Christmas Clubbing

Giles Brown hunts down the nightlife in Marbella

Christmas, in other places, may be about eating too many mince pies and waxing lyrical about Santa Claus, but in hedonistic Marbella, Christmas is a time to bring on the night… King of Clubs, Giles Brown hunts down the nightlife party in Marbella…

Along with other Mediterranean resorts that seemed to have become a pale kitsch immitation of their 60s and 70s heyday (think St Tropez and Costa Esmeralda) Marbella has bounced back as a desirable destination for the in crowd. Although you won’t be able to lounge at the beach clubs, the three week break that makes up the festive season is the perfect excuse for slipping on your dance shoes and getting on the good foot.

The club scene in Marbella provides something to suit your mood. Whether you want to Bling it like the Beckhams, sip sundowners on a sheltered terrace, get intimate with an It girl, wax europhoric with the Eurotrash or just chill with a cocktail, Marbella has the club for whoever you want to be tonight – P.Diddy or Phillipe Junot. So in no particular order might I recommend the following old favourites as well as a couple of young pretenders.

Olivia Valere

Olivia Valere - The original superclub that everyone has to experience at least once on a trip to Marbella. From the outside “Olivia’s” looks more like a Moorish fortress than a nightclub, but once inside, it resembles a set from the “Arabian Nights”. If you fancy a little celeb spotting, then this is the place, as Bruce Willis, Iglesias Senior and Junior, Prince Harry, Mick Jagger and super divas Mariah Carey and Naomi Campbell – though thankfully not on the same night – have all paid a visit. Tel: 952 82 8861.

Dreamer's

Dreamer’s - Marbella’s other superclub brings in a younger and more streetwise crowd, as well as top club nights from the UK, including Hed Kandi and Kinky Malinki, and superstar Djs Carl Cox, Frankie Knuckes, Roger Sanchez and Bob Sinclair. It doesn’t really matter who is playing. Just be advised that if you go to Dreamer’s you’re going to get out late… so don’t forget the shades. Tel: 952 81 2080.

Dragon I

Dragon I - This new club located in the luxurious Gray D’Albion at the entrance to Puerto Banus, opened at the end of summer.VIP guests included Simon Webbe from Blue, who performed an impromtu set and serial Heart-breaker Callum Best, who seemed to be enjoying himself with the ladiez…Could be the coolest club this Christmas.

Lulu - Opposite the Marbella Club Hotel, Lulu is an intimate club that has recently enjoyed a revamp and now hosts live jazz every Thursday. It’s not all laid back lounging, however, and the party gets into full swing a little later in the evening.
Tel: 952 857 290.

Pangaea Prive - perhaps one of the best reasons to venture east of Marbella, Pangaea Prive enjoys a fabulous beachfront location and recently enlisted the covert and blatantly overt talents of Charlotte Fisher, the undefeated nightclub hostess champion of Marbella. Expect it to be full of Marbella’s bright young things as well as a smattering of footballer stars and the aforementioned Mr Best. Tel: 952 82 5729.

TIBV

TIBV - Overlooking the Plaza Antonio Banderas in Banus, TIBV is a good bet for a boogie if you don’t fancy a taxi to the superclubs. Personally, if Dilly is Djing, it’s the best place to be. The man deserves a medal for services to Marbella nightlife over the years. Tel: 95281 8444.

Suite - Daniel Shamoon’s souk-style club at the Puente Romano Hotel still remains a popular haunt for stylish residents and has attracted its fair share of celebs including Meg Matthews, Heather Mills and a certain Callum Best (who you may have heard me mention before). Tel: 95282 0900.

And a final tip on getting home during the festive season. On New Year’s Eve, try and get yourself invited to a private house party with plenty of guest suites or hit one of the champagne celebrations at a hotel. It was easier to get a chopper out of Saigon than it is to find a taxi in Marbella on December 31st!