Messina is owned and run by Argentinian Chef Mauricio Giovani and his wife Pia and has been wowing visitors and residents of Marbella for many years. It won its first Michelin star in 2016 for its innovative food which combines modern with traditional in a perfect blend of flavours, textures and aromas. They are passionate about using local produce, showing mastery of their ingredients with simple and elegant presentation. The food is international, with dishes from Spain, South America and Asia featuring on the menu.
Messina is located on the main road in Marbella and has a contemporary, bright dining room and attentive service, as you’d expect from a Michelin star restaurant. You can choose from the a la cart menu, but for the true Messina experience, the tasting menus are highly recommended. There are two taster menus, one smaller tasting menu for 62€ and the Messina taster menu is 72€ excluding wine. Courses are small, but exquisite, and wine pairing options are available and recommended for the quality and the quantity of the wines.
It is ranked 16th out of over 1,000 restaurants in Marbella on TripAdvisor and is praised for its creative cuisine and stunning flavours. Dishes change regularly but this summer they included sardines with lemon and cauliflower, spider crab two ways, pasta with aubergine and goat’s cheese, pigeon with roasted garlic and a foie gras sauce, and roasted ice cream with sponge and a sherry sabayon. This is a big hit with reviewers and the TripAdvisor comments include “Each dish was perfectly made, the service was excellent. The whole experience was exceptional!” and “Best food and best value in Marbella.”
Messina is the lowest priced Michelin starred restaurant on the Costa del Sol, with a tasting menu from 62€. It represents excellent value for money when you look at the quality of the ingredients, time and processes for each dish and the wonderful service. A la cart dishes start from 10€ for a starter, 25€ for a main and 9€ for a desert and although portions are small, the quality is excellent.
It is open for evening service only and is closed on Sunday, to find out more visit TripAdvisor and check out their website.
Insider tip – Try the roof terrace at the next door Amare Beach Hotel for a drink before or after your Messina experience.
Vacation Rentals near Messina
Messina is on the eastern end of Marbella Town, right on the main road. So you can choose to be in central Marbella if you want to be in the middle of the action, or on the quiet, pretty urbanisations to the east for better beaches, more space, good facilities and easier parking.
There are some lovely urbanisations just a short drive from the centre of Marbella and Messina. We recommend Los Monteros Urbanisation, with its easy access to the beach, 24 hour security, huge swimming pool and lovely shared gardens. It’s just over the road from the Santa Clara golf course, with one of the area’s best driving ranges too, so it’s great for some holiday golf!
Another great option in this area is Bahia de Marbella, right opposite the area’s main hospital, and a short stroll down to a lovely stretch of beach. There are a number of lovely urbanisations in this quiet residential area, all of which have great gardens and pools and plenty of parking.
We are local residents who love Marbella and can help you choose the best area and the most beautiful vacation rental property. Talk to us about what you need and what’s important to you and we’ll help you choose the right property in the right place to help make your holiday perfect.
To find out more about the area, read our Marbella holiday guide or browse our selection of Marbella vacation rentals to find your perfect property.
