The Los Monteros Hotel reopens with the idea of redefining the concept of luxury

The five-star luxury hotel Los Monteros has reopened its doors after being closed for months to undergo a thorough renovation, aiming to merge the legacy of one of the most emblematic establishments on the Costa del Sol with new strategies to attract high-income clients in the early 21st century. The hotel, which opened in 1962 during the tourism boom in Marbella, will offer personalized and local experiences; it is equipped to host events and meetings, featuring a hall with a capacity for 250 people; a broad gastronomic selection with a restaurant and various bars led by the Michelin-starred chef from Malaga, José Carlos García; and sports and wellness facilities including tennis and paddle courts, daily yoga and pilates classes, or strength training. "We try to convey the new luxury. We want to bring back the Los Monteros of the 70s as if it were reborn today, with a genuine and human offer," says the hotel director, Merry Antoja. The establishment, managed by the American hotel brand Kimpton IHG, has a total of 195 rooms, 17 more than before the renovation, most of them with large terraces and views of the Mediterranean Sea; and 60 suites. The hotel, whose renovation involved an investment of ten million euros, retains its historical elements and integrates geometric patterns, terracotta tiles, and organic curves into its interior design to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. In the rooms, available from 340 euros per night, the use of natural materials and vivid colors aims to capture the Mediterranean lifestyle. The main restaurant, Jara, offers Mediterranean cuisine made with contemporary techniques; at Escondido Rooftop, guests can enjoy Mexican cuisine next to an infinity pool; Azul Lounge Bar is known for its specialty coffees; and at Rachel´s Eco Love 'corner', healthy breakfasts and brunches are a highlight. "We bring a fresh and vibrant energy, merging the legacy of Los Monteros with the unique essence of Kimpton," Antoja states. Celebrities such as Julio Iglesias, Michael Jackson, and Lola Flores; actors like Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, or Sean Connery; writers like Camilo José Cela; members of royalty such as Ingrid of Denmark; or personalities like the Von Thyssen barons have stayed in the hotel rooms. Los Monteros had the restaurant El Corzo, the first located in a hotel to achieve a Michelin star in Spain and was the first in the country to import the French custom of using a palette to serve fish. The hotel includes the beach club La Cabane, entirely decorated by the Italian fashion brand Dolce&Gabbana, with its gastronomic offer managed by the Marbella chef Dani García. The beach establishment, open to the public in 1965 and frequented by the Emeritus Kings of Spain, was in 2007 the venue for an exclusive concert by Julio Iglesias for 250 people who paid up to 1,500 euros to attend. The Tourism Delegate of the Junta de Andalucía in Málaga, Carlos García, stated yesterday that the regional government cannot make any decisions regarding the Guadalpín Banús hotel until the courts resolve the various lawsuits affecting the five-star hotel, which have left many of its 180 employees in a situation of Temporary Employment Regulation. "This is a civil issue that must be resolved in the civil sphere. For the Andalusian Executive, it is crucial to safeguard jobs and, secondly, to save the destination," he noted.