Sky Bar at Hotel Las Arenas

A few steps back from Santa Ana beach, the Sky Bar crowns the 7th floor of Hotel Las Arenas Affiliated by Meliá.

Most Benalmádena rooftops perch over the marina or a beach club. This one rises above a hotel, and that changes the whole feel.

I went up for a Friday sunset expecting a sleepy hotel bar. I found a polished terrace, a proper cocktail list, and prices that match the Meliá name.

This review covers the view from the 7th floor, the drinks, the dress code, and how to get up there if you're not staying at the hotel.

Where Is the Sky Bar at Hotel Las Arenas?

The Sky Bar sits on the 7th-floor roof terrace of Hotel Las Arenas Affiliated by Meliá, set back from Santa Ana beach in Benalmádena Costa. It's open to the public, not only hotel guests. Take the lift through the lobby to the top floor.

The roof splits into two levels. One is a sun deck with sunbeds, parasols, and chairs for daytime lounging. The other is the chill-out cocktail bar that runs into the evening.

Look out and you get the Costa del Sol coastline, the turrets of Castillo de Bil Bil below, and the Mediterranean past the marina. It ranks among the best rooftop bars in Benalmádena for that mix of height and sea view.

The Vibe

By day the terrace runs resort-casual. People drift up from the beach for a drink, kids in tow, and stretch out on the sun deck.

After about 6pm the mood shifts. The lighting drops, the music settles into something loungey, and the dress code quietly tightens.

I sat on the chill-out side at dusk and watched the deck fill within twenty minutes once the sun started dropping. The sunbed crowd gave way to couples and groups ordering cocktails.

It's polished without being stiff. If you want something more relaxed and local, Almika down the coast is the easier-going option.

Menu & Prices

The Sky Bar is a cocktail bar first, with a drinks list built around classic and signature cocktails. Meliá sells it on sunset cocktails with a sea view, not on food.

I haven't listed prices here, because I couldn't confirm a current menu. Expect hotel-bar prices, a notch above the beach bars below. If you want a proper meal, eat along the seafront first and come up for the sunset.

The View & Seating

From the 7th floor the view does most of the work. The Mediterranean fills the horizon, the marina and coastal development sit below, and the turrets of Castillo de Bil Bil poke up to one side.

The terrace faces west, so sunset is the main event. The sky turns orange over the water and the deck goes quiet for a few minutes while everyone watches.

After dark the coast lights up and the mood turns intimate.

Seating options:

• Lounge seating for cocktails
• Bar seating for solo visitors or cocktail focus
• Terrace tables with the best views (book these early)
• Mix of covered and open-air zones

Terrace tables with the best sea view go first. Ask for one when you book, or arrive by 7-8pm in summer to claim a spot before golden hour.

How to Make a Reservation

For drinks, walk-ins are usually fine, though busy summer nights can mean a short wait. Sunset slots and groups of four or more are where planning pays off.

Call the hotel on +34 952 44 36 44 and ask for terrace seating when you do. A quick call ahead beats turning up on a packed Friday and standing around.

Dress Code

The Sky Bar keeps smart-casual standards befitting an upscale hotel rooftop.

What works:

• Smart casual for evening (collared shirts, dresses, tailored trousers)
• Resort casual during daytime
• Well-kept footwear - avoid flip-flops after sunset
• Stylish without being formal

What doesn't work:

• Beach flip-flops in the evening
• Swimwear without proper cover-ups
• Very casual sportswear in the evening
• Overly relaxed beach attire after dark

By day the code relaxes, but evenings expect more effort. Think "resort elegant" rather than formal.

Access & Getting There

Finding it: The Sky Bar sits atop Hotel Las Arenas Affiliated by Meliá at Avenida Antonio Machado, 122, in Benalmádena. Enter through the main hotel entrance and take the lift to the 7th floor.

The rooftop is open to non-hotel guests. Walk into the hotel lobby and ask for the Sky Bar.

Getting there:

• From Benalmádena Costa beach: 5-10 minute walk
• From the marina: 10-15 minute walk
• From Benalmádena Pueblo: 10 minute drive

Parking:

• Hotel parking (confirm availability and fees with hotel)
• Public car parks in surrounding area
• Street parking limited
• Taxi/Uber: "Hotel Las Arenas, Benalmádena"

Public transport:

• Local buses along coastal routes
• Benalmádena-Arroyo de la Miel train station nearby
• Well-connected to Málaga, Fuengirola, and Torremolinos

Accessibility: Elevator access from hotel lobby makes the rooftop accessible for guests with mobility needs.

Location & Map

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Avenida Antonio Machado, 122, 29630 Benalmádena, Málaga

Our Verdict

Would I send you up here? Yes, with one caveat about price.

The Sky Bar does the polished hotel rooftop well. The 7th-floor view is genuinely good, the cocktails are properly made, and the service has that Meliá smoothness. You always know what you're getting.

What you pay for it is the hotel markup. This isn't where you go for a cheap caña and a plastic chair.

Best for: sunset cocktails, a romantic drink with a sea view, business drinks, or marking an occasion somewhere a notch above the beach bars.

Skip if: you want a buzzy local spot, a budget night, or a barefoot beach-shack vibe. For a louder, younger scene, Nix Sky Bar up the coast runs DJs and a party crowd.

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Is the Sky Bar at Hotel Las Arenas open to non-hotel guests?

Yes. The Sky Bar is the 7th-floor rooftop of Hotel Las Arenas Affiliated by Meliá, and it welcomes non-hotel guests for drinks. Enter through the hotel lobby and take the lift to the top floor.

Is the Sky Bar at Hotel Las Arenas a restaurant or a bar?

It's a bar. The Sky Bar is a rooftop cocktail bar with a sun deck, not a sit-down restaurant, and I couldn't confirm a food menu. Eat along the seafront first, then come up for cocktails and the sunset.

What are the views like from the Sky Bar at Hotel Las Arenas?

The west-facing terrace on the 7th floor looks over the Mediterranean, Benalmádena's marina, and the turrets of Castillo de Bil Bil below. Sunset is the main event: the sky turns orange over the water and the deck goes quiet for a few minutes while everyone watches. After dark, the coastline lights up along the water.

Is there a dress code at the Sky Bar at Hotel Las Arenas?

Smart casual is expected, particularly in the evening. Daytime is more relaxed, but evenings expect collared shirts, dresses, and proper footwear rather than flip-flops.

Can children visit the Sky Bar at Hotel Las Arenas?

Yes, children are welcome at the Sky Bar, especially during the day when the terrace runs resort-casual with families up from the beach. The mood shifts after about 6pm, when the lighting drops and the crowd turns more adult and couple-focused. If you're up with kids, an earlier visit suits the atmosphere better.