Los Naranjos at Don Carlos Marbella — A December Dinner Review

Los Naranjos, the main restaurant at Don Carlos Marbella, is best known to many guests as the setting for the hotel’s breakfast service. By evening, however, it reveals a very different personality — one that feels calm, confident and quietly celebratory. Visiting in December, when Marbella is at its most relaxed, the restaurant offered a welcome sense of brightness and comfort, delivering a subtle reminder of southern Spain’s enduring appeal even in the winter months.

The dining room itself is spacious and thoughtfully designed, with a colourful yet balanced interior that feels contemporary without being showy. Soft lighting and carefully chosen textures give the room warmth, while the open layout avoids the formality that can sometimes accompany large hotel restaurants. It’s an environment that feels welcoming rather than staged — elegant, but easy to settle into. Knowing this is also where breakfast is served adds an interesting contrast; by night, the room feels entirely transformed.

Atmosphere and Setting

In December, Los Naranjos offers something particularly appealing: a sense of light and ease at a time of year when many places feel subdued. While there’s no reliance on seasonal theatrics, there is a gentle feeling of escape — a reminder of sunshine and Mediterranean conviviality without trying to replicate summer itself. It’s subtle, but effective, and makes for an enjoyable dinner setting whether you’re staying at the hotel or visiting independently.

The atmosphere during service is relaxed and unhurried. Tables are well spaced, conversations flow comfortably, and the restaurant feels lively without becoming noisy. It’s well suited to couples, small groups, or anyone looking for a refined but unfussy dinner.

Service: A Defining Strength

Service at Los Naranjos stands out as one of the evening’s strongest elements. From arrival to departure, the team is friendly, warm and genuinely welcoming, while maintaining a high level of professionalism throughout. Staff are attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable about the menu, and clearly comfortable guiding guests through their choices.

What makes the service particularly effective is its natural quality — interactions feel sincere rather than scripted, and the pacing of the meal is handled with care. Courses arrive at the right moment, allowing the evening to unfold smoothly. It’s the kind of service that quietly elevates the entire experience and plays a significant role in making the dinner memorable.

Starters: Clean Flavours, Confident Execution

The menu at Los Naranjos focuses on familiar Mediterranean and international dishes, executed with attention to detail rather than unnecessary complexity. This approach is clear from the starters.

The Bluefin tuna cubes (€18) with cucumber and pepper tartare are fresh and precisely prepared. The tuna is clean and delicate, while the cucumber brings lightness and the pepper adds gentle warmth. The balance is well judged, allowing the quality of the fish to remain the focus. It’s a composed, refreshing start to the meal.

The Retinta beef tenderloin steak tartare (€27), served with truffle and crispy chips, is richer and more indulgent. The beef is finely chopped and well seasoned, with the truffle adding depth rather than overpowering the dish. The crispy chips introduce texture and a sense of generosity, making this a satisfying and well-rounded starter that feels carefully considered rather than embellished.

Mains: Comfort with Precision

For the main course, a standout from the updated menu is the Turbot filets (€38) — chargrilled and served with a rich béarnaise sauce. The turbot arrives perfectly cooked, with a delicate texture that pairs beautifully with the classic, velvety béarnaise. The dish strikes a nice balance between refined technique and rich Mediterranean flavours, making it a memorable highlight of the evening.

This is where Los Naranjos excels: offering dishes that are familiar and reassuring, but executed to a standard that reflects the setting. There’s no sense of trying to impress through novelty; instead, the focus is on cooking well and allowing the ingredients to speak for themselves.

Dessert: A Well-Judged Finish

Dessert continues this theme of restraint and balance. The Chocolate sablé (€10) with gianduja and chocolate textures is a composed and satisfying finale. The sablé provides structure, while the layers of chocolate vary in intensity and texture, keeping the dish interesting without becoming overly rich. It’s indulgent, but measured — a dessert that concludes the meal neatly rather than overwhelming it.

Final Thoughts

A December dinner at Los Naranjos demonstrates exactly what the restaurant does well. The setting is attractive and comfortable, the service is genuinely outstanding, and the food is consistently well cooked and enjoyable without being pretentious. There’s a sense of ease to the experience — one that makes it easy to relax and appreciate the meal for what it is.

In the quieter winter months, Los Naranjos offers something particularly welcome: a taste of brightness and Mediterranean warmth, delivered with confidence and care. It’s a restaurant that doesn’t rely on spectacle, but instead succeeds through solid cooking, thoughtful service and an atmosphere that feels both polished and approachable.

For more information and bookings https://doncarlosresort.com/en/restaurants-and-bars/los-naranjos/

Rates at Don Carlos Marbella, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ L.V.X. Collection, start from USD 310 per room per night, based on two sharing. For more information or to book, visit www.preferredhotels.com. I Prefer members can also earn points and enjoy instant benefits at The Grand York and more than 650 hotels across 80 countries the moment they join.