Tapeo Perita Marbella

Today we visited this restaurant and did not regret our choice! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The octopus was so tender — it literally melted in the mouth. 😋We were very satisfied and will definitely come back again.

Amazing Tapas, great wine. A little warm at the back of the restaurant but we were there in summer so 😂

Amazing food and fantastic service! We were advised to order 3 dishes for 2 people, but in our greed we went for 6. Needless to say, we had to stop after just 3. Generous portions and worth every bite!

While visiting Marbella, we passed by this restaurant and were immediately drawn in by its charming exterior. We checked the Google reviews and the ratings looked convincing, so we decided to stop for a meal and drinks.

Unfortunately, the food was just average. Nothing we ordered stood out or could be described as above standard. These were dishes you could find at any ordinary place. However, I do want to highlight that our waiter was very polite and kind. That was definitely the most positive aspect of our visit.

What really ruined the experience for us had nothing to do with the food or the staff. It was the situation directly across from the restaurant, particularly at a table positioned slightly diagonally in front of a fruit shop. The owner of that shop—and at times other shop owners—kept sitting at the table next to ours, using it as a personal smoking corner. They would sit there for long periods, smoke cigarette after cigarette, and only return to their shops when customers walked in. Once those customers left, they would come right back to continue smoking.

This constant smoking next to our table made it almost impossible to enjoy the food or even breathe comfortably. The table next to us felt more like a smoking lounge for nearby shop owners than a part of the restaurant. One woman in particular, the owner of the fruit shop, sat there holding a leftover quarter-glass of wine for nearly 50 minutes, occupying the best table outside. She kept leaving and coming back, leaving her glass there, preventing any paying restaurant guests from using that table.

This lack of awareness and respect directly harms the restaurant. We saw several passersby stop, check the menu, and then move on—clearly discouraged by someone sitting there smoking. This behavior pushes customers away and causes reviews like the one we are writing now.

We are not sharing this to attack the restaurant. We are sharing it in the hope that the owner is not overlooking this issue. Just as these shop owners likely would not allow strangers to smoke in front of their own shops, they should not treat this restaurant’s terrace like a public smoking spot. It shows a complete lack of respect.

We are certain we are not the only ones who were disturbed by this. If this continues, it will damage the restaurant’s reputation and cause it to lose business. We hope the owner takes this seriously and sets some boundaries before more customers walk away disappointed.

The waiter was very nice and accommodating. However, the food took very long to get, and it was nice but nothing particularly special. The cheesecake was the worst we've ever had, tasted sour. Also they added a charge of 3e for a basket of bread which we never even received. I already detest this scam bread basket practise but not to even get it was annoying despite being charged.
I much prefer the next door restaurant which doesn't do the bread charge - Arco Tapas.