Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella – Marbella, Spain
Where Marbella’s Golden Age Returns in Full Colour
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● One of Spain’s most legendary hotels, beautifully reimagined after a €50 million transformation.
● Interiors by El Equipo Creativo and Cristina Carulla Studio that revive the glamour, colour, and optimism of Marbella’s 1970s heyday.
● Home to iconic social spaces including Azul Bar, Escondido Rooftop, La Cabane Beach Club, and one of the Costa del Sol’s most storied hospitality legacies.
A Costa del Sol Legend Reawakens
Long before Marbella became synonymous with Mediterranean glamour, there was Los Monteros. When the hotel opened in 1962, it helped define luxury hospitality on Spain’s southern coast. It quickly became one of the country’s most celebrated resorts, attracting royalty, international celebrities, artists, and the global jet set. It was here that Spain’s first Michelin-starred hotel restaurant made history. Sean Connery stayed here. Julio Iglesias did too. Michael Jackson checked in. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía were among its many distinguished guests. For decades, Los Monteros represented the very best of Marbella. Today, following an extensive renovation and its rebirth as Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella, this legendary address enters a vibrant new chapter. Not by recreating the past. But by capturing its spirit.
The Return of Mediterranean Glamour
The transformation was entrusted to two Barcelona design powerhouses. El Equipo Creativo reimagined all public spaces, while Cristina Carulla Studio redesigned the guestrooms and suites. Together they have created a hotel that feels deeply rooted in Marbella’s history while embracing a contemporary Mediterranean lifestyle. The inspiration comes from Andalusia itself. Sun-bleached villages. Olive groves. Terracotta rooftops. The blues of the Mediterranean. The vibrant artistic legacy of nearby Málaga and Pablo Picasso. Throughout the hotel, bold colours, geometric forms, handcrafted ceramics, lush planting, and organic curves create spaces that feel joyful, sophisticated, and unmistakably southern Spanish. This is not quiet luxury. This is sunshine luxury.
Design Inspired by the Spirit of the 1970s
Rather than erasing Los Monteros’ history, the redesign celebrates the decade that helped define Marbella’s international reputation. The 1970s are everywhere. But interpreted through a contemporary lens. Warm woods, sculptural furniture, vibrant textiles, oversized rugs, handcrafted details, and playful geometry create an atmosphere that feels optimistic and social. Whitewashed walls provide a calm backdrop for bursts of colour inspired by sunsets, gardens, sea views, and Andalusian landscapes. Hand-painted murals animate public spaces. Curated objects, artisan crafts, and bespoke furnishings create the feeling of a sophisticated Mediterranean home rather than a conventional resort. Every room tells a story.
The Andalusian Patio
At the heart of the hotel sits the historic Andalusian courtyard. More than a circulation space, it acts as the emotional centre of the property. A sculptural water feature anchors the courtyard, while Mediterranean planting, warm stone surfaces, and soft natural light create an atmosphere of calm and connection. Guests naturally gather here. Morning coffee becomes an extended conversation. Afternoon drinks stretch into evening. Like the traditional patios of southern Spain, it functions as a social living room beneath the open sky.
Rooms Made for Marbella Living
The hotel’s 195 guestrooms, including 60 suites, continue the Mediterranean narrative. Cristina Carulla’s redesign feels fresh, contemporary, and effortlessly relaxed. Natural woods, woven textures, handcrafted details, and vibrant accents are layered against calming neutral backgrounds. Bespoke rugs, local artwork, and carefully selected furnishings create spaces that feel residential rather than hotel-like. Many rooms feature generous terraces overlooking gardens, pools, or the Mediterranean beyond. The atmosphere is bright and airy. Designed for barefoot mornings. Long afternoons. And sunsets viewed from a private balcony with a glass of wine in hand.
Azul Bar: A Marbella Institution Reimagined
Since 1962, Azul Bar has been one of Los Monteros’ defining social spaces. The redesign transforms it into one of the hotel’s most striking interiors. Deep blues dominate the palette, creating an atmosphere inspired by sea, sky, and Mediterranean evenings. At its centre stands a sculptural three-dimensional ceramic bar that immediately becomes the room’s focal point. Picasso-inspired murals introduce movement and personality. The atmosphere evolves naturally throughout the day. Coffee and conversation in the morning. Cocktails and music after dark. The spirit of Marbella remains very much alive.
Poolside Nostalgia with Contemporary Energy
The pool area channels the carefree glamour of classic Mediterranean holidays. El Equipo Creativo reimagined the space through a series of elevated platforms inspired by the region’s natural topography. Turquoise water, warm white surfaces, vintage-inspired loungers, and abundant sunshine create an atmosphere that feels simultaneously retro and contemporary. Nearby, Costa Club Pool Bar extends the experience. Terracotta tiles. Wooden latticework. A shaded pergola. Everything designed to evoke the feeling of a long summer afternoon by the sea. It is impossible not to slow down here.
Jara and the New Marbella Dining Scene
Food has always been central to Los Monteros. That tradition continues under the guidance of Michelin-starred chef José Carlos García. At Jara, Mediterranean cuisine takes centre stage. Seasonal ingredients, regional flavours, local seafood, and Andalusian classics are presented with confidence but without unnecessary formality. The design mirrors the menu. White surfaces. Green ceramic details. Abundant natural light. The atmosphere feels fresh, garden-like, and distinctly Mediterranean. Elegant but relaxed. Exactly as Marbella dining should be.
Escondido: Marbella Above the Rooftops
High above the resort sits Escondido Rooftop. One of the hotel’s most compelling spaces. By day, it feels relaxed and breezy, with infinity pool views stretching toward the Mediterranean. As the sun begins to set, the atmosphere shifts. Terracotta tones glow in the evening light. Bold geometric patterns emerge. Cocktails appear. Music drifts across the rooftop. The transformation feels almost cinematic. Part rooftop restaurant. Part sunset lounge. Part social stage. Entirely Marbella.
La Cabane and the Return of Coastal Glamour
Few beach clubs carry the legacy of La Cabane. Originally launched in 1965, it helped establish the beach club culture that would later define the Costa del Sol. Today, following its redesign in collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana, it remains one of Marbella’s most desirable destinations. Blue Majolica patterns stretch across the club. Michelin-starred chef Dani García oversees the culinary offering. The Mediterranean provides the backdrop. Guests of Kimpton Los Monteros enjoy privileged access to one of the coast’s most iconic addresses. A place where old-school glamour feels surprisingly relevant once again.
A New Era for a Marbella Icon
What makes Kimpton Los Monteros special is not simply the quality of the renovation. It is the understanding of what made the hotel iconic in the first place. The social energy. The Mediterranean warmth. The sense of optimism. The connection to Marbella’s golden years. Rather than turning Los Monteros into something completely different, the project allows its original spirit to shine once more. Only brighter.
A Costa del Sol Classic, Beautifully Reimagined
Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella successfully bridges past and present, combining one of Spain’s most important hospitality legacies with a vibrant contemporary design vision. For travellers seeking sunshine, style, exceptional dining, rooftop sunsets, and authentic Mediterranean glamour, few hotels on the Costa del Sol tell a richer story. More than sixty years after opening its doors, Los Monteros remains exactly what it has always been. One of Marbella’s great addresses.
