Marbella, SpainVilla Padierna Golf Resort
Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort
Tuscan art citadel
Terracotta facades, cypress gardens, and an open-air Roman amphitheatre create an Italian palazzo retreat tucked into the Andalusian hills.
“What the architecture of this five-star hotel lacks in history, its interiors make up for in spades.”
What it’s good at
Silver
A vast Roman-style thermal circuit with salt hammams, multiple themed saunas, hydrotherapy pools, and dedicated wellness cuisine.
Silver
Three eighteen-hole championship golf courses, a dedicated racquet club, multiple swimming pools, and seasonal beach club shuttles.
Bronze
Tuscan palazzo styling adorned with over twelve hundred classical artworks, historical tapestries, and marble garden sculptures.
Outside the door
In the rolling Benahavís hills, surrounded by three championship golf courses ten minutes from the coast.
What they say
One MICHELIN Key
Michelin
UK Readers' Choice Awards – Europe
Condé Nast Traveler
2025
Rather than the whitewashed Andalusian style you might expect, Padierna Palace is a dead ringer for a Tuscan villa.
The rooms
Plush quarters feature marble bathrooms and private balconies facing the fairways, while standalone villas add enclosed gardens and private plunge pools.
The water
Bring a swimsuit.
The spa & gym
Leave the phone upstairs.
The Roman bath thermal circuit spans aromatic steam rooms, a sea-salt hammam, themed saunas, a vitality pool, and an indoor heated bath.
At the table
Guests gather for cocktails beside the fireplace at Eddy's Bar, garden-side sushi by the lake, and breakfast on La Loggia's panoramic terrace.
How it began
Built by businessman Ricardo Arranz as a tribute to his wife, the estate houses over twelve hundred classical paintings and marble sculptures.
Somewhere apart
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Three championship golf courses encircle the quiet valley grounds, with Mediterranean beaches and Puerto Banús a ten-minute drive away.
Marbella
More like this
Don Carlos Marbella
“Subtropical coastal retreat”
Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club
“Andalusian beachfront refuge”
The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
Outside the door
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.