November 25, 2025
Michelin Star Restaurants Marbella: What to Expect in 2026
From contemporary Andalusian cooking and ingredient-led Mediterranean menus to an intimate Japanese omakase, Marbella’s Michelin-starred restaurants offer four distinctly different experiences. This guide compares them at a glance, explains what makes each one special and helps you choose the right restaurant for your evening.
The Michelin Star Restaurants in Marbella at a Glance
| Restaurant | Michelin stars | Cuisine | Location | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skina | 2 | Contemporary Andalusian | Avenida Cánovas del Castillo | Marbella’s most prestigious tasting-menu experience |
| Nintai | 1 | Japanese omakase | Marbella centre | Intimate counter dining and sushi |
| Messina | 1 | Creative Mediterranean | Near Bajadilla Beach | Seafood-led, contemporary fine dining |
| BACK | 1 | Modern Andalusian | Marbella centre | Creative cooking in a less formal setting |
The 4 Michelin Star Restaurants in Marbella for 2026
Marbella is home to four Michelin-star restaurants in the 2026 Michelin Guide, with five stars between them. Here are the four restaurants that made the list:
1. Skina — Two Michelin Stars
Skina is the highest-rated of the Michelin star restaurants in Marbella, holding two stars in the 2026 guide. The restaurant is led by sommelier Marcos Granda, with chef Mario Cachinero in the kitchen, and builds its tasting menus around contemporary Andalusian cuisine, seasonal produce and carefully considered wine pairings.
Its current home is on Avenida Cánovas del Castillo, opposite Parque de los Enamorados, in a more spacious setting with a terrace, valet parking and an extensive cellar. The experience remains polished and intimate, but the new location gives it a very different feel from its former Old Town dining room.
Best for: A major celebration, serious wine lovers and anyone looking for Marbella’s only two-Michelin-star experience.
TAO LIVIN´ TIP: Allow the tasting menu to be the main event of the evening. Reserve well ahead for weekends and peak summer dates, and check the latest menu and pairing options when booking.
2. Nintai — One Michelin Star
Nintai offers Marbella’s most distinctive Japanese fine-dining experience. Its omakase unfolds at a 12-seat wooden counter, where the itamae prepares a sequence of sushi, hot and cold dishes and desserts in front of guests. The format is precise, serene and intentionally immersive rather than a conventional à la carte sushi dinner.
The restaurant is a project from Marcos Granda and places particular emphasis on shari—the seasoned rice at the heart of sushi—as well as seasonality, knife work and the rhythm of the meal. It also has an exceptional sake selection and private dining spaces.
Best for: Sushi enthusiasts, date nights and diners who enjoy a chef-led menu with few decisions to make.
TAO LIVIN’ TIP: Book early if you want seats at the counter; they are central to the Nintai experience. Tell the restaurant about allergies or dietary restrictions before confirming, as an omakase menu is less flexible than an à la carte meal.
3. Messina — One Michelin Star
Messina has held a Michelin star since 2016 and is one of Marbella’s most established contemporary fine-dining restaurants. Chef Mauricio Giovanini’s cooking is rooted in Mediterranean ingredients but shaped by an inventive, highly personal approach, with fish, seafood and the natural textures and flavours of each ingredient playing a central role.
Located on Avenida Severo Ochoa, close to Bajadilla Beach and a short walk from Marbella Old Town, Messina combines a minimalist dining room with a tasting-menu experience that feels creative without losing its connection to the coast.
Best for: Seafood lovers and diners who want polished, creative Mediterranean cooking close to Marbella Old Town.
TAO LIVIN’ TIP: Messina works particularly well as the centrepiece of an evening in town. If you have a strong preference between the available menu formats, check the current options before reserving.
4. BACK — One Michelin Star
BACK brings together chef David Olivas and sommelier Fabián Villar in a modern bistro that feels more informal than the traditional image of Michelin-starred dining. The food is creative and contemporary, but its identity remains firmly connected to Andalucía through regional produce, familiar flavours and playful references to tapas.
Located on Calle Pablo Casals in central Marbella, BACK offers both tasting-menu and à la carte possibilities, making it one of the easier Michelin-starred choices for diners who want flexibility as well as ambitious cooking.
Best for: Creative Andalusian cuisine, an excellent wine pairing and a Michelin-starred meal with a livelier, less ceremonious atmosphere.
TAO LIVIN’ TIP: Choose BACK if you want fine dining without an overly formal atmosphere. If you’re booking for a group, ask whether everyone must choose the tasting menu or whether ordering à la carte is also possible.
If this is your first Michelin-starred dinner in Marbella, choose according to cuisine and atmosphere rather than star count alone. Nintai’s counter-led omakase is the most specialised experience; BACK offers the greatest sense of informality; Messina feels closely connected to Marbella’s coastal identity; and Skina delivers the city’s most elaborate gastronomic and wine experience.
Michelin Star Restaurants in Malaga Province in 2026
The 2026 Michelin Guide lists 10 Michelin-starred restaurants in Málaga province, holding 12 stars in total:
– Two stars: Bardal in Ronda and Skina in Marbella.
– One star: BACK, Messina and Nintai in Marbella; Blossom, José Carlos García, Kaleja and new arrival Palodú in Málaga city; and Sollo in Fuengirola.
Palodú is the province’s new one-star addition for 2026. No restaurant in Málaga province currently holds three Michelin stars.
It is worth noting that El Lago is not included in the Michelin-starred list for 2026. It remains an important Marbella fine-dining restaurant and is still listed in the Michelin Guide, but it no longer holds the star it had in previous editions.
Not every restaurant included in the Michelin Guide has a star. The wider Michelin Guide Marbella selection also features recommended restaurants such as TA-KUMI, Kava, Casa Eladio, Candeal, Areia, La Milla Marbella, Leña Marbella and Purosushi.
These are useful alternatives if you want Michelin-recognised cooking without committing to a full tasting-menu experience. For more ideas, see our guide to the best new restaurants in Marbella.
RELATED READING | New Restaurants in Marbella: The Best Openings of 2026
Michelin Star Restaurants in Marbella: Last Thoughts
The Marbella Michelin star restaurants list may be compact, but it covers four very different styles of fine dining. Skina leads with two-star contemporary Andalusian cuisine, Nintai offers an intimate Japanese omakase, Messina explores the Mediterranean through a creative seafood-led lens, and BACK gives Andalusian flavours a playful modern-bistro treatment.
Whichever you choose, reserve in advance and treat the restaurant—not simply dinner—as the focus of the evening.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Michelin Star Restaurants Marbella
Marbella has four Michelin-starred restaurants in the 2026 Michelin Guide: Skina, Nintai, Messina and BACK. Together they hold five Michelin stars.
Skina has two Michelin stars, making it the most highly awarded restaurant in Marbella. Nintai, Messina and BACK each have one star.
In 2026, Marbella and Málaga city each have four Michelin-starred restaurants. Marbella has five stars in total because Skina holds two, while Málaga city’s four restaurants each hold one.
Skina is the obvious choice for the most elaborate celebration because it holds two stars and places equal emphasis on its tasting menu, service and wine pairings. Nintai is an excellent alternative for couples who prefer an intimate Japanese experience.
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