The legendary Hotel Don Carlos, a symbol of Marbella’s sophistication and exclusivity since 1969, has just reopened its doors as the new Don Carlos Marbella. Following an ambitious and comprehensive renovation led by Selenta Group—part of the portfolio of the Canadian fund Brookfield Asset Management—this emblematic establishment is embarking on a new era in which contemporary luxury and Andalusian heritage merge to create an unprecedented hotel experience on the Costa del Sol.
Situated in a ideal beachfront location and surrounded by 20,000 square metres of tropical gardens, the property was completely redesigned by the prestigious interior designer Jaime Beriestain, who has reinterpreted its historic essence with a sophisticated, warm, and profoundly Mediterranean approach. The result is a space where timeless elegance coexists with the most modern comforts – 308 rooms, suites, and residences offering panoramic views of the sea and garden, designed for a new generation of discerning travellers and to win back long-standing guests. Altogether, the ongoing renovations — already visible to guests during the summer 2025 season — along with the initiatives set to launch in 2026, amount to a total investment of approximately €45 million (approximately $52 million).
The rebirth of Don Carlos Marbella is not only an architectural and aesthetic transformation, but also a commitment to redefining the concept of Mediterranean luxury through authenticity, wellbeing, and gastronomy. The hotel thus consolidates its position as one of the great re-openings of the year in Europe, a place where every corner has been designed to offer unforgettable experiences. All the new leisure and gastronomic offerings the hotel has in this first phase of reopening will be complemented with exclusive leisure and dining options in the following months.
A Leisure Program for the Senses
Sport also plays a fundamental role at the new Don Carlos Marbella, featuring the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, the first in Spain and seventh centre in the world, created using Rafa Nadal’s training methodology. With this approach, the hotel seeks to offer its guests a unique experience complemented by high-level tennis training, whilst also being designed for everyone. This facility features seven clay courts, two padel courts with spectacular ocean views, and a Pro Shop with Nike and Babolat products. Its training programs are available for players of all ages and levels including The Wingfield System, which is the only technology of its kind available at a tennis center on mainland Spain. It tracks and analyzes gameplay, providing statistics and performance insights to help players improve. The centre follows the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar methodology, based on the experience acquired by the legendary tennis player and his team over more than 15 years of participating in the best international sports competitions.
Don Carlos Marbella also features a new and exclusive pop-up from Lucia, the new brand from Nikki Beach Hospitality Group that opened last year in Cannes: Lucia Summer Club 2025. This Summer 2025 pop-up further showcases the restaurant group’s vision with a vibrant design that offers a sneak preview of the Lucia Marbella that will open permanently in 2026 with an expanded outdoor area and a new evening restaurant on the hotel’s beachfront. At Lucia Summer Club 2025, guests can enjoy a special menu designed for the pop-up and centered on the brand’s Cuisine du Soleil philosophy, a fresh take on Mediterranean flavors with sun-drenched ingredients. This space offers a carefully curated selection of seasonal dishes, ideal for lunch or a snack by the pool or by the sea, in a family-friendly setting designed for relaxation, closely aligned with Don Carlos Marbella’s own concept of an eclectic and family-friendly menu. This concept adds to the beach area’s offering, where Nikki Beach has also been a success for years.
Gastronomy That Excites
The new Don Carlos Marbella also offers its guests and visitors a wide and varied culinary offering with four dining venues: Los Naranjos, Sol & Sombra, Break Point and Campari Bar Manero. These represent four different ways to savor the south, each with its own personality, but united by a common vision: authenticity, proximity, and a true connection with the Mediterranean environment.
Los Naranjos is the culinary heart of the hotel, a refuge of flavor and light where Andalusian tradition takes centre stage. Here, each breakfast begins peacefully, in a space filled with Mediterranean aromas and cuisine born from a profound respect for the products of the land and sea. As evening falls, the restaurant transforms into a tribute to the tastes of the south, a proposal to awaken the senses. Among its offerings are the Signature Trio (natural oyster, crispy caviar fritter, and mini tempura lobster brioche), the Risotto with Red Shrimp Carpaccio, and the Mediterranean-style Top Sirloin Tagliatelle. Sol & Sombra, located next to the pool, is an open-air oasis that adapts to the rhythm of each guest: from a refreshing drink at the bar in the sunshine to a leisurely lunch, this space celebrates the vitality of summer. This restaurant has two settings: one in the bar and sun lounger area, and another with tables for a more relaxed experience. The cuisine is fresh, light, and tasty, designed to be shared with laughter and good company. Break Point, located inside the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, is the ideal café to recharge with snacks, natural juices, or healthy food to complement your workout. Located in the hotel’s elegant Andalusian courtyard Campari Bar Manero is a unique cocktail experience that fuses the Italian sophistication of the aperitif with the warmth and vitality of Spanish culture in a space designed by interior designer Lázaro Rosa Violán. This innovative concept is born from the collaboration between the iconic Italian brand CAMPARI and the renowned Spanish restaurant group MANERO. The carefully crafted cocktails pay tribute to Italian classics while incorporating ingredients and techniques that reflect the rich culinary heritage of Spain.
With these four new offerings, Don Carlos Marbella strengthens its commitment to a cuisine that connects with and celebrates the Mediterranean lifestyle. Los Naranjos, Sol & Sombra, Break Point and Campari Bar Moreno aren’t just restaurants: they’re four distinct concepts that complement the experience.
A Destination for Wellness
Among its new key features, Don Carlos Marbella features a state-of-the-art indoor spa featuring Natura Bissé —a brand renowned for its innovation, effectiveness, and sensorial sensitivity—designed to offer wellness experiences with exclusive treatments. Here, wellness becomes an art that transcends aesthetics to embrace the essential, a space where the body is liberated and the mind rests. This temple of wellness captures the vibrant energy of the Mediterranean, transforming it into rituals that pamper the body, mind, skin, and soul. From the citrus freshness of Andalusian orange blossom that awakens the senses to the warm touch that releases tension, every detail is an invitation to reconnect with oneself, the present, and with what truly matters.
Among the most notable treatments offered at this space is the Don Carlos Charm Ritual, a deeply sensorial experience that combines an exfoliation with crystals and fresh petals and a massage with orange blossom and warm stones, restoring inner balance; the Mindtouch Experience Ritual, which goes even further: an immersive experience that, through sensorial technology and evocative fragrances, dissolves tension and awakens a deep connection with yourself; and the Golden South Essence Massage, inspired by the light of the south, celebrates the calm and natural beauty of the Mediterranean with a relaxing body massage that leaves a feeling of absolute serenity.
