A receipt from a bar in the heart of Marbella’s Old Town has divided opinion online.
Lucia, from local guide page Viva Marbella, shared a photo of her bill after she enjoyed some drinks in the iconic Plaza de los Naranjos.
She wrote: ‘Sitting here comes with a price tag! Do you think these are expensive?’
She revealed how her group paid €4.75 for a pint of beer, €6 for fresh orange juice and €8.50 for an Irish coffee.
The bill also shows how a small caña of Victoria beer were €3.25 each.
The post received hundreds of comments from mostly Brits, with many saying the prices are to be expected for such a tourist area.
One wrote: ‘That’s acceptable for Marbella,’ while another said: ‘It’s one of the most visited places in Marbella, which is also very beautiful… beauty comes at a price!’
However, some Spaniards hit back, saying that the locals, too, would like to enjoy the beauty but often cannot.
Angel Marchante fumed: ‘People from the town would also have the right to enjoy these places but with the salaries that we have we cannot even enjoy a glass of water, a shame and a disgrace.’
Monica Sanz added: ‘Super expensive, abusive!’
A number of other Brits agreed, with Steve Brewer claiming the group had been ‘mugged off’.
Another added: ‘That’s one of the reasons Alicante is so much better.’
It’s not the first time the cost of eating out on the Costa del Sol has sparked heated debate.
In recent years, a push towards the luxury market has seen prices steadily increase, particualry in the Golden Triangle (Marbella, Benahavis and Estepona).
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
