Messina Restaurante

I did a small Michelin tour in Andalousia, this is the Michelin Star I tried the first day. Follow me for all the reviews on this, on others tours and on every Michelin stars in Paris and 3 stars in France. The chef has a lot to say. What’s interesting here? The chef is exploring in plenty of ways and directions. So you’ll be surprised and entertained. In hindsight, he is quite different from others in the region. And bonus points, there’s an interest for mixology. The dishes may differ at lot in the sequence (in intensity and style), so it’s not your regular ride. I can surprise the usual Michelin gastronome, as it makes a bit more difficult to read him. Also some side dishes were not up to par. The atmosphere was pleasant, the crowd international and the service agreeable. It’s great for a date or a friends dinner. Does deserve its star

Reservation went smooth. The restaurant is tastefully decorated - modern style - and with good acoustics. We had had the small menu which was plenty of food for us. We also ordered the wine menu. The shrimp was our favorite. Very delicious. No doubt a lot of thinking had been put into the individual dishes but some nevertheless did not work for us, either taste or texture i.e. the squid. Wines are local which we appreciate. They were not highend but well matched with the food. Servings of wines were very small glasses. I went dry of wine twice during the meal which should not happen. The service was polite and correct all the way through but also a bit mechanical. We are used to and hoping for a more friendly and hospitality kind of style where you discuss the food and the wine along the way. The total bill for the experience was definitely reasonable.

Elegant modern minimalist restaurant in Marbella with one well-deserved Michelin star as of 2024. Offers both tasting menus and a la carte. Very professional and attentive service complement excellent dishes with top ingredients that combine Spanish recipes with international influences.

I typically have a lot to say about my dining experiences, though I don’t have a whole lot to say about my experience at Messina Restaurante. I chose the Menu Messina for dinner. I usually mention a “standout” dish, though no dish in particular stood out to me. The presentation was very nice but the food and the service were just okay. Personally, I wouldn’t rate this experience very high on my list of fine dining experiences. For the price tag, and in comparison to the other Michelin star restaurants I’ve reviewed, the value isn’t quite as high. Though I left relatively underwhelmed, it was not a bad experience overall and I would be happy to give it another try if some improvements are made.

Lovely experience from start to finish. We did the 14 course tasting menu which was reasonably priced for what we got. Each meal had a beautiful presentation and unique flavors. Service was very welcoming and helpful as well. Parking can be validating for 2 hours at hotel next door

What a wonderful evening. We have wanted to try Messina for years, we are pleased we managed to finally get there. The food was amazing, the service was superb, and all in a beautiful setting. Some wonderful extra touches too. We loved it! We will not wait so long to return…thank you for a superb evening.

Messina: A Michelin-Worthy Gem in Marbella Messina delivered an exceptional dining experience that even impressed two well-traveled New Yorkers. From start to finish, the service was amazing and the food was truly delicious. Sitting at the chef's table provided a truly memorable evening. The chef, his wife (the front of house manager), and his son (the sous chef) were incredibly welcoming and made my birthday celebration extra special. Unlike many other tasting menus, the food at Messina was not only creative but also incredibly flavorful. The passion of the chef was evident in every dish. The ambiance and service were perfect throughout the meal. They even accommodated our special birthday wine and added lovely touches to make me feel celebrated. I highly recommend Messina. It's a must-visit for anyone seeking a top-tier dining experience in Marbella. This place deserves three Michelin stars! I also adored the modern yet warm vibe of the restaurant.

Excellent Michelin restaurant with an eye for the details. Best shrimps ever, beautiful lamb and spanish/local wine menu with great knowledge behind the wine paring. Try the big Messina menu. There are a couple surprises you wont find anywhere else. The only thing I will point out is I expected more of the desserts. It was good but not for a restaurant in this level. But the fantastic homemade chocolates with the coffee was an really good final of this evening.

This is a 5 star restaurant. It has earned a 2017 Michelin Star and was well earned. We did the longer of the two tasting menus and all but one course was great. Just be warned that the tasting menu takes time so plan three hours to eat. I loved it but don't like three hour meals so I would order from the regular menu next time.

Spain is currently Europe's culinary hotspot and after dining at Restaurante Messina, I can see why. Ferran Adria may have shut El Bulli but his influence still extends far and wide I am a huge fan of molecular gastronomy food and Restaurante Messina was heaven on earth to me. The innovation and imagination shown even in the amuse bouches (or 'snacks' as they call them here) far outweigh that shown in whole menus, even in Michelin star establishments The restaurant is a little out of the way of the 2 touristy areas of the Old Town and the beach but it's well worth the 5 minute walk from the edge of the Old Town As it turned out, I visited on 1 of only 3 nights that chef Mauricio Giovanini has had off since the restaurant opened 8 years ago but his kitchen brigade did him proud in his absence and I was ably looked after in the dining room by his charming and impressively multi-lingual wife Pia and her friendly front of house team. Service was seamless and well organised Choosing between the a la carte menu and 2 tasting menus was difficult as they all offer different dishes and I wanted to try everything. In fact, I even asked if they opened the next day as I fully intended to return the next day to try different dishes! Sadly, they close on Sundays, so I was forced to make a choice and it may not surprise you to know that I went for the longer Tasting Menu Messina! 1. Snacks Never before has such an innocently named course brought such a big smile to my face. A whole tray of molecular goodies arrived en masse, ranging from a stone bowl containing smoke and assorted ham & nibbles, a plate with different single bites & combinations , a bowl with light savoury (I think it was pepper) ice cream & tomato crisps 2. 'Ferrero Rocher' Haha!!! This looked just like a Ferrero Rocher chocolate but it was the most amazing smooth foie gras with nuts covered with gold leaf. If all Ferrero Rochers tasted like this, I'd eat a lot more of them! 3. A brown paper bag of 4 breads was delivered with 2 different dipping olive oils 4. Messina's take on the Spanish breakfast of ham & bread The bread was actually grilled belly of sea bass & the butter made with olive oil 5. Sushi de-fusion Wonderfully fresh tuna sashimi, rice foam, ginger delivered as a liquid nitrogen sauce poured from a teapot. Lovely eaten as 1 bite 6. Squid roe & water potatoes 7, Large red prawn with pure asparagus juice 8. Camembert cheese gnocchi with spinach consomme 9. Red mullet served in its own wonderful soup, rich with flavours of the sea 10. Baby goat from Malaga, cooked sous vide. Strong flavoured meat rendered to wonderful tenderness 11. 'Cheese & wine' As expected by now, given the Messina twist so the cheese came in various forms including powder and ice cream 12. Malibu, chocolate & pineapple A melange of different and complementary ingredients, testures and flavours 13. Although I didn't order coffee, a big box of petit fours appeared. Although I don't have a sweet tooth generally, I did scoff about umm 12 of them! I loved this meal and my only regret was that they weren't open the next night so that I could return to try other dishes like their signature chocolate volcano cake! Restaurante Messina doesn't yet have a Michelin star but I shall be looking out for the next Michelin guide for Spain, which is imminent, to see if they have gained a deserved star

The decor is nicely done, tables are arranged nicely for private conversation. I arrived when the place open, and is on Wednesday. Did not order the taster menu, worry that it will take hours to finish. The appetizers are great. Ordered 2 main courses, the pigeon (recommended by one of the rrevewer)and Angus Beef. The pigeon is extremely well done, not overcooked - meat is tendered. The beef are smoked and broil. Great taste. Highly recommended place.

My wife and I had a wonderful dinner here last night. The staff is very friendly, and the hostess (Maria) was very patient with us (our Spanish is rusty). The prices are actually fairly reasonable, so the four-euro rating may need to be adjusted down a bit. While the tasting menu looked very tempting, my wife wanted a lighter dinner, so we opted for single courses. She had the foie gras with cherry chutney meringue and I had the shredded poularde (hen) soup with poached yolk. Delicious! For the main entree, my wife had the Iberian pork with crispy quinoa, dates, and fresh tomato. I had the Entrecte steak with mushrooms comfit and potatoes. We both thought our dishes were superb! For dessert, we both chose the white chocolate and "Olorso" sherry cream with Cointreau and orange ice cream. It was a great way to top off the meal. By the way, we asked Maria for a recommendation for a local Spanish white wine that was fruity but not too sweet. She chose a local moscatel seco from Malaga called 'Botani' from Bodegas Jorge Ordonez. It was a 2011 and very delicious. A great evening, and well worth the visit if in Marbella.

If you are not travelling on a budget its a great place to stop and enjoy a delicious meal. Great quality prime beef, food presentation was amazing. great staff.

I recently visited Marbella for work, and I had the great fortune to be able to spend some time with my wife after my work obligations were complete. From the beginning, we wanted to have a very culinary adventure, and Restaurante Messina did not let us down. The space is very intimate- it's got an elegant, modern decor without feeling cold or sterile. The presentation of the food is something to behold- our first course was served on clear, sharply angled acrylic platforms. Little gastronomy flourishes abound, so you'll see plenty of mist, foam, gold leaf and other creative ideas. As for the food itself, excellent. The chef really knows how to integrate flavors, while playing with local ingredients and staying true to Spanish cuisine. The table service was excellent, and well orchestrated. Don't expect your water glass to go unfilled, or for a plate to stay in front of you for even a moment longer than it should. While costly, this was one of the finest meals we had in Spain.

What a great meal tonight at Restaurante Messina in lovely Marbella! We six enjoyed the Messina tasting menu, which was a culinary tour de force covering New and Old World Latin flavors using the best of Spain's bounty from the sea and the land. Attentive, knowledgeable service, coupled with flawless execution and a spot-on wine list make this a superb choice for a solid week-night dinner out, or a weekend coup de grace meal. We each enjoyed everything we had, and couldn't be happier to recommend this jewel in Marbella's culinary crown. One Michelin Star well-deserved!

The pictures speak for itself. Amazing Food! Great to go here when visiting Marbella!