Here are some of the places setting the tone for the season, ranging from seafront terraces and urban rooftop bars to haute cuisine experiences.
The best places to visit this summer don’t always feature in travel guides. They’re often discovered whilst sitting at a table by the sea, watching the sunset from a rooftop terrace, or behind an unassuming door leading to one of the city’s most unique spots.
Restaurants where the ingredients take centre stage, ‘beach clubs’ where after-dinner conversation lingers amidst music and cocktails, and fine-dining experiences capable of turning a dinner into the main reason for a getaway are all part of the new summer gastronomic map.
From the Costa del Sol to Barcelona, via Madrid and Zaragoza, we explore some of the new openings and venues that best encapsulate the season. Venues that are very different from one another, yet united by the same approach to summer: eating well, enjoying oneself at a leisurely pace and extending the experience far beyond the dining table.
Marbella and Estepona: the most sophisticated summer on the Costa del Sol
Bonbonniere
The Costa del Sol is once again establishing itself as one of the summer’s top gastronomic destinations. Beyond its beaches, its offering includes restaurants where cuisine shares the limelight with music, cocktails and an atmosphere designed to keep the night going.
One of the names that best embodies this lifestyle is Bonbonniere Marbella, located in the historic Palacio de Babilonia. The experience begins around the table with a cosmopolitan menu featuring oysters with yellow chilli, bluefin tuna ceviche, guacamole with crispy ribeye, or a pasta dish made with champagne and caviar.
Added to this is a carefully curated selection of sushi, featuring dishes such as A5 wagyu nigiri or the tuna trilogy. After dinner, the venue transforms into a club, with a music line-up headlined by international DJs that turns every evening into a complete experience.
Laguna Beach: Kai and Mar de Sazzon
Just a few kilometres away, at Playa Padrón in Estepona, lies Laguna Beach – a hub for leisure and dining that brings together a variety of concepts within a single complex designed to let you enjoy the Mediterranean all day long. From Sublim Beach Club, with its infinity pool and Balinese sun loungers, to the newly opened Kai and the more local offering, Mar de Sazzon.
The big new addition to Laguna is Kai, an ever-changing restaurant inspired by South-East Asia. This beachfront venue emphasises the quality of its ingredients with an extensive menu of rolls, nigiri and omakase platters, alongside a selection of hot dishes and robata grills, as well as side dishes. An excellent wine and sake list, along with desserts, rounds off the offering.
For those seeking a menu more closely linked to Andalusian cuisine, the best choice is Mar de Sazzon – a contemporary take on traditional cooking. Rice dishes, fideuá, fish of the day and fried specialities share the space with a bar dedicated to tapas, where you’ll find plenty of gildas, prawn salad and salmorejo.
At weekends, the experience is rounded off with live flamenco performances overlooking the sea, turning lunch or dinner into one of those post-meal gatherings that make you want to linger.
Madrid: culinary havens to escape the heat
When the temperatures rise, Madrid proves that summer can also be enjoyed from high up or behind discreet doors that conceal some of the city’s most interesting venues.
Makáá Restaurant
On the rooftop of the Thompson Madrid, Makáá has become one of those places where the sunset is part of the experience. Boasting the best views of the city, its culinary offering centres on grilled dishes and fresh produce, with dishes such as red prawn croquettes, picaña steak tartare, turbot with emulsified Bilbao-style sauce, or wood-fired carabinero prawns. All this is accompanied by a menu of classic and signature cocktails, perfect for lingering over drinks whilst the sun sets over the rooftops of Madrid.
Jack’s Club
From 6.00 pm, the basement of the Thompson Madrid Hotel hides a speakeasy inspired by British clubs, occupying the former site of the Church of San Luis Obispo. At Jack’s Club, photographs and videos are not permitted, thus fostering an experience centred on conversation. Its cocktail menu, organised into sections inspired by British tales and legends, rounds off an experience where the atmosphere is just as important as the drinks.
Barcelona: fusion cuisine with views of the Mediterranean
Shôko Barcelona
Few places capture the spirit of a Barcelona summer quite like Shôko Barcelona. Situated opposite Barceloneta beach, this city classic combines a restaurant and a club under one roof.
Led by chef Paolo D’Angelo, its culinary offering blends Mediterranean cuisine with Asian and Nikkei influences. The venue has just launched a new menu, where the sushi bar is one of its main attractions, featuring creative nigiri, sashimi and uramaki, as well as an omakase menu for those seeking a more complete experience. The menu is rounded off with Gillardeau oysters, caviar, seafood rice dishes, charcoal-grilled fish and selected meats, all served on a terrace where the sea breeze accompanies your dinner before the evening’s entertainment begins.
Zaragoza: a gastronomic experience that changes with each season
Gamberro
In the north of Spain, Zaragoza is home to one of the most interesting projects in contemporary haute cuisine. At Gamberro, chefs Franchesko Vera and Flor García have created a dining experience recognised with a Repsol Sun and recommended by the Michelin Guide.
There is no à la carte menu here: the experience takes the form of a 17-course tasting menu that constantly evolves according to market availability and the season, fusing Aragonese ingredients with techniques and flavours from Latin America and Asia.
Among this summer’s most unique creations is the so-called ‘sunflower artichoke’, made from the shoot of the Navazo sunflower grown in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The bud is candied, fried and served alongside an ajoblanco made with sunflower seeds, horchata sorbet, pineapple and miso with sunflower seed praline – a dish that reflects the restaurant’s philosophy: research, respect for the ingredients and a creativity that makes every visit a unique experience.
About BONBONNIERE MARBELLA
Located in one of Marbella’s historic nightlife hotspots, Bonbonniere – which has already enjoyed great success in Tulum and Mykonos – is coming to Marbella to rewrite the city’s nightlife history in letters of gold. The world’s finest DJs and the most exclusive atmosphere will come together in a stunning venue blending brutalist and oriental styles, serving as a bridge between cultures to offer a unique nightlife experience, where the most exclusive entertainment isn’t bought – it’s lived. Bonbonniere Marbella is the result of a partnership between two industry heavyweights: Mandala Group, leaders in the Latin American hospitality industry, and British entrepreneur Joe Fournier. Bonbonniere Madrid is set to open its doors soon.
About LAGUNA
Awarded a Roca Prize for Sustainable Architecture, this lifestyle hub located in Playa Padrón (Estepona) is a benchmark for the most exclusive leisure experiences on the Costa del Sol. Led by entrepreneur Rosauro Varo, it houses a variety of spaces and offerings centred around a design-led complex that is fully integrated and respectful of its surroundings. Among the main venues, Kai Beach stands out: an experiential beach club with direct access to the beach, inspired by South-East Asia and offering a culinary experience where the finest sushi takes centre stage. Kai evolves as the day progresses. By day, it is the perfect spot for families to enjoy a day at the beach, as it has its own kids’ club. As the sun sets, its energy and atmosphere shift, transforming it into an intimate, sensory space offering the most stunning sunset. Meanwhile, Sublim is a sophisticated and elegant beach club with an infinity pool, an area featuring sun loungers and Balinese beds, a spacious beach area and a comprehensive range of facilities, including a restaurant, DJs every day of the week and three bar areas. Mar de Sazzon is a meeting place for food lovers, serving the finest Spanish and Andalusian cuisine made with the very best ingredients; it features a kids’ club, a terrace and a programme of flamenco music at weekends. Laguna features a shopping area, car park, wellness programme (including a massage and yoga area) and other notable venues, such as Camurí, a restaurant and lounge dedicated to Mediterranean cuisine with Asian influences. In 2026, Laguna will extend its opening hours beyond the summer season to cement its position as a leader in premium leisure offerings on the Costa del Sol.
About THOMPSON HOTELS
Since opening their doors in the heart of New York over 20 years ago, Thompson Hotels have transformed conventional hospitality into dynamic cultural experiences inspired by the surrounding streets. Today, the brand continues to channel local creative energy into its growing international portfolio of properties, with restaurants led by top culinary names, lobbies that become cultural hubs, musical programmes that transcend boundaries, and much more. The result is a magnetic hub built for collective gathering, where distinctive design is both an ethos and an integral part of the guest experience. Each hotel serves as an inspiring hub for guests and creatives to connect with one another and with the forces that drive culture forward. Thompson Hotels’ portfolio of lifestyle hotels currently includes The Beekman, Gild Hall and Thompson Central Park New York in New York City; Thompson Washington D.C.; Thompson Nashville; Thompson Seattle; Thompson Chicago; The Cape in Los Cabos, Mexico; Thompson Playa del Carmen on Mexico’s Riviera Maya; Thompson Zihuatanejo on Mexico’s Pacific coast; Thompson Dallas, Thompson San Antonio and Thompson Austin in Texas; Thompson Savannah; Thompson Hollywood; Thompson Buckhead; Thompson Denver; and Thompson Madrid in Spain. Follow @ThompsonHotels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and updates. For further information, visit www.thompsonhotels.com.
About SHÔKO BARCELONA
This iconic restaurant and nightclub is situated at Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 36. It is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and innovative cuisine. Its modern and elegant design blends elements of Asian and Mediterranean culture, making it a unique venue for enjoying both an exquisite dinner and a night out. With a menu that fuses Japanese cuisine with international influences, Shoko has established itself as one of the most popular destinations for locals and tourists alike seeking an exclusive experience in the city. Furthermore, its seafront location makes it an ideal spot to enjoy the sea breeze whilst savouring its delicious dishes or soaking up the vibrancy of Barcelona’s nightlife.
About GAMBERRO
Gamberro Restaurant (1 Repsol Sun and recommended in the Michelin Guide) is a restaurant with a lot of character in Zaragoza which, after eleven years of steady growth, has become a benchmark for the finest creative cuisine not only in Aragon, but also in Spain. Gamberro Restaurant is the personal project of Franchesko Vera (chef) and Flor García (front of house), a perfect professional and romantic partnership. Together, they have transformed their restaurant in the centre of Zaragoza into a mecca for lovers of fine dining. Their secret? A highly personal approach to cooking that takes the form of a unique 17-course tasting menu (80 euros), with many of the dishes coming and going frequently to reflect the seasons. Their cuisine is centred on ingredients, technique and concept. Together with her team, Vera applies these principles in a contemporary way, whilst never forgetting the origins of each ingredient. All this is done with a distinctively personal touch, reflecting a fondness for Aragonese recipes and ingredients, a taste for fusion with Asian and Latin American flavours, great elegance and a touch of humour.
Source: FABRA Comunicación