The second you walk through the door of Marbella’s most intriguing restaurant, Samna, you immediately feel a sense of calm. Perhaps it is the interiors, which have been thoughtfully designed to capture exactly what Samna is all about: a meeting of Mediterranean ease, Middle Eastern influence and a distinctly Ukrainian sense of craftsmanship.
Samna’s stunning design credentials
The palette is deliberately soothing, with deep ocean blues, warm timber and swathes of dark marble giving the space a feeling of understated luxury. It is polished without feeling overly formal, and there is a subtle sense of the sea running throughout.
Adding a sense of movement overhead is an undulating wooden ceiling, designed to echo the rhythm of the sea, while deep blue glass columns add a glossy hit of colour and draw the eye upwards, cleverly giving the relatively low-ceilinged space a greater sense of height.
Raw black marble adds a touch of drama, grounding the softer blue tones and keeping the maritime references feeling sophisticated rather than literal. Many of the bespoke elements were crafted in Ukraine, bringing an unexpected layer of artistry to the space. Together, the Ukrainian roots, the effortless glamour of Marbella and the rich influences of Middle Eastern cuisine come together in an interior that feels immersive, elegant and, importantly, entirely its own.
The story behind Samna
Samna began in Kyiv in 2020, where acclaimed chef Meir Adoni brought his contemporary take on Middle Eastern cooking to the Ukrainian capital. The original restaurant closed in spring 2026, but by then Samna had already travelled far beyond its Kyiv beginnings: Samna Marbella opened in 2025, bringing the concept to the Costa del Sol, while a Prague outpost is now in development. It’s a neat story of a restaurant born in Ukraine finding a new life abroad.
A blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours
The menu presents a refined yet soulful interpretation of Mediterranean cuisine, enriched by the vibrant flavours, traditions, and heritage of the Middle East. Each dish is thoughtfully crafted with precision and passion, bringing together time-honoured influences and contemporary creativity. A celebration of heritage, reimagined for the modern table.
Under the direction of Chef Adoni, the menu takes a sun-soaked journey around the Mediterranean, drawing on the vibrant flavours of Southern Europe alongside the deeper, more aromatic influences of the Middle East and North Africa. Fresh, produce-led dishes meet charred flavours, fragrant spices and generous seasoning, resulting in cooking that feels both refined and full of character.
Despite me being a coeliac, the restaurant and their team which was led by the lovely Gleb were really helpful in ensuring that every dish that I had was gluten free. After enjoying a fantastic cocktail and admiring the very insta-worthy interiors, it was time for the main event – the food!
We were lucky enough to try the tasting menu which was a great way to check out Samna’s culinary approach bringing Mediterranean classics into sharper focus with bold Middle Eastern influences. Guests can opt for one of three tasting menus, with classic, vegetarian and pescatarian options offering different ways to experience Samna’s cooking from start to finish.
Both of us enjoyed the most delicious melt-in-your-mouth Tuna tartare on potato grating with a vibrant tomato consommé. The flavours, especially the tomato consommé, really packed a punch with its intense freshness and gentle acidity cutting beautifully through the richness of the fish.
Sadly, I was not able to have the kabbana bread which looked delicious, with the most beautiful golden colour and was served with ripe tomato and a fiery shug sauce – the pillowy bread soaking up the sweet, smoky heat of the sauce.
Of course, we made a beeline for a Middle Eastern classic – hummus which was absolutely sublime. There is something particularly comforting about the hummus topped with two soft-cooked eggs, the golden yolks spilling into the silky chickpea purée and creating a dish that is simple, generous and deeply satisfying.
I can never turn down an octopus dish, and this was perfectly-cooked and served with creamy butter beans, artichoke confit and pickled turnip leaves, balancing smoky char and earthy richness with a bright, gently acidic lift.
The beauty about these dishes is that they are not too big, are superbly presented and they also leave you room for dessert of which we had fruit with a silky-smooth ice cream. Every dish was absolutely exquisite and next time I go to Marbella, I will definitely be returning to Samna.
By the time dessert arrived, it was clear that Samna is about much more than beautiful surroundings. There is a real thoughtfulness to the cooking, with each dish bringing something different to the table while still feeling part of the same Mediterranean and Middle Eastern story. Nothing felt overly complicated, but there was plenty of flavour, from the bright acidity of the tomato consommé to the smoky char of the octopus and the richness of those golden egg yolks over hummus.
For me, that is what makes Samna such an exciting addition to Marbella. It has the setting, the design and the polished service you would expect from a restaurant in this part of the world, but the food has enough personality to make it memorable.
Add in the incredibly welcoming team and an interior you will want to linger in, and Samna is somewhere that feels very easy to spend an evening.
