Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort
Old-World palatial grandeur meets Andalusian countryside retreat. Think gold-leaf frames, Persian carpets, antique lanterns, and chandeliers — then step outside into golf-green silence. It looks like Tuscany landed in southern Spain, and somehow the combination works completely.
Request a Deluxe Lake View room — only a handful exist and the outlook over the water towards Gibraltar is the best in the main building
Why It Matters
The only resort on the Costa del Sol with three of its own 18-hole golf courses on-site, a 2,000 sqm Roman-bath thermal spa (recognized as Spain's best by World Spa Awards 2019), a genuine Roman amphitheatre used for live opera performances, and 1,200 diverse works of art throughout the grounds. Michelle Obama stayed here — the three-story, 495 sqm villa she occupied is now called Villa Obama and can be booked.
This isn't your typical Costa del Sol hotel with a beach-facing pool and a lobby that smells like sunscreen. Anantara Villa Padierna Palace sits inland, surrounded by three 18-hole golf courses, a Roman amphitheatre, a tranquil lake, and over 1,200 original works of art — making it less 'Marbella resort' and more 'living museum in a dusty-pink Tuscan palazzo.' The beach club is a 10-minute shuttle away. That distance is the point.
Where You'll Stay
13 room types available
Deluxe Room
The entry-level workhorse of this hotel, and still handsome. Surrounded by golf greens, pool blues, and mountains in the distance. Classic palette with unique art pieces, travertine marble bath with separate tub and rain shower. Coffee machine, minibar, and Nespresso standard. A few units overlook the tranquil lake — worth specifying.
38 sqmDeluxe Terrace Room
Same footprint as the standard Deluxe but with French windows opening directly onto a private terrace — perfect for breakfast in the sun or a glass of wine after golf. King bed, marble bath.
King · 38 sqmExecutive Suite
The only suite with a private terrace jacuzzi overlooking the golf course — a genuine differentiator. Bespoke furniture, exceptional artwork, private bathroom, and separate living area. One of a kind in the property.
60 sqmFamily Connecting Room
Two connecting rooms, each with private bathroom, designed for families. Marble baths with tub and rain shower in each room. The most family-practical configuration in the main building.
87 sqmGrand Suite
A king bedroom with ensuite and separate living room, looking out over the golf greens. Travertine bathroom with luxury amenities. Grand Suite guests receive complimentary spa treatment, airport transfer, tapas tasting, and daily buffet breakfast.
King · 60 sqmJunior Suite
Classic elegance done properly: plush wooden furniture, chandeliers overhead, Persian rugs underfoot, and a sunlit living area that flows from the marble-bathroom bedroom. Garden and golf course views. Three variants available — standard, lake view, and terrace.
45 sqmOne-Bedroom Villa
Set apart from the main palace, these single-story villas offer serious privacy with terracotta floors, marble accents, and lush vegetation. Private pool, butler service, kitchenette, living room, and a terrace. The secluded alternative to the suites for guests who want their own outdoor space.
240 sqmSuite
Spacious bedroom, independent living room with chaise longues and armchairs, and a private bathroom with walls decorated in tapestries and antique lamps. A step up in scale and opulence from the junior suite category.
57 sqmSuite with Terrace
A generous living room connects directly to a private terrace ringed by cypress trees. Good for alfresco dining. Inside: marble bath and antique artworks. Largest of the standard suite configurations.
77 sqmSuperior Room
Located on the top floor of the main palazzo with sloped attic ceilings that give a sense of intimacy. Classic tones throughout, with travertine marble bath and rain shower. Smallest category in the hotel but the mansard ceiling adds real character.
23 sqmTwo-Bedroom Suite
The grandest suite in the main building. Two en-suite bedrooms open into a central living area in gold and white tones, with a fully equipped kitchen and fireplace. Large enough for a family or two couples.
250 sqmTwo-Bedroom Villa
Light-filled marble-floored villa with French windows opening onto a private courtyard. Butler service, private pool, en-suite bathrooms decorated with artworks, full kitchen, and generous terraces. Available over one or two stories.
287 sqmVilla Obama
Once hosted Michelle Obama — and the hotel still celebrates that fact proudly. Three stories of pure excess: two en-suite bedrooms each occupying their own floor for total privacy, a rooftop terrace with Mediterranean views, a private pool, a kitchenette, and a dedicated butler. At 495 sqm, it's the largest and most palace-like accommodation on the property. Breakfast on the rooftop terrace with Gibraltar in the distance is genuinely hard to forget.
2x King · 495 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
8 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Access to the full 2,000+ sqm spa circuit: Roman baths, hammam, Greek and Finnish saunas, laconium, flotarium, heated indoor pool with jets, and cold plunge pool.
Self-guided or guru-led tour of the resort's 1,200 artworks — from Sevillian paintings and Renaissance statues to modern pieces — spread throughout the palace, gardens, and villas.
Private flamenco lesson with an Anantara guru, or visit to a flamenco tablao in Marbella's historic centre.
Seasonal beach club on one of the area's best beaches, with sun loungers, beach towels, a restaurant serving local seafood, and cocktails at sunset. Complimentary shuttle from the resort.
The only theatre in Málaga province presenting an exclusive abridged adaptation of Bizet's Carmen, performed live in the resort's Roman amphitheatre. Four main characters accompanied by piano.
Croquet lawn with views of the Mediterranean — one of the more quirky offerings on the Costa del Sol.
Private racquet club with courts for tennis (day and night), padel, and lessons. Complimentary shuttle between resort and club.
Three distinct 18-hole courses on the resort grounds: Flamingos (the original, with Mediterranean-to-Gibraltar views, hosted European Senior Tour), Alferini (par 73, technical, mountain valley setting), and Tramores (beginner-friendly with the Michael Campbell Golf Academy specialising in the short game — the only such school in Europe).
Aerial tour of the Costa del Sol with guided commentary, departing from a heliport in Marbella.
Seasonal kids club for children aged 4–12, available during summer holidays, Easter, and Christmas. Complimentary for hotel guests.
Guided tasting of local olive oils paired with artisan bread, led by a local expert who walks you through different varieties, flavour profiles, and aromas.
Private Andalusian cooking class starting with a visit to the local market to source seasonal produce, then returning to the resort kitchen to learn techniques and local recipes.
Exploration of Costa del Sol wines with a resident wine guru — organic, national, and local references, with particular attention to Sherry wines from Jerez.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Six fully-equipped meeting rooms (largest seats 660) plus the Roman amphitheatre (capacity 300 for cocktail, 250 for cocktail style). Named rooms: Tuscany, Firenze, Pisa, Siena, Linares, Venus.
On-site Roman amphitheatre for outdoor events, product launches, and opera performances. Unique in the province.
Technogym-equipped gym with full cardio and resistance training equipment. Personal training available.
Small pets permitted (charges may apply). Pet-friendly rooms, suites, and villas available.
Roman-style pool in the main courtyard. A second pool area in the villa grounds.
Flamingos, Alferini, and Tramores — all on resort grounds.
Free shuttle between the resort, beach club, racquet club, and golf course during operating seasons.
BUILD YOUR ANANTARA VILLA PADIERNA PALACE BENAHAVÍS MARBELLA RESORT PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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