In a town packed with fabulous restaurants, Pasta Da Bruno really is a jewel in Marbella´s crown.

Boasting four restaurants in and around Marbella under the Da Bruno name, the owners of these cosmopolitan eateries enjoy an enviable reputation in the area. Giuseppina and Bruno´s Italian roots are evident throughout their innovative menus, and the choice of dishes is amazing.

My favourite Da Bruno restaurant is situated on the C/Ricardo Soriano in the heart of Marbella´s commercial district. The hustle and bustle of this busy hostelry gives it a real city centre atmosphere and the outside terrace is perfect for relaxing and watching the world go by.

Open from the morning, croissants, pastries, coffee and a fabulous range of juices and breakfasts are offered. Pasta Da Bruno can be enjoyed at any time of the day but we particularly enjoy a lunch or early dinner here after a hard day´s shopping.

I visited recently with a group of friends and we were greeted in the usual friendly way by one of the impeccably dressed waiters. Given a choice of a table either outside on the terrace or in the attractive interior, we decided to sit just inside the door where we had the best of both worlds.

On ordering drinks, Manolo ran through the specials of the day and presented us with our menus. There is never a hurried feeling in this restaurant, and although the service is excellent, you never feel rushed into ordering before you are ready.

We decided on the wild mushroom risotto, the carpaccio of beef with parmesan shavings and balsamic dressing plus a superb rocket and cherry tomato salad, plus a home made minestrone soup. And these were just the starters. Everything was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Attention to detail is something Da Bruno prides itself on, and the staff are a credit to the restaurant – combining excellent service with a friendly and helpful manner.

The enviable wine list boasts some of the best vintages in Spain, plus a good choice of Champagnes, Sherries and Dessert wines. We chose the Valpolicella Red to complement our Italian main courses and it was perfect.

The extensive menu offers something for everyone and is much, much more than home made pasta and pizzas – although these are recommended options. Fresh fish, the very best meat and vegetarian options abound and the most delicious home made desserts will tempt your tastebuds.

We chose the home made Spaghetti Vongole (with fresh seafood), the Veal Escalope with Lemon and White Wine Sauce, the Prime Fillet Steak with Foie Gras and Madeira Wine Sauce and the Chicken Cordon Bleu – stuffed with Italian cheese and ham and served with a side order of fresh tomato sauce, plus Fresh Sole Meuniere with lemon and fresh herbs. Vegetables included sauteé potatoes and wilted spinach, courgettes and mange tout.

Everything was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. After a twenty minute break, we decided to take a tentative look at the dessert menu and decided to share a couple of home made puddings between us.

Keeping to an Italian theme we went for the home made Tiramisu – to call this just an Italian Trifle would be an injustice – it was light, creamy and drenched in Marsala Wine – a must for boozy dessert lovers. We also shared the Pannacotta with Raspberry Coulis – a delicious creation of subtle vanilla mousse combined with a fresh fruit sauce reduced with sugar.

All in all – Pasta Da Bruno works because of three reasons. The food is excellent, the waiters are probably the best in Marbella and the owners are always very much in evidence. Try it – you will definitely not be disappointed

Reservations +34 952 860 348