Restaurante El Lago
Restaurante El Lago is one of the Costa del Sol’s Michelin star restaurants and has held the award since 2005, making it one of the longest standing. It therefore follows that you’ll enjoy fine wining and dining at the highest level, but El Lago also stands out for other reasons.
Think local, think sustainable, think delicious and also think vegetarian. All dishes at El Lago combine the first three and unusually for this level of dining, the restaurant also has a tasting menu that is vegetarian throughout its 15 courses, from the first starter to the last dessert.
Chef Fernando Villasclaras, a local from Nerja, takes sustainability as his starting point for all dishes. He has therefore set up partnerships with local farmers and producers to ensure that as many ingredients as possible are locally sourced.
On the menu, expect to find local fruit and vegetables (e.g. radishes from Estepona, olives from Alora and grapes and mangos from the Axarquía); freshly-caught fish and seafood such as the red snapper from Marbella; Malaga-produced cheeses and sugar cane syrup; and locally-sourced meats such as kid goat.
There’s even a wine pairing option that stays local and includes wines from up to 150km from El Lago.
On the menu
Restaurante El Lago has an à la carte menu, with starters priced €26 to €40 and mains from €36 to €45.
There are also two tasting menus:
Menú Terrá
The 100% vegetarian option, priced at €120 per person with wine pairing options extra. Note that you need to book this tasting menu in advance.
It includes 7 snacks, 6 mains including seasonal vegetables gargouillou in “aguaillo” of Malaga lettuce, and 3 desserts. We believe this is the only fully veggie tasting menu in the area, making El Lago is must-try for non-meat and fish eaters.
Menú Sazón
Priced at 130 per person, with wine pairing options extra.
It includes 7 snacks (as per those on the Terrá menu), 8 mains such as Marbella red snapper in hollandais sauce with mango and suckling kid goat, and 2 desserts.
In your glass
The wine cellar at El Lago runs to over 300 labels, with Andalusian wines taking centre stage on the shelves. The tasting menus come with 3 wine pairing options – local (produced up to 150km from El Lago), Spanish and international. If you’re dining à la carte, allow the Maître d’ to advise you on the best options.
The ambience
Restaurante El Lago has a privileged location on the Greenlife Golf Course on the east side of Marbella. The restaurant itself sits above the course and overlooks one of the lakes, giving it a stunning setting.
The peace and quiet of the area, even in high summer, makes it an ideal location for a romantic dinner for two or a special occasion meal for family or friends.
And as you’d expect from a Michelin star restaurant, the service is exquisite.
How to get to El Lago
You’ll find this restaurant to the east of Marbella, about 45 minutes drive from Malaga city. Make El Lago your dinner stop after a day out in Marbella or a special occasion treat from Malaga.
Book a table
Advance booking is advised, especially if you want a table on the terrace in the summer. And don’t forget that if you’re going for the vegetarian tasting menu, you need to let the restaurant know in advance.