Lobito de Mar Marbella. El bar resalao de Dani García — Restaurant in Marbella

Our recent visit to Lobito del Mar was an exceptional culinary experience that exceeded our expectations. Situated on the Golden Mile, this restaurant, led by chef Dani Garcia, offers a blend of traditional Spanish flavors with an innovative flair.

From the moment we entered, the lively ambiance set the stage for what was to come. We were seated in the private dining room with a mesmerising view of the chef's kitchen, where we could observe the culinary magic unfolding.

Our evening began with a delightful gazpacho, a refreshing starter that perfectly set the tone for the dinner. The tableside preparation of guacamole with baby shrimps was both entertaining and delicious.

We then enjoyed the fried calamari, which was perfectly seasoned and delivered a satisfying crunch with every bite. The anchovies omelet with caramelized onions was an unexpected delight, offering a rich blend of flavors that balanced the savory and sweet notes beautifully.

The main courses were the true stars of the evening. The grilled tuna belly was cooked to perfection. We also indulged in two exquisite paellas: the classic seafood paella with its generous portions of fresh seafood and the black paella with monkfish, squid, and ink, which delivered a depth of flavor that left a lasting impression.

For dessert, we indulged in their homemade cheesecake, which was beautifully creamy and rich, providing a delightful contrast to the seafood dishes and serving as a refreshing palate cleanser. This was followed by a heavenly chocolate cake that had the silky consistency of a chocolate mousse, providing a perfect sweet finale to our dining experience.

The service at Lobito del Mar was impeccable, with staff who were knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely eager to ensure our experience was nothing short of extraordinary. Their recommendations and insights into the menu were invaluable, enhancing our appreciation of each dish.

Overall, Lobito del Mar delivered an unforgettable dining experience, combining exquisite cuisine, exceptional service, and a...

I booked El Lobito del Mar for August 8th to celebrate my mother’s 50th birthday. When I made the reservation, I specified it was for her birthday, and I even called on the day itself to remind them, confirm I had a gift coupon, and ask what they could do for the celebration. They assured me they could arrange candles and even a personalized card. Sadly, none of this ever happened.

To start, the restaurant atmosphere is beautiful and the table was ready on time. The maître d’ who seated us was very kind and attentive in the beginning, but the service overall was extremely disappointing for a restaurant of this level and price point. • Food: Some dishes were excellent (ceviche, the rice, and the carpaccio with egg were standout), while others were average and nothing memorable — the kind of plates you could find in a simpler restaurant for a fraction of the price. • Service: This was the biggest issue. Our bottle of wine was never poured or refilled by staff. Our water glasses were never topped up. Dishes arrived with little to no explanation. Nobody checked in to ask if we were enjoying the food. For a restaurant of Dani García’s group, this is shocking. • Birthday: The most disappointing part: despite my reminders, nothing was done for my mother’s birthday. No candles, no card, no gesture at all. While we were eating dessert, another table nearby was serenaded with “Happy Birthday,” which made it even more frustrating. • Ending: When we left, nobody said goodbye or asked if we enjoyed our evening. The lack of attention was very noticeable.

Overall, while the food and ambiance were nice, the service was well below expectations — worse than what I’ve experienced in much more casual restaurants in Marbella. For such a special occasion, this was a letdown. I would not recommend El Lobito del Mar for birthdays, anniversaries, or any important celebrations. At best, it’s fine for a casual meal if you don’t expect...

Restaurant it self is beautifully built and props for the private parking! Interior is marine style and very cozy.

Seafood was delicious and served beautifully. You will find a good variety from different fish, tuna and Andalucian style seafood. We forgot to to take pictures of the tuna. We tried tuna and tuna belly tartar which was fresh and very tasty. They had 3 different oysters priced at 3.5€ so not bad for a restaurant of this level. Grilled octopus was also one of the best I have tried. I liked the crust that gave octopus good grilled flavor. Some dishes were average and much depends of your taste. Overall everything was very tasty and ingredients were definetly fresh and of high quality. There is also options to have the same ingredient with different sauces or prepared differently.

Staff was friendly and service was mostly ok. They suffer from same problems as many restaurants in Spain. Waiters bring the dish and immediately rush away before checking if table has other requirements. This is a almost always a problem when you are in bigger company. This is why I took one star away. I understand that staff is busy, but of course more orders is more sales! Big plus for waiters is how they served the dished and attitude when they were doing the serving.

Wine selection is excellent and you will most likely find a wine suitable for you. Also there is a really big variety of drinks and cocktails available.

Prices are upscale but not bad for this type of a restaurant. Starters and smaller dishes are in 15-25€ region and fish was around 40-70€kg. There is also lobsters and shrimps.

We will be returning to this place again to try some of the delicious meals that we didn't get to try this time. Worth a visit if you are a...