The Imprint

As we’re slowly approaching wedding season, the time for hens is also upon us!

Last year, I was lucky to be a bridesmaid for two loved ones’ weddings and travel abroad for the hens. Due to popular demand, Marbella was chosen for both trips and never having been to the hyped Spanish location, I was definitely looking forward to it!

Food options can be tricky when visiting Europe as a vegetarian. As a child and teenager, I would often be limited to chips and bread, so naturally, I was curious about the options there would be in Marbella and I was pleasantly surprised!

As I was part of a large group for both hens, the key was finding great vegetarian options at popular restaurants rather than just going to completely vegetarian/vegan restaurants. This allowed for everyone’s wants to be met and the ability to try out trending spots.

Our first stop was a trending cafe that served brunch, light bites and wraps. Adorned with pink flowers and white parasols, Rosas Cafe was the perfect place to grab some lunch in the heat. Rosas Cafe could be paralleled with El&n Cafe, both of which put physical rose-tinted glasses on their customers.

I had a Cafe Rosas vegan wrap with a Rosè sangria, something I’d never tried before but would definitely get again.

While the beach club boasted incredible views and excellent service, there wasn’t much of a range of vegetarian options. We went for the veggie pizza and the nachos ‘Viva Mexico’ (with the beef separate), and while they were decent, were not the quality of which we paid.

On the other hand, we were in awe of the atmosphere and food at Breathe. Surrounded by greenery and accompanied by impressive cocktails, we patiently waited in anticipation for the meal.

To start we ordered two vegetarian starters and shared them among us. While both dishes, the BBQ-grilled asparagus and winter burrata, used simple ingredients the flavours and presentation were both deliciously decadent. It’s fair to say that both these plates were completely cleaned in no time!

With three vegetarian mains on their menu, I opted for the roasted pumpkin with lemon white rice, halloumi, baby spinach, Moroccan lemon and a side of romesco sauce (pictured on the bottom right).

As someone who doesn’t usually eat pumpkin, I was really happy with the meal and felt that all the components complemented each other well! While the meal was pricey, it was an exquisite dining experience with unparalleled food- well worth it for me!

Throughout our trip, we had walked past Picasso several times and every time it was completely full with a line waiting outside, so wanted to stop by and try it. And on our last day, we managed to get a table.

We settled on the crispy Mac’N’Cheese balls as a starter, which was good, but even better with the pesto and Napolitano sauce it was served with.

For mains, we chose a truffle mushroom pizza, a lovely option but as someone who likes a bit of toppings- I would’ve loved to try the Greek Pizza or el jardín de Puerto Banus.

The decor was green and very picturesque, I would definitely go back to Picasso if I ever find myself in Marbella again.

This stop was another spontaneous one, which I love when exploring a new city. When walking up and down the beach, we would often smell the food from this restaurant and couldn’t help but go as our final meal in the Spanish city.

I settled on the mushroom risotto, and while it doesn’t look like a usual risotto, it was arguably the best one I’ve had. It sat nicely on the fine line between being too runny and too dry, the flavours were amazing and the purple vegetables sprinkled on top added a satisfying crunch.

Fast forward three months, and I was back in Marbella celebrating another hen! Landing in the early afternoon, we just wanted to have a quick bite and chose a small restaurant a few doors down from our accommodation.

Patatas Bravas is a great little snack for veggies and is available in most places.

If you’re looking for an amazing Italian restaurant with beach views and great entertainment, check out Gold!

Sharing with other vegetarians on the trip, we chose the Monica Bellucci pizza with mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and pesto. As you can probably tell, I am a pesto enthusiast so really enjoyed this!

We had had ice cream from Jijonenca a couple of times and every time it was as delicious as the last. This time I had gone for coconut ice cream, a favourite of mine.

While I fail to recount the name of this restaurant, the salad was simply delicious- thee perfect salad if you will. The fresh cous cous salad was a mixture of spinach, feta, avocado and tomato, which was topped with (no surprise) a pesto vinaigrette.

The boho-inspired restaurant was filled with bamboo lampshades and neutral colours, ideal for a quick lunch or a coffee break from the sun!

To switch things up, we booked a Thai restaurant for our last evening in Marbella and it did not disappoint.

For starters, we chose vegetarian spring rolls which came up with a unique dipping sauce.

We went straight for the classic Pad Thai and Green Thai Curry, both of which were extremely flavourful and fragrant. While they didn’t have many vegetarian options for mains, they kindly cooked the dishes we ordered without meat, adding extra vegetables.

With its enchanting atmosphere and delectable cocktails, Naga is a must-visit in Marbella!

In theme with this trip, we accidentally stumbled on this cafe on the last morning of our trip. In search of a local breakfast spot without travelling too far, we found Art Bakery & Gourmet and what a find!

In addition to its minimalist decor and extremely helpful staff, the food was unreal. It was elevated beyond belief despite the dishes’ simple ingredients. These scrambled eggs were fluffy and seasoned to perfection and the croissant had a satisfyingly crunch outside layer that contrasted its buttery centre.

Another thing we spotted on the menu was this burrata “trapped in a tomato” which was unusual but amazing to try.

Due to the richness of the pesto oil, it’s a great dish to share with people.

We just couldn’t leave Marbella without having a paella so stopped at a local Spanish restaurant and finally fulfilled that desire.

It’s clear to say that there was an array of vegetarian dishes available in Marbella, more than I thought. It’s important to bear in mind that because of its popularity, the city thrives off of aesthetics and ‘Instagramability’. Marbella’s want to create options isn’t like most Spanish cities explaining its imaginative food options and combinations.

However, that isn’t to say that there aren’t good vegetarian-friendly restaurants constantly opening up in Europe.

My biggest takeaway for food from these two trips is to find a balance between planning/research and exploring. Find options that accommodate the needs of all the travellers but also allow for spontaneous stops.

The food scene in Marbella isn’t one I’ve ever experienced before and I hope to continue trying new foods on a European holiday soon!

Thank you for reading and I hope my next piece brings you back to The Imprint!