The Wordrobe wiles the weekend away with a visit to foodie-centric Puente Romano in Marbella
Sun, spa and sumptuous cuisine – Puente Romano, a grand resort residing on the Golden Mile of Marbella offers it all and more. A short 30-40 minute drive from Malaga airport, this lavish destination offers guests a number of deluxe amenities – including not one, but a total of 11 rather exquisite restaurants.
Despite its size, it still feels quite village like. Picture low-rise buildings with charming white-washed walls that come to life in the sun. With a peaceful atmosphere throughout and highly attentive staff, it’s the sort of place that caters to every whim – and every appetite.
The resort’s name derives from a picturesque Roman stone bridge found within its walls – a beautiful piece of architecture that dates back impressively to the first century. Originally built as an apartment complex back in 1974 by Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe, Puente Romano eventually became a hotel five years later.
Today, it is a thriving property filled with winding paths, scenic landscaped gardens, sparkling pools and 264 rooms, all designed with traditional Andalusian style.
The food
A total dining hotspot, expect a bountiful edible offering in the form of 11 restaurants. All of these serve varied dishes with contrasting cuisines and differing interiors. From Japanese to traditional Andalusian, it’s popular with both guests and locals, and hungry visitors flock here throughout the week.
For the health-conscious, there’s the chic Rachel’s. A cute spot found next to one of the pools, visit here for lunch to sample nutritious dishes such as fruit smoothies and delicate salads made from the resort’s own vegetable patch.
For those with indulgence in mind, book ahead and dine at the Dani Garcia Restaurant. Garcia, a lively Spanish chef with an impressive two Michelin stars offers gastronomy lovers a fresh take on popular Andalusian dishes – expect the unexpected and bring your imagination.
For something delicious yet a touch more casual, Garcia’s second restaurant ‘Bibo’ is ideal. More homely than his fine dining venue, Bibo offers a range of trendy tapas style dishes – think local delicacies, fresh fish and heavenly desserts that demand to be sampled.
Seafood lovers are in for a treat at Sea Grill. Located a stone’s throw away from the beach, this exquisitely decorated eatery is brimming with tantalising dishes, including specialities prepared in the Tandoor Oven and on the Charcoal Grill. The restaurant options here go on and on, and with so many to choose from, Puente Romano gives guests no real reason to venture much outside to the local town.
The venue
I stay in a Junior Suite and arrive in style via handy chauffeured golf buggy. Spacious and serene, the room is divided into three sections with Mediterranean style furnishings and a small terrace overlooking the gardens below. With plenty of calming neutral decor, it’s ideal for relaxing and unwinding (or perhaps digesting) for a few hours. Modern touches include a handy tablet which can be used to make bookings for the restaurants, spa or local activities with ease.
What to do
As well as the plentitude of edible opportunity, the resort provides a vast array of actives to keep guests entertained – from tennis and paddle surfing to golf and more. Take a morning bike ride along the beach to the nearby Puerto Banus, soak up sun by the ocean or sit back and relax in the ultra-sleek Six Senses spa.
A charming area with whitewashed walls and hand-painted tiles, pay a visit to indulge with the hydrotherapy pool, cold plunge pool, herbal steam room, sauna and hammam. Choose from a range of expert treatments for further relaxation, many of which utilise indigenous herbs with sea salt, olive oil and rich minerals to offer truly Mediterranean experiences.
Make it happen
Where: Bulevar Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, 29602 Marbella, Málaga, Spain
Cost: Rooms at Puente Romano are available from €250 per night. Click here to book or find out more
