GAIA Marbella — Restaurant in Marbella

I had dinner at Gaia last night, which is my birthday. My wife and I encountered the worst experience ever at any restaurant in our lifetime and the worst birthday dinner in my whole 35 years of existence. First, we came with our 5 year old baby daughter and the assistant manager, Julie Haudiquet, had refused to let us in because babies under 12 are not allowed. I said okay without any argument because the lady is doing her job and it’s not allowed for babies to dine in. Then, we see a baby about 3 years sitting right next to us in the table dining in with his family. Then, I go ask Julie very politely: are all babies under 12 not allowed? She said, yes of course. Then, I ask her why the table next to us had a baby and it’s not allowed for us to have our baby daughter dine in with us? She immediately got defensive and aggressive and tried to pretend that she doesn’t know, and when I tried to show her the table that had the baby which I’m sure she is aware of, she pretended that she was busy and talking to the people working in the restaurant. Then, when she knew that she had to answer me, she very casually said I didn’t know about them and tried to lie that the family were here before 9pm which is allowed. But I saw them coming in 9:45 and were still there until 12:45am! I told her this is not professional and very unjust and would be considered inappropriate discrimination. She got very angry and started to raise her voice in front of other customers, who by the way told us that they were very upset and disgusted by the way she treated us, and she told me to shut up and don’t talk, then of course I told her that she can’t tell me to shut up for many reasons and the most important reason is that I didn’t say a single bad word or any impolite thing, then she told me I will make you shut up right now, then she brought a security guard to kick me and my wife out of the restaurant…! We were very shocked and surprised how Julie escalated the situation very badly and so is everyone else in the restaurant just because of a very reasonable question asked by a dad and mom who wanted their baby daughter with them at the table and got denied and were okay with that until we saw the other baby dining with his family right next to our table. Everyone else from the tables around us talked to us and expressed how bad they felt for Julie’s treatment especially the gangster behavior with the security guard part and were saying they all had a terrible night because of the service and poor management the restaurant has and would never come back...

A Perfect Evening Tarnished by Poor Management My party of three dined at Gaia in Marbella last night, a restaurant we have frequented many times and have always held in high regard. As always, the evening began beautifully. The sommelier’s expertise was impeccable, guiding us through an exceptional wine selection that perfectly complemented our meal. The table service was attentive, warm, and professional, and the food was, as expected, outstanding in both presentation and flavor. We spent a generous amount of money, a testament to our enjoyment and appreciation of Gaia’s culinary offerings. The ambiance, the quality of the dishes, and the staff’s efforts created what should have been a flawless experience. However, this otherwise perfect evening was abruptly marred by the unprofessional conduct of the manager, Marco. As we ordered coffee to conclude our meal, Marco approached our table, presented the bill, and curtly informed us that our two-hour table limit was “up” and we needed to leave immediately. There was no polite reminder, no courteous acknowledgment of our patronage, and certainly no gratitude for our substantial custom. His demeanor was cold, dismissive, and entirely lacking in the hospitality one would expect from a venue of Gaia’s caliber, particularly when several tables remained empty, negating any urgency to turn over our table. This abrupt and tactless interaction left us feeling unvalued and unwelcome, casting a shadow over what had been a delightful evening. It is deeply disappointing that an inexperienced manager’s lack of professionalism can so thoroughly undermine the hard work of an otherwise exceptional team. Gaia’s reputation for excellence is well-earned, but this encounter highlighted a critical lapse in leadership. A gentle reminder or a courteous approach would have preserved the goodwill built throughout the evening. Instead, we left feeling like an inconvenience rather than valued guests. We will think twice before returning, as no amount of culinary brilliance can fully compensate for such a jarring and disrespectful conclusion to our dining experience. I hope the management takes this feedback seriously to ensure future guests are treated with the respect and appreciation...

To the Management of Gaia Marbella,

I would like to raise a complaint regarding my recent experience at your restaurant. We had a reservation for four people, but at the last minute, one more guest joined us, making us five in total. Upon our arrival, we requested to add just one extra chair to our table. Unfortunately, the hostess at the reservation desk responded in an unprofessional manner, stating that it was not possible and even claimed that there was not a single extra chair available in the restaurant.as I saw it was lot of chairs was available.

As a loyal and regular customer of Gaia worldwide especially in Dubai I found this behavior extremely disappointing and unprofessional. At a restaurant with the prestige and reputation of Gaia, I believe the front of house staff should always be well trained, solution oriented, and able to keep guests satisfied, rather than responding in a way that leaves them frustrated.she was very unprofessional person.

Fortunately, the manager that evening was very professional and courteous, and as always, the food and atmosphere were excellent. However, the unpleasant interaction at the entrance left a negative impression at the beginning of our evening.

I kindly request that your front of house staff in Marbella receive better training in customer service so that such situations do not occur again and guests continue to feel welcome. I remain a loyal supporter of Gaia and hope this feedback helps improve the overall experience at...