Early September 2017... Sandy beach, palm trees, 30 degrees, sunshine, the sound of the sea, total tranquillity and the unmistakable "mañana" atmosphere*.... We felt like a miracle there in Estepona, just 15 minutes from Marbella, at the Kempinski Hotel Bahia, even though we spent most of our stay outside in an air-conditioned meeting room.
But how does a Hungarian restaurant group get to Andalusia?
Seeing the success of ÉS Bistro, the Kempinski management asked the Zsidai Group to create a gastronomic centre in the hotel in southern Spain, similar to a modern resort hotel, where not only hotel guests but also locals and people staying in other hotels in the area would be welcome, and to rethink the reception area and lobby of the hotel.
It was a big ask, but the answer to such a request can only be yes. The timing wasn't ideal either, as Jamie's in Vienna and Gozsdu Courtyard hadn't even opened yet...
But there, at those sunny beach meetings, it was as if the Spanish "mañana" had really caught up with us: we'll have time tomorrow to think about how to make the whole project a reality for spring 2018.
Roy still remembers the first day, when he arrived in the lobby and was amazed to explain to the management the potential of the spaces and how they could be transformed to let sunlight and lots of glass take over.
We asked Ákos Bara to design the lobby and restaurants, who had worked on a number of international restaurants at the time - but we were also joined by the much talked about ex-Kempinski director Roy's friend Emile Bootsma, who was there as project manager on the Kempinski side.
El Paseo del Mar became the name of the gastronomic hub, which also housed the Baltazár Grill, Spíler Beach Club, Spíler Beach Bar and Black Rose The Bar.
Finally, after a lot of hard work, El Paseo del Mar opened its doors on 19 March 2018 in Estepona, at the Kempinski Hotel.
We can't tell you how much we love it, even with the mañanas.
Ps: Photos with red dots show the state before the renovation.
*Mañana means tomorrow.
