subtly shifts.
The heat softens, tables begin to fill once more and the Mediterranean becomes the backdrop for dinner rather than a day at the beach. The venue’s seafood-led menu feels particularly well-suited to this time of day, whether that means sharing grilled fish, ordering one of the rice dishes, or keeping things simple with fresh local seafood and a chilled glass of wine.
Unlike some of Marbella’s more energetic beach venues, the focus remains firmly on conversation, food, and the setting itself.
Beyond The Beach Club
Although By The Sea functions perfectly as a standalone dining destination, it becomes even more compelling when experienced as part of a wider stay at Anantara Villa Padierna Palace.
A morning spent on the golf courses, an afternoon in the spa or time exploring Marbella and nearby Benahavís all complement the beach club naturally. Returning to the shoreline for lunch or sunset dinner provides a welcome contrast to the resort’s grand architecture and landscaped grounds.
The two experiences work together particularly well, offering guests access to both countryside tranquillity and Mediterranean beachfront living during the same stay.
A Beachfront Favourite For Unhurried Days
By The Sea Beach Club succeeds because it understands exactly what it wants to be. The setting is beautiful, the cooking remains closely connected to Andalusia’s coastal traditions and the atmosphere encourages guests to slow down and enjoy their surroundings.
For travellers seeking a refined beachfront dining experience on the Costa del Sol, it remains one of the more rewarding places to spend an afternoon by the water.
