Marbella is not mere a tourist paradise for its sightseeing guarded with a splendid Mediterranean weather; the resort town of Costa de Sol also offers all kinds of food choices. From traditional Andalucían to Spanish special to a variety of international cuisine, you will find almost all to go well with your gastronomic interest.

Being a sea front place, fish occupies an essential part in Marbella food. In fact, the town itself doesn’t have any specialities in terms of cuisine but it serves typical Spanish favourites with a greater inclination towards seafood. However, at every corner of the city you will find some of the finest multi-cuisine restaurants on account of the growing cosmopolitan nature.

The city has a wealth of restaurants…there is Italian, Indian, Chinese and special Thai eateries lined up close to all the famous tourist spots. However, going by the nature of Spain, you will find some interesting options and one can even arrange a special culinary tour in and around Marbella.

Some of the most popular Spanish dishes those are well and frequently served in Marbella are: the Tapas, a snack served with alcoholic drink throughout; Paella, gregarious rice dish available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian; fried fish etc. You can even taste some typical hams, available in a variety of flavour; these are key components in Spanish cuisine.

Going by the preparation of any Spanish food item, food in Marbella is spicy and richly flavoured. Primarily, tomatoes, potatoes, chilli, citrus fruit and beans are widely used in most of the popular dishes. Locals and visitors also love to have some superbly prepared chicken and shellfish delicacies along with some other which include: Bacalao (salted cod), Butifarra (white sausage) and Chorizo (sausage).

But, the best way to taste some great cookery is to travel to any Andalucían village. In fact, the distinctive aroma of Spanish dishes lies in rural regions, especially inside Costa del Sol. Being once a fishing village, you will have a great variety of fish and seafood dishes prepared in a wooden woven releasing a flavour of its own.

Another principal and widely recognised food item of Spain, and so in Marbella, is Paella. Pronounced as paeya, it’s a delicious mixed rice dish which constitutes a variety of ingredients and recipe, including different types of meat and seafood. Although its origin is linked to the Valencia region, it can be found pretty much everywhere in Spain. And again, Paella in Marbella means applying the seafood formula with fish and rice in the pan.

However, over the years, the food in Marbella is greatly influenced by its own growth from a seaside village town to a flourishing cosmopolitan city. The thriving international business community and the growth of tourism as a major industry have encouraged the establishment of restaurants with some delicate Thai and Italian dishes.

The Spaniards definitely know how to enjoy life – good music, good friends and most importantly good food and wine. Spanish sherry is not universally known, but is not to be missed as you travel through Spain, especially in Southern Spain. Good dry sherry is one of the world´s sexiest drinks, an ideal companion to tapas or just sitting in the plaza watching the beautiful Spanish horse carriages pass by.

Though beer and wine have dominated the drinking population, sherry continues to be the drink of choice for the older Spaniards. Mid-day you can count on seeing groups of men, whether in suits or the men from the country enjoying their daily glass of sherry. There is a saying in southern Spain, you either have one glass of fino at 11, or 11 glasses at one. Andalucíans drink it like mother’s milk to no apparent ill-effect!

This specialty sherry originated in the town of Jerez de la Frontera, in Andalusia, where most of it is produced and where viticulture has flourished since the time of Phoenicians (12th century BC). Spanish sherry has a very long history, but the methods of producing the different types of sherry have not changed throughout the years and, in fact, are bound to the strict rules of production.

The sherry grapes, predominantly alomin and the sweet Pedro Ximenez grapes, grow in the unique chalky soil called albariza of Jerez de la Frontera, where the soil soaks up the winter rain like a sponge, and feeds the deep roots of the vines throughout the hot, arid summers. After the grapes are picked, crushed and fortified with grape spirits, the liquid is place in wooden casks where the wine develops a characteristic covering of yeast called flor (flower) on its surface. Flor intensifies the wine´s flavour, keeping it crisp and dry.

Sherry that develops flor will be labelled and bottled as fino, sherry that doesn´t will be left to oxidize and will be sold as oloroso. Next, the sherry undergoes a complex maturing and blending process known as solera, in which some if it is blended at regular intervals with wine from an older barrel and then topped up with a younger wine. This ensures consistency and leaves the consumers free from having to worry about particular vintages.

Bottled sherry comes in the following categories (Sherry from local vineyards can be found in barrels and is also worth a try):

FINO (meaning “fine”) is light, dry and delicate with the colour of straw. It is usually fortified to about 15 percent alcohol. (Pale Cream sherry is sweetened fino)

MANZANILLA is the incomparable fino-style sherry produced in the picturesque seaside town of Sanlucar de Barrameda, which is located on the Atlantic Ocean and is believed to be the reason manzanilla has an irresistible crisp-dry salty tang.

AMONTILLADO, another member of the fino family, is aged longer in the solera system and left to oxidize after it loses its flor, which gives the sherry its amber colour, deep nuttiness, and brassy richness. Amontillado, which should really be enjoyed dry, is often sweetened for export. Its alcohol content is higher than that of a fino.

OLOROSO (“fragrant”) is a dark amber, walnutty, rich sherry with a high degree of alcohol (about 20 percent). Olorosos do not develop flor and take longer to mature than finos. While olorosos are also frequently sweetened (and labelled cream sherry), the best examples are dry.

PALO CORTADO is the much prized, complex rebel sherry that begins life as amontillado, then “mutates” into an oloroso, sharing the best characteristics of both. A special treat, it is worth seeking out.

PEDRO XIMENEZ, or PX, is the raisiney-sweet dessert sherry made from Pedro Ximenez grapes, which are traditionally dried in the sun.

There are a great number of street markets throughout Spain and everyone is different and offers visitors a great way to see the local products and merchandise. Many markets combine flea markets, produce stands and boot sales where great bargains can often be had. The street markets are not meant to be tourist traps with inflated prices, this is where the locals go to buy such things as clothes, produce, personal and household products.

The location of the city may dictate the majority of wares sold at these fairs. For example, beach towns will have numerous swim suit stalls and beach apparel, whereas cities more inland may concentrate on antiquities, olive oil, wine and products that are locally produced. Markets in Andalucia, with its close proximity to Morocco have plenty of stalls selling authentic Arabic wares such as pottery, metalware and leather goods.

Most Spanish street markets are once a week and listings for times and locations of the markets can be found in the local papers or at the tourist office. Apart from the usual weekly markets, there are ones specially targeted for the holidays. Around Christmas time, special holiday markets will begin to pop up everywhere. They are filled with special holiday items such as nativity scenes, books, pastries and traditional gifts given at this time of year, especially for the Three Kings Day on January 5th (the traditional gift-giving day in Spain). Oftentimes, music and food booths will also be put up, making it a fun day of shopping.

Though many things are inexpensive and are a good value for the price, it is important to keep an eye out for poorly made items that will only last you one use or wear. Test the electronic items before purchasing them and examine clothes and shoes for flaws. In the larger cities there are also pick pockets just waiting to prey on oblivious shoppers. So, keep a firm hold on your purse and wallet and watch for pick-pockets.

The markets are vivacious and usually packed with excited shoppers, which makes the street markets fun to attend – great people watching and bargaining…… but they are not for the timid. You may have to push your way through the crowd to get a good look at the items and be aggressive to get the attention of the vendor to pay for your merchandise. Don´t forget – you can bargain, vendors are expecting this, so go for it!