Marbella beach - Puerto Cabopino

Cabopino Beach, Marbella

Puerto de Cabopino is a small romantic harbour and beach, just off southern Spain’s main coast road between Marbella and Mijas Costa. It’s one of those places you never seem to hear about in the main tourist guides, and maybe that’s just as well, because as a result of not being that well known, it’s managed to avoid becoming overcrowded with beach-goers.That’s probably because the marina is completely sheltered from view by a tasteful development of luxury apartments and townhouses, which overlook Puerto Cabopino.There are also surprisingly few restaurants and bars in the Puerto Cabopino area itself, most of which have been there for years, so have a real ‘local’ feel about them. Puerto Cabopino really is a great place to take visitors who have not been to the Costa del Sol before, or for a romantic night out.

Medium sized boats are always moored up in Cabopino port and you can usually see hundreds of fish swimming around next to them, such is the clarity of the water. Meanwhile, the surrounding cobbled walkways underfoot contribute to a real picturesque setting. The actual beach at Cabopino is slightly off-set from the marina. It is wide and clean, and overlooked by an old Moorish watch-tower. There are parking spaces in Cabopino port itself, plus plenty away from the beach, but again the vehicles are hidden from view, so not spoiling the overall port / beach atmosphere.

There are two main beach bars at Cabopino, and lots of sun beds and shaded areas for your enjoyment. Within the marina itself, the most recent addition to the local gastronomy is a small restaurant called Hermosa - fine food and quality service. And there’s a good (though a little pricey) Spanish fish restaurant right on the beach called El Puerto. Though probably the most famous eatery in Puerto Cabopino is "Albert’s on the Port" - half restaurant, half theatrical museum! Such is the extraordinary brick-a-brack interior decor.

There are a few bars hidden away around the back of Cabopino in the housing development - Cabopino really is full of surprises; the more you wander around, the more you discover. And on the other side of the main road, you’ll find an Italian restaurant called "Da Bruno a Cabopino" - probably the best Italian restaurant chain on the coast. So for a sea-front weekend away, Puerto Cabopino beach and harbour ticks all the boxes and is well worth a visit. Once you know it’s there, it’s easy to find, just follow the main sign off the coast road for ‘Cabopino’ and enjoy all this area has to offer.