COYA Marbella – Bringing Latin Colour To Southern Spain

Already celebrating six sensational months of taking guests on immersive dining experiences, COYA Marbella is an established part of the sophisticated dining scene at the award-winning Puente Romano Beach Resort.

The Luxury Editor visits this free-spirited restaurant, to get the inside track on just how one can ‘find your inner Inca’.

First launched in Mayfair, London in 2012, COYA has taken on the world, with outposts in Europe and the Middle East, including Dubia, Paris, Doha and beyond.  COYA Marbella opened in the spring of 2023 and was not only the group’s tenth international restaurant but also its first in Spain. COYA Marbella promises to take guests on a culinary and cultural journey to Latin America through exceptional, authentic Peruvian food, innovative pisco infusions, events, and unforgettable parties.

As soon as you arrive at COYA Marbella you feel a sense of occasion, you sense the excitement and anticipation. The restaurant is a beauty. An Andalusian courtyard in the spectacular Puente Romano Beach Resort has been transformed into a colourful, vibrant destination with sculptures, pots, layers, of textures and neutral tones, authentic Peruvian artefacts and bespoke, handmade furniture, hand-carved wooden panels and wrought iron, and detailing evocative of a lost Inca world.

The innovative design of the space allows for an all-year-long open-air dining venue, with a retractable roof, so on these balmy Mediterranean evenings, one can dine under the stars. Abundant foliage and hanging baskets add to the feeling of the restaurant blending with nature.

Cocktails

Starting the evening perched at the ornate Pisco Bar, which draws inspiration from the oldest bars in Lima, I perused the drinks menu, with an entire section dedicated to Pisco concoctions, including a Pisco negroni! It should almost go unsaid that you should try the COYA 1615 Macerado pisco sour, infused with passionflower.

I opted for a Marbella signature cocktail, the margarita Amarilla. Drinks were expertly mixed and served with elegant simplicity.

There is also an impressive COYA wine cellar with a spectacular collection of fine wines, tequilas and mezcals.

Ambience

Of course, coming to COYA is not just about the food. This is a place that celebrates life. Resonating with a curated playlist from the live DJ, the restaurant is brought to life by the unique COYA Music, setting the scene for a memorable night out.

Gastronomy

Let’s get to the point – the food was excellent. I have to admit to being surprised just how good it was.  On the menu alone the restaurant is recommended, and add in the ambience, design and location at Puente Romano Beach Resort, and it’s understandable why COYA Marbella has been such a resounding success in its first 6 months of opening.

We opted for some of COYA’s signature dishes, including the josper corn salad, mushroom tacos, seafood ceviche and the marinated ‘anticuchos ‘ skewers cooked on a charcoal grill, and the beef Angosto Wagyu.

The deserts are an indulgent treat, especially the Churros de Naranja,  crispy fried sweet fritters with orange zest and melted chocolate.

Parties

COYA Marbella is undoubtedly a destination restaurant, the kind of place you seek out and travel to, in order to celebrate a special night, maybe a birthday or a get-together with loved ones.

It’s also the place for some of the most exciting events of the year. In addition to the legendary Spring Equinox and New Year’s Eve parties, you can also enjoy a seasonal Yelloween 2023 fiesta for Halloween.

COYA Pool

Puente Romano Beach Resort is also home to COYA Pool, the first in the world, a lush sub-tropical oasis, with the picture-perfect backdrop of Marbella’s majestic La Concha mountain, and the white-washed Andalucian architecture of the Resort. Open until the end of October, this is the sun-soaked destination to savour signature COYA light bites and creative cocktails accompanied by COYA Music and live DJ performances.