The Marbella Club
Timeless Legacy of Leisure
and Luxury
Hidden along the gilded coast of Spain’s Costa del Sol, the Marbella Club is more than a hotel—it is an institution. An emblem of discreet glamour and enduring heritage, its story winds through decades of royal intrigue, artistic eccentricity, and slow, deliberate elegance. From aristocratic beginnings to its current standing as a bastion of refined hospitality, the Marbella Club embodies a timeless European sensibility.
(Historic Places) It began, as many enduring things do, with an act of love. In 1947, Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe, a Spanish-German aristocrat with a taste for California modernism and Andalusian soul, acquired the 18-hectare Finca Santa Margarita. Inspired by his travels and the natural beauty of the rugged coastline, he transformed the estate into a retreat for his circle of royalty, artists, and intellectuals. By 1954, the Marbella Club officially opened with 20 guest rooms, a dining area, and a bar—less a hotel, more an extended salon of the European jet set.
Early guests were enchanted by the club’s informal charm—a deliberate contrast to the stiff grandeur typical of luxury resorts at the time. The intimate atmosphere fostered a sense of community and freedom, where artists could paint by day and nobles could dance until dawn. This balance between sophistication and relaxation remains a defining characteristic of the club today. Reflecting on the early days, Prince Alfonso remarked, “Elegant simplicity—it is the Marbella Club philosophy. It is our way of life.”
Royal Pranks and Hollywood Nights
In the golden years of the 1960s and ’70s, the Marbella Club wasn’t just a destination; it was the scene. Grace Kelly sipped cocktails under the bougainvillea. Audrey Hepburn arrived incognito. Sean Connery, Brigitte Bardot, and other cinematic legends passed through, drawn by the club’s effortless marriage of discretion and decadence.
The parties were legendary. Once, King Simeon II of Bulgaria arrived in a Fidel Castro costume, prompting the panicked departure of exiled Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista. Another evening saw the Duke and Duchess of Windsor caught in a sartorial mishap at a South Pacific-themed party, dressed in floral prints while everyone else arrived in formal black tie.
The allure of the Marbella Club extended beyond glamour and spectacle. The estate became a crucible for cultural exchange, where conversations between poets and politicians, painters and princes sparked ideas that resonated far beyond the sunlit terraces. Musicians played impromptu concerts, and writers found inspiration in the Mediterranean light and the gentle sound of the sea.
Alongside the glamour and spectacle, the Marbella Club quietly became a nurturing ground for creativity and subtle influences. Belgian- born Jimmy Bodrero, a Disney illustrator, created its first brochure, capturing the charm and insouciance of the early days. Even the sport of padel tennis traces its Spanish origins here, introduced in 1974 on the hotel grounds by Prince Alfonso himself.
Architecture Rooted in Soul
Every corner of the Marbella Club whispers its heritage. The architecture blends whitewashed Andalusian villas, terracotta tiles, wrought-iron balconies, and hand-painted ceramics with Moorish influences. Interiors are rich with antique furnishings, handcrafted carpets, and original artwork, many curated by Alfonso and his artistic contemporaries.
Botanical gardens unfurl across the estate with over 300 plant species, offering a quiet sense of discovery as paths meander from spa to sea. The hotel is less a structure and more a lived-in landscape, where time slows and senses heighten. Guests often speak of the therapeutic effects of simply wandering these verdant spaces, where fragrant orange blossoms and towering palms provide respite from the bustling world outside. British author Nicholas Foulkes once said, “Here the past is so present, you can almost touch it.”
“Here the past is so present, you can almost touch it.”
Legacy Through Lineage
This ethos of enduring craftsmanship continues through to those linked with the famous club. At The Grill, Roque Sr., the original Argentinian grillmaster, served guests with gaucho precision. Today, his son, Roque Jr., carries the torch, using the same knives and cutting board—a literal carving of legacy into every dish.
And then there were the kings. King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, entranced by the Marbella Club’s seclusion, once arrived with 400 staff and 200 tons of luggage. He later commissioned a palace nearby, cementing Marbella as a second Riviera for Middle Eastern royalty.
A Contemporary Renaissance
Today, under the stewardship of Daniel Shamoon and Jennica Arazi, the Marbella Club is evolving without forgetting. The addition of Finca Ana María—a sprawling 50,000-square-meter garden retreat—marks a return to nature and sustainability. The wellness offerings are holistic yet rooted in Mediterranean traditions, while the rooms and suites are refreshed, never reimagined.
Even the font used in the club’s earliest brochures now graces the signage at the restaurant El Patio, a subtle nod to its artistic past. Such details matter here.
Audrey Hepburn once captured it simply: “Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.”