My Review of Óbal Urban Hotel Marbella
Are you looking for where to stay in Marbella? Well, if you want to stay in the centre, the Obal Urban Hotel is a great choice.
This four-star hotel is in a great location, the rooms are modern and comfortable, and the facilities won’t disappoint you either. The rooftop terrace is one of my favourites.
The article includes an honest hotel review based on my recent two night stay.
You’ll get all the information you need to decide whether this is the right accommodation for you.
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Highlights
- Excellent location, right in the centre of Marbella and a short walk to restaurants and the beach.
- Elegant and modern decoration across the hotel.
- 360 Sky Rooftop Bar with pool and occasional live music.
- Delicious traditional food at La Alameda Restaurant.
- Friendly staff who are always with a smile and happy to help.
- Eco-friendly hotel focused on sustainability.
Location
The hotel’s location can’t be any better because you’re right in the heart of Marbella, in the historic centre and a 5 minute walk from the beach.
I personally prefer accommodation in the old town rather than in Puerto Banus.
One of the main reasons is the cost. Puerto Banus is a lush area so you’ll pay just for the location and reputation of the place. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the best hotel experience.
In contrast, the old town has a wider range of accommodations, including fantastic hotels like Obal.
This area has more things to do, and the atmosphere is more laid-back.
Also, it’s a great base to explore other parts of Marbella. As you leave the hotel doors, you have bus and taxi stops. This is super convenient if you don’t want to rent a car.
Decor and atmosphere
The moment you step into the hotel, you encounter a beautiful and spacious lobby area with comfortable and long sofas.
Right next to the reception, you can pour some lemon or orange-flavoured water and take some gummies.
During my stay, the reception wasn’t busy, and the receptionists were friendly and helpful at all times.
The corridors leading to the rooms have carpet floors and are white and simple, nothing fancy, but always clean.
However, the room decor is lovely. It’s neat, modern and simple. Ours had black, white and pink colours.
Rooms
My partner and I stayed in the Classic double room.
The check-in time is 3 pm, but we were able to check in way earlier because our room was ready, which was great. We really liked the room. It was spacious, comfortable, modern and clean.
I think this type of room is quite complete. You have everything from a big and comfortable bed with a good selection of pillows, a flatscreen TV, a mini fridge and a safe.
I also loved the long mirror, super important to get ready, the wardrobe with many hangers and drawers and decor.
Another highlight of the room is the rainfall shower. It’s spacious and so relaxing.
Fancy some snacks? You have a short selection of nuts, Pringles and cookies, including a favourite, Oreos.
The mini fridge has a lot too, from Fanta and Coca Cola to cava, wine and spirits.
The prices are a bit high, so I would get a few snacks from a supermarket. The water is complimentary!
This room is perfect for couples, but if you’re travelling with friends or family, book the family room or connected rooms. They’re probably a better option for you.
🛏️ Check availability and book your stay here
Facilities
The hotel isn’t short of facilities. It has a bit of everything for any type of traveller.
If you love food as much as my partner and I do, you’ll be happy to hear there is an onsite restaurant on the first floor, called Alameda, and a rooftop bar serving small bites and top-notch cocktails.
There’s also the option of a buffet breakfast for 15 euros at La Alameda Restaurant from 7:30 am to 10:30 am or 11 pm on Saturday and Sunday. We didn’t try the breakfast because I don’t eat a lot for breakfast, and I know that I can eat for less in the old town. I love Kafein for croissants and Churrería Ramón in Plaza de los Naranjos for churros con chocolate.
You can check out my favourite cafes in Marbella in this guide.
If you want to keep fit while on holiday, the hotel has an onsite gym, and if you prefer to relax, check out the wellness area where you can book a massage.
However, my favourite spot was the 360 rooftop bar, located on the 5th floor and open daily. You can access it via two different lifts, one of which is on the right side of the reception and takes you directly there.
As you leave the lift, there’s a quite spacious outdoor seating area with stunning views of Marbella Old Town and La Concha. As you walk to the other side of the bar, you have the pool with sunbeds and a view of La Alameda Park.
Food and drinks
I had a 24-euro food voucher that my partner received through the Expedia loyalty program. I don’t always try the restaurants at hotels, but I had heard good things about this one, so we decided to use the voucher.
La Alameda restaurant is modern with a simple but lovely decor, and my favourite thing is the big windows that overlook La Alameda Park.
The menu has a good range of traditional tapas and dishes, and I must say the prices are quite good.
We ate there on a weekend, so they didn’t have the weekly menu offer that includes a starter, main and dessert for 18 euros per person, but still I felt it was reasonably priced.
I ordered the cod with pisto (Spanish ratatouille) and poached egg. The fish was meaty and perfectly cooked, while the vegetables in tomato sauce were flavorful. I really liked it.
My partner went for the presa ibérica (Iberian Pork) served on sliced bread spread with roasted apple sauce. It was also a hit.
We were too full for dessert, so we skipped it, but the options were very tempting – torrijas (French toast), cheesecake and lemon curd.
The rooftop bar has a different menu with small bites like sandwiches and chicken tenders, and signature cocktails for 14 euros.
If you prefer outside the hotel, there are plenty of good tapas bars at your doorstep: Casa Blanca, Taberna La Niña del Pisto and more.
🛏️ Check availability and book your stay here
Conclusion: Do I recommend it?
Yes, absolutely. I had a great time during my stay and couldn’t have been happier with the room and service.
Also, the location is unbeatable, if you aren’t bothered about a sea view.
I thought it was going to be noisier as it’s next to one of the main roads in the centre of Marbella, but it wasn’t at all.
If you want more advice on where to stay in Marbella, this detailed guide will definitely help you.
Any other questions, feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to me on social media.
Have a great time in Marbella!
Cristina
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