Monkey Club Marbella – Fine Dining and Cocktail Bar

It’s a rare and deliciously satisfying find when one discovers a restaurant that can bring all the important ingredients together to serve up a fine result. I’m not just talking about the food, but the whole dining experience, from the captivating style, welcoming ambiance, top-notch service, and of course, great cuisine.

Well, after my recent dinner at Monkey Club Marbella, set within the Puente Romano grounds, I think I might just have found such a place, writes Andrew Forbes (The Luxury Editor).

Stylish Destination

Signature cocktails, an expertly executed contemporary menu, complemented by attentive and natural, friendly service makes dinner at Monkey Club a memorable experience.

Bold, eclectic, and decadent – that’s the initial impression when I entered Monkey Club. This Marbella restaurant has plenty of personality and style. Yet this extrovert first impression is balanced by the intimate scale of Monkey Club. Each space is elegantly styled to create different dining areas, from the lushly planted terraces to the interiors with eclectic detailing – from art deco lights, ostrich feature chandeliers, vintage fringed lampshades, bold print wallpaper and velvet club seating. There’s a sense of fun that flows throughout the spaces. This is a place for enjoyment!

Signature Cocktails

We were warmly welcomed and took a seat at the bar – a place for cocktail mixology magic that was a fun way to start the evening. I opted for the Japanese Martini (Sake, Cîroc Vodka, Umeshu plum liqueur, and Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur). Other Signature cocktails include the Pink Monkey (Monkey 47 gin, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, and Grapefruit); and the Flamingo (Absolute Apple vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, and Aperol with tonic).

The ambiance is lively and relaxed, an elegant crowd including couples, small groups of friends and families. The music from Puente Romano adds vibrancy and the promise of a good night out.

Terrace Dining

Terrace dining on a clear balmy evening one of the great pleasures of summer, and Monkey Club makes for a great choice for outdoor eating. Elegantly set tables are dressed in white linen and feature small lamps for subtle lighting are fringed by tropical and Mediterranean planting.

The menu of about a dozen starters and a dozen main dishes is a tempting mix of international dishes from South America, Asia, and Europe. 

For first plates think a modern take on Italian cheese and ham with Stracciatella di bufala, San Daniele ham, basil, olives, and focaccia. For a fresh taste from the Americas, try the prawn and seabass ceviche with blood orange leche de Tigre, and sweet potato cream. Closer to home, the Galician beef tartare is as much a visual feast as a culinary one. I devoured the scallops with nori seaweed crust, white asparagus, and hollandaise foam.

Our helpful server was on hand to help navigate the options – and introduce the wine list.

Memorable Menu

Main dishes include risotto, pasta, superb Galician cuts of meat, exotic lamb tagine, Peking duck as well as bluefin tuna, and seabass too. Summer usually means I order fish, but this time the meat options were so good, I knew I had to order the 500 gram Galician Rib Eye!

Quality is stand out. The kitchen truly delivers, and at the end of the day that has to be the most important part. When the food is great, you want to go back – you feel confident to book again and share the experience with friends and family.

So, here’s to more deliciously exotic Marbella nights at Monkey Club!