If utter peace, privacy and intimacy coupled with superb food and wine make up your vision of a holiday Shangri-la, this will be your kind of place. The owners took a real leap of faith to create this unusual hideaway hotel on a remote hillside with no TVs, no communal pool or sitting room, and just 4 guest suites. But Fountainhead is about other things. You come here to unwind, to recharge your inner batteries and, above all, to rediscover the sheer pleasure of feeling so removed from the commonplace.
The mood is set by a raked Zen garden which leads guests through a moon gate to the 4 suites, via fishponds, sculptural cacti, palm, agave and papyrus. This is a place where you can arrive early and leave late: the philosophy is 'privacy and personal service', so expect few rules. The flamboyant rooms are a decorative flight of fantasy and the restaurant is just as extraordinary, offering creative, gourmet cuisine and one of Andalucia's most informative wine lists.
Highs
- The suites are totally private, and each has an intimate outdoor terrace and plunge pool
- There are soaring views across the surrounding olive and almond groves to the distant mountains
- Your hosts are unobtrusive yet constantly caring, and are always mindful of your space
- You'll find colourful, flamboyant and theatrical decoration throughout
- The food is in a league of its own, and the wine list is a tour de force
Lows
- You have to assemble your own breakfast, but all of the ingredients are in or delivered to your suite, and it allows you to be more private
- The ornate suites won't be to everyone's taste and the décor is starting to look a little dated
- Rooms and food come with a hefty price tag but are still, we think, fairly priced
- Some guests feel the formal service doesn't match the relaxed setting
- The track leading to the hotel is pretty steep and rough in parts; bring your sense of adventure
Best time to go
One of the main reasons for choosing this place would be to make the most of your terrace and pool, which means you'd ideally visit some time between May and late September. It would be nice at other times of year but taking the plunge would have less appeal.
Our top tips
Don't forget to take your walking boots if you want to explore the stunning countryside around Fountainhead. And with such scrummy food on offer you may be keen to burn off a few recently acquired calories.
- Boutique Hotel
- 4 rooms
- Restaurant and bar
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Plunge Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
There are just 4 suites at Fountainhead. Each is clean cut and modern, with its own plunge pool and outdoor terrace with loungers, as well as table and chairs for alfresco dining. Inside, there are fully-equipped kitchenettes, sitting rooms with either a sofa or cushioned bench seating, wood stoves, Casablanca fans, air conditioning and radio/CD players.
Each room takes its cue from its name and they all have the feel of an Aladdin’s cave, with more than a hint of tongue-in-cheek fun. The designer has given her theatricality free rein in her choice of fabrics: silk, damask, embroidered satin, taffeta and voile have all been colour-matched, as have vases, lamps and cushions. Outside, the patios have a calmer, more uniform theme to let the views sing.
Sultan has a blue, turquoise and gold colour scheme - this suite is suitable for disabled guests. Outside, its plunge pool has been gated with kids in mind. An annexe has recently been added to one side of Sultan's courtyard. It has a writing desk, a sofabed and jazzy paintings, as well as a small shower room and separate loo (available with the main Sultan Suite for an additional charge). Sultan would be perfect for any author wanting to hide away and find inspiration in the tranquility and beauty of the area.
Oriental has a ritzy and seductive mood and is decorated in reds and blacks. Indian carries on the eastern theme but has a lighter, more dreamy feel and a beautiful carved wooden bench, while in Arizona the backdrop is white, with splashes of taupe and blue to create a sunny, more expansive mood. This suite has a larger plunge pool, a deck and a second small bedroom which can sleep 1 or, at a stretch, 2 children.
All suites have fair-sized bathrooms curtained off from the main bedroom, with Jacuzzi bathtubs and overhead showers.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Central heating
- Coffee / tea making
- Cots available
- Fan
- Fireplace
- Hairdryer
- Iron
- Plunge pool
- WiFi
Eating
The restaurant, open to non-residents at weekends, was born a couple of years before the suites. Presentation is picture perfect, seasonal veg is sacrosanct, local produce is sourced whenever possible and olive oil, the cornerstone of the Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, is produced from Fountainhead's olive crop.
The amazing wine menu includes more than 60 Spanish wines from - amongst others - La Rioja, Rueda, Toro, Jumilla, Priorat, Jumilla and Rias Baixas, all with his own evaluation. Most bottles are reasonably priced whilst, if you're feeling flush and fancy, the best Billecart French champagne and finest Ribera del Duero are on the list, too.
Dinner kicks off with an aperitif in the bar along with olives flavoured with ginger, cumin and orange, a bowl of roasted almonds and some other amuse-bouches that change daily. There's a choice of 5 starters, 5 mains and 5 desserts. We chose Lebanese meatballs with harissa and deep-fried fish cakes with fresh coriander, ginger and chilli sauce as starters, then for the main course we opted for the lamb - it came with a confit of aubergine, red onion, lentil, cumin and thyme - and a seared tuna served with olives, capers, lemon and tomato. Everything we ate was aromatic, eye-catching and delicious, and our desserts - an apple and almond strudel with nutmeg ice cream and an orange and prune custard tart - were fabulous, too. Veggies and vegans won't miss out, either - with a head's up, the team can offer full menus to suit different diets.
Lunch can be arranged in the restaurant but there is also a traiteur (deli) menu on offer, with a selection of tapas or warm herb bread with chorizo, tomato and grilled fresh cheese, which will be delivered to your suite. There are also basic cooking utensils in each kitchenette should you prefer to whip up a sandwich or salad.
Breakfasts are another example of the quirkiness of Fountainhead. You'll find most of the ingredients for this in your kitchenette's fridge - milk, local butter and eggs, fresh yoghurt, cold meats, cheese, homemade marmalade and chutney, fresh orange juice - and a basketful of hot croissants, pastries and home-baked bread will be delivered to your suite door at your chosen time.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Kitchenette
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Hike straight out into the surrounding mountains and explore. Keep your eyes peeled for hoopoes, bee eaters, eagles and woodpeckers, and for unusual wild flowers: orchids, field gladioli, wild sweet peas and barbary nuts
- Head down to the hotel's Bath House, where you can float in a deep relaxation bath of salt and essential oils in the dark then have spa treatments or a massage.
- Afterwards, practise your yoga in the pavillion. One-to-one lessons can be arranged by reception
- Head for the beach. You can reach the sea in less than an hour and there are, believe it or not, still a couple of good beaches to the east of Málaga
- Spend a few hours in Málaga visiting Gibralfaro Castle, the Picasso museum and its waterfront bars and restaurants
- Take a day trip to Granada, less than 1.5 hours' drive from Fountainhead, and stroll round the awesome Alhambra, a maze of palaces and gardens built between the 13th and 15th centuries by the Nasrid sultans
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Swimming
- Yoga
Kids
Children are welcome, but the atmosphere is one of tranquility, retreat and romance so it's not ideal for restless youngsters and teens may find it too quiet. Cots can be provided at no extra charge in any suite and baby-sitting can be arranged on request.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
The Arizona suite has a small extra bedroom (for 1 child or 2 small children), a large deck and a plunge pool. The Sultan has a gated pool and, when booked with the new annexe, can accommodate a third bed.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
Babysitting is available by arrangement.
Baby equipment:
Baby cots are available on request.
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Fountainhead is set near the village of Riogordo in Andalucia, southern Spain.
By Air
Málaga Pablo Ruiz Picasso (50km away) or Granada (90km away) are the nearest airports. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving them.
From the Airport
The hotel can arrange transfers from Málaga or Granada, or you can take a taxi for a similar price.
By Car
If you want to hire a car to drive here, see our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Andalucia and getting around
Airports:
- Málaga Pablo Ruiz Picasso 50.0 km AGP
- Granada 90.0 km GRX
Other:
- Beach 30.0 km
- Shops 2.0 km
- Restaurant 10.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 2 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape