Restaurante La Relojera — Restaurant in Marbella

We had a very unpleasant experience at this restaurant. We specifically told the waiter that we do not eat pork, and he assured us that the dish called “sollomio” was suitable. Unfortunately, when the meal arrived, my wife noticed the meat looked unusually light, and upon asking again, the waiter admitted it was pork.

We kindly asked for the dish to be replaced, which they eventually did. However, when the bill arrived, they had included the pork dish we neither ate nor asked for. We politely asked for it to be removed, and instead of resolving the matter respectfully, another waiter came out shouting, being extremely rude and unprofessional. His aggressive behavior drew the attention of other diners, and he even switched to speaking Spanish deliberately, despite having spoken English earlier.

This experience was extremely unprofessional and made us feel very uncomfortable — especially when we explained that we don’t eat pork, and the waiter reacted as if we had insulted him. He seemed clearly unhappy and frustrated with his job, which likely explains why he was so rude and dismissive. It was obvious he didn’t care about customer service at all.

I will never go back to this restaurant, and I will absolutely not recommend it to anyone. I will make sure all my friends and family know how we were treated — disrespected, shouted at in front of everyone, and made to pay for a meal we didn’t even eat. Avoid this place...

If you’re looking for white tablecloths, whispering waiters, and a sommelier who says things like “notes of leather,” keep scrolling. La Relojera is the opposite, and it’s glorious.

This is Andalusian dining at its most authentic: incredible food, zero pretence, and service that feels like a friendly kitchen fire drill. The staff? Absolute legends. Weathered, efficient, and running the floor like a Formula 1 pit crew, slightly chaotic, somehow surgical. You won’t get pampered, but you will get fed very well, very fast, and probably with a smile shouted across the room.

They don’t take reservations. Instead, turn up, hover nervously near someone else’s table, get subtly sized up by a waiter, and if the stars align, you’re in. It’s all part of the charm.

Once you’re seated, go straight for the espetos.. smoky, salty perfection, and the grilled squid, which tastes like the sea gave you a hug. These two dishes alone are worth elbowing your way in.

La Relojera isn’t fancy, it’s real, and it’s run by people who clearly know exactly what they’re doing, even if it looks like a tapas tornado. If you like your food phenomenal and your experiences a little wild, this place will win...

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A typical beachside restaurant. That means fish, and fish, and more fish!

Been here several times, a modest beachside bar restaurant with lovely fresh fish from the wholesale fish market next door.

Not posh, paper tablecloths, waiters rushing everywhere. You have to get here early by Spanish standards to get a table, even in mid week for lunch as it's very popular with Marbella folk. They do eat later than tourists, however, so a 1 o'clock lunch or 8 o'clock dinner will be fine.

No reservations . . .

The speciality is pescado a la sal. They take a large fish (sold by weight - don't misunderstand the price on the menu - that's not what you'll pay) and wrap it in a half inch thick crust of seasalt and pop it in the oven.

It comes out as the most delicious juicy fish ever. And not salty tasting either.

For four of you, two things to share first, say boquerones and calamares, then a big fish and a salad. About €100 with the beers, wine and those standard Spanish...