When you type ‘Marbella resort’ into Google Images, the results will reveal many pictures that look pretty much the same – white apartment blocks, towering palm trees and long sandy beaches.
There will be plenty of pools, often with a curvy silhouette that make doing lengths impossible, in similar shades of turquoise. There will be loungers and parasols, evenly spaced on paved patios and mowed lawns. If you’re just trying to escape the British winter, this might be enough.
But the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Resort refuses to be just ‘enough.’
Situated in the Costa del Sol’s Golden Triangle, this rose pink building is considered to be one of Marbella’s best – and most unique – luxury hotels.
It was originally built in 2003 by a Spanish noble family, who had a vision to create a Tuscan-inspired manor in the heart of Andalucia. The architecture is therefore loudly Italianate (think Roman columns and vaulted ceilings), helping the already unconventional resort stand out against its competitors.
That same family was also big on privacy, as demonstrated by the 1.5km-long driveway that divides the hotel’s reception and its entrance. Guests can be reassured that all the perceived downsides of Marbella will feel far away once they’re through those golden gates.
From princess rooms, to Michelle Obama’s villa
There are 132 guest rooms and suites at Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Resort, all of which have been designed to uphold the property’s old world charm.
The decor of my deluxe terrace suite reminds me of Mia’s bedroom in The Princess Diaries; youthful yet regal. The king bed is crowned by a pink velvet headboard, with a ruffled bedskirt that sweeps the cream carpet. Classic artwork adorns the panelled walls, and French doors lead onto a romantic balcony with a cosy alcove. If it wasn’t for the red and yellow flag pitched to its roof, you’d be forgiven for forgetting you were in the south of Spain.
There are also a number of suites, including the Attic Suite which has lofted ceilings, and the Grand Suite, which has a terrace with a jacuzzi. For guests who want more space, there is a two-bedroom villa with a kitchenette, as well as a one-bedroom villa with a private swimming pool.
The Obama Suite, which gained its elite name after hosting the former US First Lady Michelle Obama, is the resort’s highest category accommodation option. With three storeys, a pool and a rooftop terrace, it offers plenty of space for guests to both relax and entertain. Obama Suite residents will also be treated to a range of VIP perks, including roundtrip airport transfers and a complimentary tapas tasting at Eddy’s Bar.
A medley of menus
The hotel also packs a punch in the culinary department, with a choice of 10 restaurants to suit all occasions and palates.
La Veranda is the hotel’s main restaurant, and with its lush terrace and fountain, is also its most romantic. Guests can expect premium seafood such as turbot with cider butter and sea bass loin with pureed peas, as well as Spanish classics from vegetable lasagne to stewed Iberian pork. A standout feature is its tableside flaming of Crepe Suzette, which is as entertaining as it is delicious.
Breakfast is served in La Loggia, an airy space with towering windows and grandiose pillar columns. Guests can enjoy fresh fruit, omelettes and artisanal bread baked fresh in nearby Ronda, before returning for lunch to sample Andalusian gazpacho and Malagueno orange soup.
La Loggia transforms into Viva Italia at night, switching up its menu to offer Italian favourites such as cannelloni and spaghetti alla carbonara. For Middle Eastern fare, Ola Beirut serves Lebanese food in a relaxed setting with live music and shisha on selected nights.
If you want some lighter bites, head to Irene’s Health Kitchen on the spa’s outdoor terrace. Here you’ll find a buffet of nutritious, plant-based dishes, including red fruit gazpacho, salads with beets and acai bowls. There’s also La Pergola, a casual restaurant in the pool garden serving healthy lunches and fresh juices.
From cold plunges to golf gourses
Anantara is globally renowned for its superior wellness offerings, and its Marbella hotel is no different.
The sprawling spa includes a circuit with a saltwater hammam, a laconimum, Greek and Finish saunas, Bali and Indian steam rooms, three aromatherapy baths, and even a floatarium. There’s also an indoor heated pool and a cold plunge pool, as well as 10 treatment rooms for enjoying one of its signature spa therapies.
For fitness, guests can work out in the fully-equipped gym, swim in the outdoor pool, or complete a round on one of the three golf courses. There also plenty of authentic experiences bookable through the hotel, including olive oil tasting and a visit to a local horse ranch.
How to book it: Rooms at Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Resort start from €300 per room per night including breakfast.
