Getting back into the swing of things is tough, but these dining spots (seaside terraces, city rooftops and exquisite dining experiences) help combat the post-holiday blues and allow us to keep savouring the good weather and the sunny days that remain (of which there are plenty).
The scene varies depending on where you live, but the essence is the same: the holidays are over and routine returns to our lives. All good things must come to an end, and suddenly those happy summer days seem a world away. It’s time to get up early again, dig out the Tupperware, navigate the traffic jams or squeeze onto the packed underground during rush hour.
But we can’t let our batteries run out so quickly. The experts say it every year and they’re right: a basic strategy for combating post-holiday blues is to make time for moments of enjoyment, such as lunch with friends (many of whom are still on a shortened working week) or an al fresco dinner with your partner. At Fabra Comunicación, we’ve got the best recommendations for extending the summer, making the most of the good weather (which will continue for many weeks yet) and successfully navigating the dreaded return to work.
There are options to suit all tastes, with one thing in common: booking in advance is key. Fine-dining venues, beach clubs right on the shore and meticulously curated experiences, capable of turning a dinner into the main reason for a getaway.
From the Costa del Sol to Madrid, via Barcelona and Zaragoza, we suggest venues that are very different from one another, yet which allow us to realise that summer is a matter of dates, but above all, of attitude.
Marbella and Estepona: summer lasts longer on the Costa del Sol
Bonbonniere: luxury that blends music and gastronomy
The season is getting longer and longer on the Costa del Sol. September is a particularly lovely month to enjoy all its charms, as, although there’s still plenty of atmosphere, everything is a bit quieter, making it perfect for those who love to make the most of life and opt for the coolest month of the summer.
Bonbonniere Marbella, the season’s most significant nightlife opening, will continue to be the talk of the town this month. And if there’s one thing that has made Bonbonniere (with venues in Tulum and Mykonos) such a success, apart from its spectacular line-up of international DJs, it’s its open-air restaurant, situated on the iconic terrace of the Palacio de Babilonia. The venue’s carefully curated, cosmopolitan menu is a real surprise, featuring delicious sushi, starters perfect for sharing (from oysters with yellow chilli to guacamole with ribeye or artichoke hummus with paprika caviar – all meticulously prepared), fresh meat and fish, and dishes as original as its pasta with champagne and caviar.
The drinks menu is also top-notch, because every detail counts at Bonbonniere. Alongside classic drinks, the club has created a selection of surprising signature cocktails, such as Bees & Whisky (with honey whisky, fresh lemon juice and fresh ginger), Sweet Addiction (a sweet combination of Frangelico and chocolate liqueur) or Bonbonniere Passion, where the star of the show is the finest Patrón Silver tequila. And of course, there’s always the finest spirits and shishas with exclusive blends.
The best electronic music reigns supreme at Bonbonniere. If there’s one thing that has defined this international venue over the years, it’s its spectacular line-up of DJs, featuring names that sell out festivals and stadiums. This summer has seen greats of the trade such as Hugel, Diplo, Carlita and Claptone take to the decks, and the line-up shows no sign of slowing down over the coming weeks. A place to make the most of the night in style.
Laguna Beach: a trio of top-class venues with Mar de Sazzon, Kai and Sublim
Just a few kilometres away, on Playa Padrón (Estepona), between Marbella and Sotogrande, lies Laguna Beach, a unique hub for leisure, wellbeing and gastronomy that brings together different concepts within a single setting. Three of these venues stand out for their leisure and dining offerings, as well as for their design and atmosphere.
Gourmets with a passion for Andalusian cuisine and fresh produce from the fish market and local market gardens will thoroughly enjoy Mar de Sazzon, which, in addition to its bougainvillea-filled courtyard, boasts one of the most beautiful terraces in the area. The experience begins with classic yet foolproof starters, such as stew croquettes or Retinta beef steak tartare, and continues with rice dishes featuring rich, deep flavours, including the creamy tiger prawn rice or the coquelet chicken with vegetables.
Seafood and grilled dishes take centre stage, with options such as charcoal-grilled sole from Isla Cristina, almadraba tuna fillet, matured beef entrecôte or aged beef tomahawk steak. To finish, the dessert menu features homemade creations such as artisan cheesecake or fresh mango with yoghurt ice cream.
The flavours and atmosphere of contemporary, gourmet South-East Asia come to life at Kai Beach, the beach club and restaurant with an ever-changing energy and atmosphere that evolve throughout the day. In the morning, with the sun high in the sky, it’s a vibrant spot, perfect for families, couples and children. As the sun dips below the Mediterranean horizon, the atmosphere becomes more relaxed and sophisticated, ideal for candlelit dinners or a few drinks in the best of company.
Its open kitchen turns every dish into a mini-spectacle, whilst the menu invites you to share starters such as edamame kimchi, Thai chicken wings, tempura prawns or glazed aubergine, as well as fresh salads, poke bowls and a carefully curated selection of sashimi and marinated dishes featuring almadraba tuna, salmon, lemon fish or Spanish wagyu.
Sushi also takes pride of place, with rolls and nigiri made from fresh produce, whilst the robata grill and open flame bring to life heartier dishes such as miso-marinated sea bass, noodles, karaage chicken, Iberian pork yakimeshi or chicken yakitoro with teri-ginger sauce. A wide-ranging menu, designed for sharing and taking you on a culinary journey through Asia via fresh, intense and highly appetising flavours.
Sublim is one of the Costa del Sol’s most iconic beach clubs, famous for its spectacular swimming pool. Also ideal for enjoying the beach, it is an inspiring space with a unique design that respects and blends into the Mediterranean landscape of Playa Padrón, offering visitors a place to enjoy themselves and relax, to discover and rediscover themselves.
The venue invites you to enjoy a leisurely day at the beach thanks to its area of sun loungers and Balinese beds, equipped with every comfort and complemented by a comprehensive programme of leisure, entertainment and music, featuring daily DJ sets. With a capacity for 2,000 people, the venue is also ideal for hosting private events in a privileged setting.
Mediterranean cuisine rounds off the experience with an extensive and versatile menu: from oysters, caviar and champagne to starters to share, salads, raw and marinated dishes, homemade pinsas, rice and pasta dishes, as well as fresh meat and fish straight from the fish market. A menu designed to let you enjoy the coolest side of the Mediterranean.
Salduna: a beach club where you can enjoy a delicious meal
Located between Marbella and Estepona, overlooking the lovely Salduna Beach, Salduna Beach is a real must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy a full day by the sea. It’s a highly recommended restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine with an exquisite selection of dishes. But there’s more: it boasts a rooftop terrace, sun loungers facing the sea and several lounge areas for those seeking a sophisticated and serene atmosphere with the best views and delicious cocktails.
Salduna Beach offers a distinctly Mediterranean menu designed for sharing, featuring starters such as anchovies in vinegar with crisps, Russian salad with prawns, ham croquettes or soft-shell crab saam. The ingredients take centre stage in the raw dishes, featuring oysters, avocado stuffed with Almadraba bluefin tuna or sea bass ceviche, whilst the fried dishes — squid, cod or crystal prawns — draw directly on Andalusian tradition. There is also no shortage of fresh salads, such as the lobster and mango salad or the ‘Salduna’ salad itself.
Among the main courses, Italian-inspired pasta dishes sit alongside such tempting offerings as prawn rice or octopus fideuá. Seafood features heavily on the menu, with sea bass baked in salt, sole, clams and fish from the fish market grilled over hot coals depending on the season, ranging from red mullet or red seabream to turbot or sea bass.
Madrid: gastronomic havens to escape the heat
When the temperatures rise, Madrid proves that summer can also be enjoyed from above or behind discreet doors that conceal some of the city’s most interesting venues.
Makáá Restaurant: a gastronomic sunset with the best views
On the spectacular rooftop of 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 quality produce, with a carefully curated selection of the finest ingredients.
Dishes include red prawn croquettes, picaña steak tartare, turbot with emulsified Bilbao-style sauce, and wood-fired carabinero prawns. All this is accompanied by a menu of classic and signature cocktails, perfect for lingering over dinner as the sun sets over the rooftops of Madrid, or for kicking off the evening under the stars with a menu that will satisfy even the most discerning palates.
Jack’s Club: the Thompson’s ultra-discreet English bar
From 6.00 pm, the basement of the Hotel Thompson Madrid offers an experience that will delight those seeking not only unique experiences but also truly exceptional cocktails and spirits. This secluded speakeasy, inspired by British clubs and situated on the former site of the Church of San Luis Obispo, is a venue designed for enjoyment. Furthermore, as photographs and videos are not permitted at Jack’s Club, conversation, drinks and the company of others take centre stage.
Its cocktail menu, organised into sections inspired by British tales and legends, completes an experience where the atmosphere is just as important as the drinks themselves. Here, cocktails are seen as an experience rather than simply a flavour – something to be savoured in the moment, whether alone or in company. Jack’s Club keeps a family history alive with warmth, character and a sense of presence that is both refreshing and rare.
Cuisine bathed in Mediterranean sunshine
Barcelona is a wonderful city all year round, but in summer, thanks to its beaches, it’s particularly delightful. As an established gastronomic capital, there’s a spot in La Barceloneta that’s been around for over two decades and is an absolute must-visit.
Shôko Barcelona: From brunch to sunrise
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 (the seventh most prestigious in the world) under one roof, with over 20 years of success behind it.
Run by chef Paolo D’Angelo, the restaurant—which boasts one of the most pleasant terraces in the area—has just launched its new summer menu. Among the highlights is its sophisticated selection of oysters, ranging from Gillardeau No. 3 served plain to Nikkei-style versions or those accompanied by Amur Beluga caviar. The sushi section, one of the restaurant’s must-try dishes, combines Japanese tradition with Mediterranean ingredients, offering nigiri, sashimi and uramaki with contemporary flavours, as well as the chef’s Omakase – a selection of 35 pieces designed to showcase the full range of the menu.
The restaurant’s more gastronomic side is showcased in its tartares, with options such as steak tartare on brioche with butter and foie gras mousse, bluefin tuna tartare or sea bass tartare. The menu is rounded off with dishes designed for sharing, ranging from 5J Pata Negra ham, coca bread with tomato or Iberian ham croquettes to gyoza, squid, mussels, salads, rice dishes and Mediterranean and Asian-inspired main courses, such as glazed salmon, San Sebastián-style sea bass, sirloin steak with foie gras or Angus beef ribeye steak.
Zaragoza: a city where you can experience the finest cuisine
Restaurante Gamberro: a single haute cuisine menu for 80 euros
Zaragoza is a city that deserves far more attention than it receives on the more mainstream tourist circuits. And its gastronomy is one of the reasons why. Specifically, Restaurante Gamberro (1 Repsol Sun and featured in the Michelin Guide) is one of the most interesting haute cuisine ventures in the region and, it must be said, in the country.
This restaurant seats just 20 diners and operates seven sittings a week. Chef Franchesko Vera and Flor García (front of house and management) have created a truly unique dining experience. 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. And all this is done with elegance and a touch of humour.
It’s difficult to talk about the dishes, because the main ones tend to change very frequently, depending on the season and the chef’s imagination. In recent months, standout dishes have included their courgette flower, which takes on the form of a dumpling, Pyrenean trout, ‘mole maño’ and the ‘no croûte’ pâté made with (plenty of) Ternasco de Aragón lamb. A showcase of this unclassifiable and exquisite haute cuisine.
The snacks, however, tend to be more consistent – a must for the restaurant’s loyal clientele. Among the most iconic are the Thai garlic prawn croquette, the ‘Guardia Civil 2.0’ (a playful nod to the classic Aragonese sandwich), and the ‘airpizza’ (a panipuri with an Italian soul) … In all of them, there is always a deep love for Aragonese recipes and produce, a taste for fusion (particularly drawing inspiration from Asia and Latin America), elegance and a touch of humour.
Source: FABRA Comunicación