A New Chapter in Marbella’s Luxury Landscape

This summer, Marbella unveiled its newest jewel along the serene shores of Real de Zaragoza beach. The Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club is the latest addition to the Iconic Luxury Hotels collection and marks the group’s debut in Andalusia. Designed to embody the essence of “slow luxury,” the property blends time-honored Andalusian charm with contemporary elegance and a spirit of refined leisure.

Setting & Design: A Moorish-Inspired Retreat by the Sea

Perched elegantly on one of Marbella’s most tranquil beaches, the resort’s location offers both peace and accessibility, standing as a quietly glamorous escape within reach of the town’s vibrant core.

The interiors in Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club, crafted by the renowned design studio Goddard Littlefair, draw deeply from Andalusia’s cultural heritage. Expect horseshoe arches, local stone masonry, intricate windows, and zellige tilework. Courtyards evoke the atmosphere of traditional riads, and hues of terracotta, ochre, and sage echo the region’s natural tones. The overall ambiance is one of organic refinement—rooted in local identity yet shaped by a global sensibility.

Rooms & Suites: Comfort Meets Character

The Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club houses 135 rooms and suites, including ten signature suites and generous terrace or garden accommodations, some even boasting private pools or Jacuzzis. These spaces are crafted to feel both intimate and expansive, inviting guests to unwind in quiet luxury while taking in the ocean’s gentle presence or the warmth of Andalusian light.

Pools & Social Spaces: Differentiation by Design

Spread across the property are three sun-washed outdoor pools, each accompanied by its own bar. One pool welcomes families with playful openness; another is explicitly for adults, a sanctuary of serenity. There is also reportedly a fourth pool integrated into the Amù Beach Club, offering infinity-edge views and direct beach access.

Amù Beach Club: Riviera Flair Arrives in Marbella

This chic beach club marks the brand’s first foray into Spain, following its debut success in Monaco. Amù brings the glamour of the Riviera to Marbella with an infinity pool that seems to melt into the Mediterranean, seashell-toned parasols, ocean-to-table dining, live music, DJ sets, and panoramic sunset views. It promises to become the dynamic social hub of the resort, a place to linger, dine, and toast the day’s end amid elegant leisure.

Culinary Offerings: Mediterranean Sophistication

At the heart of the Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club's culinary experiences is La Terraza, serving Mediterranean dishes infused with Andalusian character. Guests may find dishes such as seafood linguine with garlic and lemon, or tuna prepared in regional Malagueña style. Complementing this is a trio of bars:

• The Garden Bar, set amid lush planting, serves cocktails that celebrate Andalusian flavors, like a Gran Rebujito or Besos Español.
• The Lobby Bar, designed for intimate sipping and quiet conversation.
• The Pool Bar, offering a more casual, refreshing experience by the water.

These varied venues ensure every moment of the day, morning coffee, afternoon cocktail, or evening digestif—is met with ambiance and flavor.

Wellness: Champneys Arrives in Europe

A major highlight is the debut of Champneys Spa, marking the beloved British wellness brand’s first location in Europe. Located within the resort and tied closely to Amù Beach Club’s energy, the spa features seven treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, indoor pool, and studio space offering movement, mindfulness, yoga, pilates, and meditation designed to encourage conscious relaxation. Treatments blend signature Champneys methods with Mediterranean coastal-inspired rituals, honoring the location’s calm and climate.

Authentic Local Activities: Culture by Invitation

Gran Marbella offers a curated range of immersive experiences that connect guests with Andalusia’s living traditions. From olive oil and wine tastings to guided onwards excursions into nearby villages, mountains, and Marbella’s historic Old Town, there is a sense of invitation—into both place and pace, culture and discovery.

The Vision: Slow Luxury Elevated

As encapsulated by Francisco Macedo, Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Iconic Luxury Hotels, this resort stands not merely as a place to stay but a celebration of Mediterranean culture, design, and well-being. Its opening marks a meaningful step in the brand’s evolution marrying heritage with modernity.

Operational Highlights

Targeted mainly at guests from the UK and US, the resort has been under extensive renovation, reportedly over a year and a half with a significant 17-million-euro investment.
Launch dates have been phased: the resort is now open; Amù Beach Club became available in August; Champneys Spa opened around early July.
During a mid-summer period the spa underwent minor closedown for finishing touches, but the health club and pools have been operational to ensure guests still enjoy wellness services.

Why Gran Marbella Is Significant

This opening elevates Marbella’s resort landscape, joining a spectrum of established luxury names like Marbella Club, Nobu, and others. It delivers a structurally and sensorially rich addition rooted in slow luxury philosophy, connecting relaxation, design, and local heritage with contemporary thrust. The involvement of an internationally recognized spa brand, world-class design, and curated food and cultural programming positions the resort to attract both high-spending travelers and those seeking subtler, meaningful luxury.

Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club stands as a refined invitation to slow delight, a place where architecture, wellness, food, and coastline converge to create a place that feels less like a stay and more like an entry point into the Andalusian art of living.