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Skina – Two-Michelin Starred Dining In Marbella
Sep 2, 2021

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Nestled in the old town of Marbella, 70 kilometres from The Wine & Country Club, Skina is a clear testimony that an excellent chef is not the only thing it takes to make a fine restaurant.

Owner and head chef Marcos Granda is a top sommelier and he will rock your socks off. From an early age he was clear about his goal: to put into practice what he believed was the secret to the success of the finest restaurants in the world. However, he did not take the plunge alone nor was he inexperienced. He had previously worked with Manolo de la Osa. Later on, as a professional sommelier, he had joined El Bulli before moving on to London’s Greenhouse, where he stayed until 2003.

From there he decided to tour Europe and some parts of the world for inspiration to launch his own project. Upon his return to Spain in 2004, he embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with the help of his wife, Maria Isabel Salamanca.

The surprise was heightened when, in less than five years, they received their first Michelin star.

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In 2018 he opened restaurant Clos in Madrid. Just one year later—at the same time that Clos was being awarded its first Michelin star—he launched Ayalga in the best unsung beach holiday resort in Europe: Ribadesella, in Asturias. By 2020, Skina had acquired a two-star status.

What is the secret behind a fine restaurant? The answer is talent management, along with recruiting, training and supporting the best possible team. This results in a family of peers that are passionate about haute cuisine, provide excellent service and uphold high standards. Of paramount importance in all this is chef Granda’s firm commitment to making diners feel important and special.

 

Skina’s Cuisine

 

Firmly ensconced behind Skina’s stove is Mario Cachinero, a young talent with great listening skills who has taken Skina’s cuisine to a whole new level. The professional kitchen brigade is also made up of sous chef Javier Gayo, who stands out for his creativity, organisation skills, and technical ability and prowess. Alongside them both are Adrian Martin—as chef de partie—, Alberto Martin—as chef de rang—, Jesus Urda—as restaurant manager—, and Manuel Jesus Lobo—as head of pastry section. This is the human talent to whom chef Granda is strongly committed and in which he places complete trust to offer clients the kind of cuisine and service that is worthy of its Michelin accolade.

The miniscule restaurant offers an interesting and bold approach to top-quality gastronomy to only ten diners at a time. A tribute to the multicultural, vibrant and creative tradition of Southern Spain, the kitchen highlights classic Andalusian cuisine, showcasing meticulous technique and ingredients of the very highest quality, whilst marrying them with different sensations and pleasures, all stemmed with a varied and selected wine list that will make your palate sing with joy. The celebration of seasonal products is the mainstay of its sophisticated menu, all sourced from the most highly regarded Spanish food producers.

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Open for lunch and dinner, Skina has a few different menus to choose from depending on what mood and company you are in – from the classic à la carte to the Grand Cru menu and an Andalusian seasonal sampling menu.

 

Flagships in their own right include their free-range eggs with seasonal mushrooms, grouper in own jus served with sweet potatoes and fennel, and sirloin of roe deer in own jus served with pears. And for desert, you can tuck into their irresistible chocolate millefeuille with almonds.

In addition to fine food, Skina’s contemporary decor, featuring an impressive glass-fronted wine cellar, provides the backdrop for an outstanding wine list with over 950 selections – with an experienced sommelier offering guidance on pairings.

 

And the best part is that thanks to The Wine & Country Club you can enjoy this extraordinary experience amidst incomparable surroundings. Living a short distance from this two-Michelin starred gem is just one of the many perks of life on your new winery estate at The Wine & Country Club. Others include being able to make a wine to your own taste—from your private hobby vineyard—, golfing all the local golf courses, testing your wheels at the highly exclusive Ascari Club, and many more.

 

Are you ready for the Skina experience?