Taberna La Niña del Pisto — Restaurant in Marbella

I had high expectations for this restaurant due to its reputation, but unfortunately, our experience was deeply disappointing. While being known and respected in the culinary world is one thing, it does not grant the right to treat guests with arrogance or disregard basic hospitality standards.

We made a reservation online, but since the website is only available in Spanish—with no effort to accommodate international guests—we missed the detail that reservations require a credit card guarantee. On the last day of our trip to Spain, we arrived 20 minutes early and waited patiently near the entrance with our two children. Next to us, three other couples waited as well. To our surprise, these couples, who were walk-ins without reservations, were granted tables while we were refused.

Despite a prolonged discussion, we were eventually offered a table on a wine barrel in the middle of a busy doorway—a completely inappropriate option, especially with young children. Given the circumstances, we chose to leave. The other couples, meanwhile, were seated comfortably despite not having taken the effort to reserve.

The seating arrangements were another concern. Tables are positioned so close together that even if we had been considered as two couples instead of a family of four, it would have made no difference to their capacity.

What stood out the most, however, was the unprofessional and dismissive attitude of the hostess. She appeared more engaged with her phone and messaging via WhatsApp than with managing the flow of guests and ensuring an organized reservation process. This lack of attentiveness and professionalism left us in a bad mood, with our children upset.

We had traveled from Málaga specifically to dine at this restaurant, but instead, we were met with disappointment and poor service. I would advise future patrons to consider alternative dining options to avoid a similar experience. A restaurant’s reputation should be built not only on its food but also on its ability to make all guests feel...

Overrated and Arrogant—Not Worth the Hype

If you’re looking for a place where arrogance is served before the meal, this is it. The staff is highly selective at the entrance, making you feel like you should be grateful just to get a table. Don’t expect them to speak English—whether it’s intentional or due to a lack of knowledge is unclear, but either way, it’s far from the charm or authenticity they claim to have.

Booking a table is a chaotic process involving waiters sending voice notes to their supervisor on WhatsApp, unable to make decisions themselves. They even play the messages out loud in front of other customers, creating an atmosphere that’s both disorganized and unprofessional. For a restaurant in such a tourist-heavy area, you’d expect them to prioritize hospitality—but they clearly don’t.

Before you get blinded by the glowing reviews, take a moment to read the negative ones carefully—they’re not wrong. With so many nearby spots offering excellent food and treating you like a valued guest, there’s no reason to waste...

Beautiful restaurant, but ruined by poor service and rude attitude

I don’t usually write reviews, but I want to share my experience.

From the start, the welcome was cold. There was no real greeting, and instead of feeling comfortable, I felt unwelcome. The service was unprofessional and the staff seemed bored, sighed a lot, and one waiter was quite unfriendly.

The food was okay, but nothing special. The bread was very disappointing, which is surprising with so many good bakeries nearby. The menu is too big.., sometimes less is more.

Another thing I noticed: the way this restaurant replies to guests reviews is very rude and unprofessional. That is really unacceptable.., the customer should always be treated with respect. Please don’t answer my comment in the same unfriendly way, unless you can do it politely and without excuses. Reviews should help a place improve, not turn into an argument.

The restaurant itself is beautiful, but with this attitude it will not reach its potential. Wishing you good luck...