You’ll be spoiled for selection with regards to selecting a spot to remain in Andalucía, the huge, sun-drenched area of southern Spain.
Thoughtfully transformed fincas (farmhouses) stud the lunar-like panorama round Granada whereas renovated palaces and transformed monasteries present respite from the cultural hotspots of Málaga and Seville. Additional south, Mediterranean mild and design suffuse dreamy boltholes on the coast round Cádiz. Terracotta tiles and whitewashed partitions are a relentless all through.
It’s price searching for a boutique lodge on this a part of the world: you might be prone to pay much less for luxurious lodging than elsewhere in Western Europe and every property, whether or not rural or city, reveals its personal story. Whether or not you might be within the temper for a blissfully rural pad within the mountains, a romantic casita for 2 on the coast or a luxurious getaway in Seville, learn on for our decide of one of the best boutique lodges in Andalucía.
Palacio Solecio, Málaga appeals to lovers of design and gastronomy
Squirreled away within the winding streets of Málaga’s Jewish Quarter, this elegant 18th-century palace is an ode to Andalusian heritage and gastronomy. Get up to an extravaganza of regional delicacies at breakfast, served beneath the arches of the luminous courtyard. By evening, candlelight transforms the zaguan patio into an atmospheric restaurant the place friends tuck into six-course tasting menus designed by José Carlos García, a Michelin-starred chef.
The design is as elevated because the meals. The property opened its doorways simply earlier than the pandemic; consequently, the rooms really feel recent and luxurious, decked out in herringbone materials with matching marble flooring within the loos. Motifs in pistachio, ochre and crimson nod to the lodge’s historical past: it was the residence of the patrón (boss) of Spain’s well-known Actual Fábrica de Naipes, an 18th-century manufacturing unit that manufactured enjoying playing cards. One in all Andalucía’s most romantic lodges, this can be a nice base from which to discover the area or bask on the Costa del Sol. Simply ask the concierge to counsel an itinerary.
Rooms from €339 per evening, with breakfast. Tasting menu from €65 per particular person
Resort Boutique Elvira Plaza in Seville presents easy luxurious that doesn’t break the financial institution
Life at Hotel Boutique Elvira Plaza within the charismatic barrio of Santa Cruz is all about alfresco dwelling. Most visitor rooms are set gracefully round sunny terraces, whereas a rooftop patio overlooks Seville’s Gothic cathedral and its splendid belltower, the Giralda. Although near one of the best websites on the town, the Plaza de Doña Elvira is a pocket of serenity shaded by orange bushes. Fancy a ship journey down the Guadalquivir River, or a night of foot-stomping flamenco? Each are simply organized. The lodge additionally flies the flag for Sevillian gastronomy: feast on upscale tapas akin to prawn carpaccio with pine nuts and basil, or seared tuna cooked barbateño-type in caramelized onion and native sherry. Extremely fairly but unfussy, this can be a nice selection for {couples} visiting Andalucía.
From €142 per evening for a terrace room, with breakfast
Balcón de Córdoba supplies a whole immersion in Andalusian structure
This former Seventeenth-century monastery is a stone’s throw from Córdoba’s most important occasion: the mesmerizing Mezquita within the metropolis’s Jewish Quarter. E book the Ruzbahan room to marvel on the millennium-old mosque from the daybeds in your non-public roof terrace. Although historical past abounds at this 10-room property, every visitor suite is pleasingly modern, with sink-into beds, pastel tones and (after all) a balcony. Chill out with a espresso in any of the patios strewn with leafy potted crops as you learn concerning the Castilian, Roman and Islamic influences that formed Córdoba’s riotous structure.
This idiosyncratic fusion finds its method into the delectable, gently spiced dishes served at Pairi Daeza, the lauded on-site restaurant, appropriately named after an previous Iranian phrase for paradise. However the lodge’s most curious options are the marble plinths and worn stone sculptures dotted all through the property, a part of a group of greater than 100 archaeological treasures. The Balcón de Cordóba is eccentric, enjoyable and an immersive option to expertise historic preservation.
Rooms from €181, with breakfast
Las Chimeneas in Mairena is finest for a style of the Alpujarras kitchen
Accessible from each Granada and Almería, this rugged, whitewashed tumble of restored homes is among the high rural retreats in Andalucía. Hugged by the mountains of the jap Alpujarras, with a pool and an onsite natural farm, Las Chimeneas is a harmonious mix of simplicity, top-notch hospitality and wildly good cooking. All 9 of the spacious (if not spartan) en-suite bedrooms might be employed out for a bunch or rented individually. Inside, bolts of cobalt blue enliven the country decor. Exterior, non-public terraces look out over olive groves and the Mediterranean Sea within the distance.
There may be heaps to do right here, together with yoga, strolling, foraging, farming and bird-watching. In January, friends can get hands-on with the olive harvest; in March, they’ll decide oranges that dangle in orchards irrigated by channels that date again to the times of the Moors. All this recent produce leads to the kitchen, the center and soul of Las Chimeneas. Cooks Soledad and Conchi conjure up dishes which can be wholly seasonal and drenched in olive oil, the liquid gold of this area. In winter, hearty meat cocinados (stews) are served with glasses of spicy crimson wine; take pleasure in almonds and artichokes within the hotter months. Recollections of Las Chimeneas will linger within the thoughts, and on the tongue.
Rooms from €95, with breakfast
Inexperienced-minded vacationers searching for peace and quiet ought to verify in to Resort La Almunia del Valle, Monachil
This well-appointed but understated lodge is ensconced within the Sierra Nevada Nationwide Park, an hour or so from Granada. Nature gazes again at you from each slick condo: ebook a room with a rooftop terrace to profit from the vistas, or marvel on the arid landscapes from a chaise lounge by the pool. Every part right here is inexperienced, from the lushly planted gardens to the lodge’s ethos. La Almunia del Valle prides itself on working with native communities, conserving the atmosphere and selling accountable journey. This interprets to the kitchen, the place produce is regionally sourced and scrumptious, notably the free-range Pajuna beef and the homegrown olive oil.
Unsurprisingly, actions listed here are all concerning the nice outside. Fly down the snowy pistes of the Sierra Nevada ski slopes in winter; in hotter months, go to the traditional villages referred to as los pueblos blancos and hike by means of the thrillingly steep Los Cahorros Gorge. The lovingly restored eating room of the cortijo (a rural home typical of the area) is the right spot to peruse the lodge’s intensive assortment of journey literature or take pleasure in sundowners on the terrace whereas admiring the magnificent view.
Rooms from €120 per evening in off-season or €138.50 in excessive season, with breakfast
Casa Ana in Ferreirola is a countryside retreat for inventive sorts
Many vacationers overlook Las Alpujarras, the southern portion of the Sierra Nevada, a spread of mountains that traverse Andalucía southeast of Granada. Although the solar shines year-round right here, the notoriously tempestuous mountains can drench the unexpecting vacationer with rain or snow. Regardless of this, peace, views and hearty cooking entice hikers, climbers and artists trying to get away from all of it. That’s exactly the draw of Casa Ana, a 400-year-old transformed farmhouse with a touch of hobbit and buckets of character. South-facing, whitewashed bedrooms overlook bountiful gardens of oranges and almonds, and there are limitless nooks to curve up with a ebook. Breakfasts are copious – important gas earlier than a day spent criss-crossing the paths.
Although this a part of Spain lacks Seville’s glamour or Granada’s tumultuous historical past, the inspiring setting of the quaint, beloved guesthouse makes it certainly one of Andalucía’s finest budget-friendly boutique lodges. It is a must-visit for energetic vacationers wanting to get off the crushed observe: Casa Ana often hosts yoga, strolling and creative-writing retreats.
Rooms from €90 per evening, or €55 for solo vacationers, with breakfast
Seville’s Resort Alfonso XIII is a decadent selection for vacationers trying to splurge
Iconic and opulent, Resort Alfonso XIII feels as surreal as a fairytale. This landmark lodge has all of the bells and whistles of excessive hospitality: a swimming pool, sauna, rooftop terrace bar, palatial suites, eating places and decadent interiors. With its tiled turrets and towering palm bushes, Resort Alfonso XIII is well mistaken for the royal palace. In truth, the eponymous king demanded that the lodge be constructed to welcome presidents and distinguished friends in the course of the world’s honest in 1929. The grandeur persists to today. Rooms are organized round an exquisitely adorned internal courtyard – a homage to Andalusian craftsmanship and timeless magnificence – the place breakfast is served. No expense has been spared to protect the unique particulars. With marble flooring, classically Sevillian azulejo tiles and wonderful North African arches, this luxurious property is a feast of Moorish Revival design and lends itself to celebrating an important day. Foodies will love the wine tasting, tapas excursions and cooking courses.
Rooms from €482 per evening, with breakfast
Chill out within the Andalusian countryside after exploring Granada at Resort Cortijo del Marqués, Albolote
Olive groves, sunflower fields and pomegranate bushes encircle this sprawling cortijo. Regardless of being simply half-hour from Granada, a break at Resort Cortijo del Marqués presents a style of la España profunda – the quiet life loved within the Andalusian countryside. A pleasant and casual environment permeates this pared-back however charming lodge whose design stays true to the unique structure. Uncovered stone partitions and cobbled flooring function all through, whereas every expansive suite nods to the lodge’s previous life as a farm. The steady, granary, tower and cylindrical grain silo have been lovingly transformed into quirky visitor rooms, full with cavernous rainforest showers, marble loos and traditional wood-framed home windows.
Days right here might be as chilled-out or high-octane as you want. Flop across the pool to the sound of chirping cicadas or whiz by means of miles of surrounding greenery on mountain bikes or horseback. Every morning the chef selects hyperlocal elements to create a three-course menu; simply ask the Dutch-Austrian hosts for a zero-mile wine to match.
Rooms from €139, with breakfast
Granada’s Resort Casa Morisca caters to {couples} and structure buffs
In Casa Morisca you could possibly be in Morocco, moderately than southern Spain. The lodge, whose identify means “Moorish Home,” displays the encircling Albayzín district, whose Unesco-protected alleys originated some seven centuries in the past, in the course of the period of Islamic rule. All this medieval historical past is clear all through the rigorously refurbished Fifteenth-century constructing. Darkish picket beams criss-cross the ceilings, Mudéjar-style, and the turquoise and terracotta tiles within the courtyard echo the riads of Fez or Marrakech. Working on a bed-and-breakfast foundation solely, with no further services, Casa Morisca encourages vacationers to get out and discover Granada’s wealthy culinary scene – most notably, the free tapa that comes served with beer. Bedrooms are small however completely shaped; select the Mirador room for a view of the Alhambra, the staggering fortress that looms over Granada.
Rooms from €135, or €220 for the Mirador with a view of the Alhambra
Keep at Casa La Siesta in Vejer de la Frontera for adults-only boutique bliss infused with Mediterranean spirit
Each inch of Casa La Siesta lives as much as its identify. This picturesque, peaceable property is a lesson in sluggish dwelling, and the seven-bedroom lodge has been designed with serenity in thoughts. Quite a few solar terraces face out in direction of rugged rural vistas, bushes sequester the pool from view and the bathtubs in every elegant visitor suite present attractive views. Quiet spots to eat, drink and chill out are simply discovered all through the lodge – however ebook the Casita La Siesta, a personal three-bedroom condo with its personal pool and backyard, if you wish to be completely undisturbed.
Simply 20 minutes away lie empty Mediterranean seashores and Vejer de la Frontera, a shocking, higgledy-piggledy village on the sting of Andalucía’s sherry triangle. Casa La Siesta presents tastings of the fortified tipple, alongside a roster of Spanish wines to swimsuit the high-end Mediterranean delicacies cooked within the restaurant. Menus change each day and seafood options closely – in any case, Barbate, the tuna capital of Spain, is simply across the nook. The lodge opens its doorways to households 4 occasions a yr and welcomes youngsters with browsing, Spanish and cooking classes.
Rooms from €221 in off-season or €340 in excessive season, with breakfast
