La Casa de Yuki

Things to do

La Casa de Yuki sits in La Bahia de Banus, a quiet gated urbanization 250m from the beach, between Puerto Banus and San Pedro. Here is what I tell my friends when they visit, from the sofa outwards.

La Bahia de Banus, Marbella · 250m from the beachOpen in Google Maps ↗

At La Casa de Yuki

The number one activity, honestly.

The main terrace of La Casa de Yuki

🛋️Relax and do nothing

number one for a reason
Sleep in, make coffee in the big kitchen, stroll down to the beach before breakfast, and spend the afternoon on the terrace. There are board games and an Xbox inside for lazy evenings, and the Weber grill plus a kitchen made for proper cooking if you feel like hosting your own dinner under the stars.
The urbanization pool

🏊The pool downstairs

0m, you live here
The urbanization has a lovely lagoon-shaped pool surrounded by palms, with plenty of sunbeds and very few visitors. Even in summer it mostly sits empty, with one or two people at most. There is a second pool, a jacuzzi and a small gym too. Open until sunset.

On your doorstep

No car, no plan, just walk out the gate.

The coves at Playa El Rodeito with La Concha behind

🏖️The beaches

from 250m
The sea is at the end of the street, 3 minutes away. Honestly: the closest stretch is a little rocky in places, but it makes for great views and quiet swims. For sand, walk a few minutes along the shore to Playa El Rodeito or the La Bahia de Banus beach, or about 15 minutes towards Puerto Banus for Mistral Beach and its sunbeds.
The palm-lined promenade with chiringuito terraces

🚶The promenade to San Pedro

2-3 minutes away, on the beach
A beautiful flat boardwalk runs along the beach in both directions, starting 2 to 3 minutes from the door. Head west and it takes you towards San Pedro through a string of chiringuitos, the beach restaurants where lunch means grilled sardines and cold wine; the first ones are a 10 to 15 minute walk. Nuevo Reino and Kala Kalua Playa are two of my favourites.
Road cyclists on a mountain hairpin above Marbella

🚲Cycling and jogging

coast or mountain
Cycle along the coast, head through San Pedro towards the mountains, or simply follow the promenade with the sea beside you. Bikes and e-bikes are available to rent in Puerto Banus and San Pedro, with delivery available from many local companies.

A short hop away

Twenty minutes on foot, or a few by car.

Puerto Banus marina at sunset with La Concha behind

🛥️Puerto Banus

about a 20 minute walk
Marbella's famous marina: superyachts, sports cars, designer boutiques, beach clubs and the best people-watching on the coast. By night it turns into the nightlife capital of the area. Walk there along the sea in about 20 minutes, and get a taxi home.
The wavy boulevard bridge of San Pedro at dusk

🛍️San Pedro de Alcantara

20 minute walk or 5 by car
The neighbourhood everyone is talking about: a fast-growing little town with hip coffee shops, brunch spots and independent boutiques, and a lively boulevard built over the old road. Less flashy than Banus, much more affordable and authentic, with great tapas places all over: Bodeguita Nono and Llerena Iberico Tapas Bar are the ones I send everyone to.
A whitewashed courtyard in Marbella Old Town

🍊Marbella Old Town

10-15 minutes by car

The proper Spanish postcard: whitewashed lanes so narrow that balconies almost touch, traditionally nicknamed "kissing streets", flowerpots on every wall, orange trees in the Plaza de los Naranjos, and craft shops and little local boutiques tucked into the alleys. Walk down to the seafront to see the Dali statues on Avenida del Mar, then follow the promenade past its restaurants and cocktail bars.

Go in the late afternoon and stay for dinner. Taberna Gaspar is the most authentic Spanish food in town and probably my favourite place anywhere. Make sure to book in advance because they get very busy. El Cortijo does the best arroz negro in town, and Ta-Kumi is pricey but next-level Japanese.

For drinks, Punto Faro and the sunset bars by the beach pour well-priced, very strong cocktails. And in the morning, Churreria Generalife does churros worth the trip on their own.

Proper adventures

For the days you want to earn your dinner.

The waterfall and natural pool at Charco del Canalon

💦Charco del Canalon waterfall

30-60 min hike after the drive
Often called the best waterfall near Marbella, and the hike is as long as you want to make it. My tip: drive up the Rio Verde valley to the shaded parking spot at the start of the trail proper, and from there it is only 30 minutes to an hour, in the shade of trees and mountains. At the end you find a natural pool under the waterfall, beautiful and always cool even in August. If you fancy an extra challenge, walk the last stretch along the river itself, wading through the shallow water. Bring shoes you can get wet, and read this guide before you go.
La Concha mountain rising over Marbella

⛰️La Concha

a full-day hike
The mountain that watches over Marbella. Climbing it is a serious full-day hike with some scrambling, but the summit views run from Gibraltar to Africa on a clear day. For experienced hikers; ask me about the route and I'll point you right.

Day trips

Worth a whole day each. Leave early, come home happy.

Malaga port and city from the Gibralfaro viewpoint

🎨Malaga

about 1 hour by bus or car
Picasso's home town and the culture capital of the coast: the Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba fortress with a Roman theatre at its feet, the Pompidou centre by the port, and a buzzing old town for tapas in between. Direct buses run from Marbella all day, so you do not even need the car.
Aerial view of Ronda on its clifftop

🌉Ronda

about 1 hour 15 by car
One of the most dramatic towns in Spain, split in two by the El Tajo gorge and stitched back together by the Puente Nuevo bridge. Walk the clifftop paths, see Spain's oldest bullring, and have lunch hanging over the edge of the world. The mountain drive up is a joy in itself.
Aerial view of the Rock of Gibraltar

🐒Gibraltar

about 1 hour by car
Yes, that really is Britain at the end of the coast: red phone boxes, fish and chips, and one giant Rock. Take the cable car up to meet the famous Barbary macaques (hold onto your sunglasses), look across the strait to Africa, and go out on a dolphin-watching boat in the bay. Bring your passport.
The long Atlantic sands of Playa de El Palmar

🏄Playa de El Palmar

about 2 hours by car
The Costa de la Luz surfing legend, just outside the white hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera: a long, wild stretch of Atlantic sand with surf schools for every level and laid-back beach bars serving freshly caught fish. And even if you never touch a board, the swimming alone is worth it: green oceanic Atlantic water instead of the Mediterranean, and on the drive down past Tarifa you can watch the two seas run into each other. The vibe is barefoot and slow. Worth the full day, and stay for the sunset.
Seville cathedral and the Giralda

💃Seville

about 2.5 hours, a long day
Doable as a day trip if you leave early: the world's largest Gothic cathedral and the Giralda tower, the Real Alcazar palace, Plaza de Espana, and tapas until you roll home. In high summer it gets seriously hot; in spring and autumn it is perfect.

Day trip photos via Wikimedia Commons.

Want restaurant tips, the waterfall route, or anything else? Just ask me when you book; local recommendations are my favourite part.

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