The glamorous marina of Puerto Banus is one of the best-known attractions on the Costa del Sol. Situated to the west of Marbella, this marina was the brainchild of Madrid-based property developer, Jose Banus, who wanted to create something that would attract the international elite. Puerto Banus was designed by architects Marcos Sainz and Noldi Schreck, who took their inspiration from traditional Andalucian fishing villages. The result is an attractive harbour lined with bars, cafes, restaurants and expensive boutique-style shops.

After its official opening in 1970, Puerto Banus soon began to attract the rich and famous as its creator had originally intended. Huge mega-yachts, owned by the likes of Saudi Arabia's King Fahd, and Monaco's Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, were often moored in the marina. More recently, actor Antonio Banderas and his wife Melanie Griffiths have both been spotted here.

Puerto Banus is especially renowned for its bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Situated at the entrance to the port is the small Sinatra's bar, which has become a popular meeting place in the resort. Next to Sinatra's is the more laid-back Salduba Pub. A popular daytime haunt is Portside which, as its name suggests, is situated right alongside the marina. This is a great place to go to if you want to sit on a terrace, sip a glass of wine and watch the world go by (a popular pastime in Puerto Banus).

There are plenty of late-night bars to choose from in Puerto Banus. One of the favourites, especially with a slightly older clientele, is Old Joy's Pub, which usually features a pianist and singer. Another Puerto Banus institution is the small but casual late-night drinking bar, News Cafe. Other popular venues on the Puerto Banus circuit include El Cubanito, which has a thatched roof, the Irish bar O'Grady's, and the cocktail lounge Astral.

One of the best-known nightclubs in Puerto Banus is Dreamers, which regularly attracts top DJ's and has a very youthful atmosphere. If you are looking for something more nostalgic, then Disco Inferno which plays 70's and 80's tunes is the place to go. Other nightclubs in the area include Oliva Valere and La Comedia.

Puerto Banus has a dozens of cafes and restaurants to choose from. There are the usual fast-food outlets such as McDonalds, plus several popular pizzerias, in particular the reasonably-priced Picasso's which has an extensive menu. Other good restaurants for kids include TGI Friday's and Jack's. A relative newcomer to the Puerto Banus dining scene is the Lonestar Brasserie, which boasts a simple Caribbean-style menu. There are several more excellent restaurants in nearby Nueva Andalucia, such as Khan's, Rudy's East, and the exclusive Italian restaurant, Regina's.

Puerto Banus is well placed for Marbella, which is situated about 4 miles (6km) to the east. There are several excellent golf courses within easy reach, including Las Brisas, Aloha and Los Naranjos. A few miles inland from Puerto Banus is the small village of Benahavis, which is renowned for its high concentration of top-class restaurants and has been dubbed the dining table of the Costa del Sol.

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For more advice and tourist information about Puerto Banus please see Puerto Banus