It is not just El Corte Ingles that the Marbella resident lives by. An intimate Andalusian-Scandinavian-style shopping centre has recently opened on the road from the city centre to Puerto Banus. Local olive oil is sold there alongside Norwegian furniture, and for dessert after seafood, Swedish cinnamon is recommended.
A haven of luxury on the Costa del Sol
The Forum is located in the Milla de Oro district, which translates as the 'golden mile’. This is the name given to the less than five-kilometre stretch of coastal strip between the centre of Marbella and the Puerto Banus marina, which is full of expensive shops. The Milla de Oro is regarded as one of the most luxurious stretches of the Costa del Sol.
The Forum shopping centre opened this summer. As its manager points out, it is a vibrant intimate place where commerce is combined with relaxation and a sense of community. Here you can enjoy a mix of international, Spanish and Scandinavian culture, from food and drink to fashion and interior design. You can get from the centre of Marbella to the Forum, located at Av. Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe 7, in about five minutes by car.
Scandinavia in Andalusia
The new centre was not built from scratch. It was built in the building that housed the local radio and television station for many years and retained its original name. It is important to appreciate the consistency of the investment with the surrounding architecture. The building is reminiscent of the traditional Andalusian style, with its antique villa-like façade, white colour and roof tiles between red and orange, which are characteristic of southern Europe.
The developer of the building, Grupo Antima, points to the preservation of the building’s main structure and the use of materials from Spain and Morocco to create a space that people will love. The developer is a company with Norwegian roots, hence the numerous Scandinavian cultural elements in the development.
Cinnamons alongside seafood
There are no shops of large international chains in the Forum, but there are boutiques of several premium brands. The Sandon furniture store is a Spanish business with Norwegian roots, also offering workshop and design services. The June shop offers high-quality leather care products.
The Lulu Eyewear Gallery, on the other hand, sells eyewear from various designers. There is also a typically Andalusian touch – the D’Olivia shop, where you can try olive oil from local producers. In the new shopping centre you will also find a florist, a Korean-style beauty salon and a Scandinavian supermarket.
There are also food outlets: the luxuriously furnished Italian trattoria Florentine, seafood specialist The Fisherman’s Daughter, serving vegan brunch Planta Bistrot, artisan ice cream parlour Charly Cook, speciality cafe Kofficlub, and Swedish cafe-bakery Nybakat with its famous cinnamon rolls. Calories delivered to the body during a visit to the restaurants can be burned off in the gym operating on the upper floor and roof of the building.
