Gran Meliá Don Pepe

The Don Pepe opened in 1964 and is the one grand hotel actually within walking distance of Marbella's old town, standing in gardens on the seafront where the Golden Mile begins. It has 194 rooms and suites, most with sea views, a spa, pools and restaurants associated with the chef Dani García. Renovated several times, it offers the full-service, high-rise alternative to the low-rise resorts further west, and it is a convenient base for people who want to walk to town in the evening.