There is a new arrival drawing attention in Marbella this summer. In the gardens of the Gran Meliá Don Pepe, quietly set among Mediterranean pines, a new chapter has begun for China Crown, the acclaimed Madrid-based restaurant devoted to imperial Chinese cuisine, with the opening of China Crown Marbella.
Founded in 1981 and long admired for its ability to transport diners to Imperial China, the China Group is now bringing its unmistakable dishes to the Costa del Sol. Its Marbella residency takes place in a poolside space in the hotel’s gardens, with wonderful sea views.
Imperial Cuisine
The opening night offered a preview of the kitchen’s most iconic dishes, beginning with handcrafted dim sum filled with pork, vegetables and delicate seafood. A curated selection of sushi followed, presented in boats. The Peking duck, its skin lacquered and crisp, accompanied by housemade pancakes and a precise arrangement of cucumber and spring onion was the most popular of the night. It’s a dish that embodies what China Crown does well.
Also on the menu are dishes such as crispy prawns with spicy mango, scallop sashimi with Sichuan pepper, and grilled Iberian pork marinated in Chinese spices. There’s also a fine section of wok dishes, including lobster with chilli and garlic, and stir-fried rice with seasonal vegetables and egg.
Desserts keep things light, with options like jasmine tea ice cream, coconut mousse, and fruit with ginger syrup. The cocktail list is playful and ambitious, infused with ingredients like lychee, Chinese five spice, and kumquat, with each drink designed to complement the flavours of the kitchen rather than overpower them.
A Night at Gran Meliá Don Pepe
A few steps from the restaurant, RedLevel rooms at Gran Meliá Don Pepe offer an elevated stay. With balconies facing the sea and access to the private lounge, they’re designed for guests who value calm and comfort. Expect discreet service, priority bookings, and small touches that remind you why the hotel has become such a reference on the Costa del Sol.
Breakfast is taken in the garden pavilion, filled with natural light. In the evenings it becomes Veranda, a Mediterranean restaurant that serves dishes with a focus on simplicity and produce. Bardot, the open-air dining space by the pool, offers grilled local fish, Andalusian rice dishes and long, easy lunches beside the water.
But this season, all eyes are on China Crown. It brings something fresh to Marbella’s summer dining scene, rooted in skill, and tradition.
Gran Meliá Don Pepe will close temporarily at the end of the 2025 season for a full refurbishment, promising a return that reflects the future of luxury hospitality in this part of Spain. For now, China Crown is its culinary centrepiece.
