La Almunia del Valle

Rooms

All the rooms have the same soothing style, but all are different. Wander around and you’ll find padded bedheads, Mies van der Rohe chairs, a fascinating collection of contemporary art on the walls, rugs, TVs, books and good lighting.

You get ceiling fans, pretty throws, Mediterranean colours and terracotta-tiled floors. Beds are immaculate, with eiderdowns and the crispest linen. Every room has a couple of delightful armchairs - small, well-made and sumptuously upholstered - which face towards the windows. First-floor rooms get the longer views, while those on the ground floor have doors that open onto the garden. The Superior Rooms are particularly special; one is built into the side of the hill and has a stone wall, whilst another 2 on a higher terrace have glass-fronted rooms that are simply stunning. On our last visit we stayed in a Standard with Terrace; we loved the space and views of Sierra Nevada from our private patio, and actually preferred the classic layout to the more open plan Superiors (their bed-to-bathroom distance felt a little too close for comfort).

Bathrooms (all ensuite) are similarly indulging. All are spacious, but some are huge. Superior Rooms have modern in-room ensuites separated by a curtain, all others are more traditional and have doors. You get hand-thrown ceramic sinks, mosaic walls in the power showers plus pretty glasses, big mirrors and candles. Superior Rooms come equipped with linen dressing gowns and slippers, and the soap, gel, shampoo, conditioner and body cream are stored in lovely hand-painted ceramic jugs (just one of the efforts by the team to cut the use of plastics).

In-room coffee, tea and biscuits are replaced daily, and you also get a mini fridge to store snacks and drinks.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Central heating
• Cots available
• Fan
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

Extensive buffet breakfasts offer a daily surprise: sliced fresh tomatoes, delicious home-made orange and lemon cake and ensainmadas (like a croissant). You’ll also get cereal, home-baked toasted rolls, yoghurt, lots of fruit as well as a cafetiere of coffee, fruit juice and a selection of teas, the latter served to you at your table. Those eye-watering valley views when served alfresco make it feel extra special. If you're heading out early to see Alhambra (which has set visiting hours) you may miss the buffet; give your hosts some notice and they can prepare you a tray so you don't lose out.

Three- or five-course dinners are available, if arranged no less than 24 hours in advance; there are vegetarian options available with notice and, on Sundays, a 'sustainable menu' is offered which is entirely meat- and fish-free. Patricia loves to cook and goes to the market in Granada every day. She cooks simple Mediterranean dishes with lots of flavour - loads of fish, chorizo and crepes, terrines, steamed vegetables. Where possible, the produce comes fresh from the garden: castañas (chestnuts) in autumn, figs in summer, oodles of cherries in May and June, and the best virgin olive oil from the terraced groves surrounding the house.

Our dinner was light and tasty: watermelon and beetroot gazpacho, layers of aubergine, smoked cheese and tomato followed by salmon and cous cous. The highlight was the handmade pionono - a sweet, local, alcohol-soaked pudding - that finished off the meal. Coffee is served in the sitting room. You can also get a good brandy.

Monachil has a couple of restaurants, where you can get something simple, but if you want a slap-up dinner, you’ll have to head into Granada. Manuel and Patricia will be there to point you in the right direction: their current top recommendation is Las Tomasas, a stylish restaurant serving classic dishes of southern Spain, fine wines, and jaw-dropping views of the Alhambra.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Head down to Granada and spend a day at the Alhambra - you probably don’t need telling this, but it’s one of Europe’s architectural crown jewels, and if you go you may find you return the day after. It is an exquisite example of Moorish endeavour and has one of the finest gardens in the world. Make sure you book in advance
  
• You’re in the Sierra Nevada National Park, so put on your walking boots and head off into the mountains. Walks start from the front door and close by you’ll find a small gorge with an Indiana Jones-style swing bridge across it. You can follow the river down into Monachil, a pretty village, where you’ll find big, fat geese sleeping under the bridge at night
  
• For the more adventurous, the Sierra Nevada plays host to a number of outdoor pursuits. Horse riding, rafting, paragliding, mountain biking, quad biking and (in winter) skiing can all be arranged
  
• Head into the mountains to visit La Alpujarra, where you'll find Spain’s highest villages, whose flat-roofed houses bear witness to their Berber origins
  
• There’s a festival of music in July at the Alhambra and a jazz festival in Granada in late October/early November

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Cycling
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Skiing
• Trekking

Kids

Children are welcome even though the owners were at pains to point out that La Almunia del Valle is not a family-focused hotel. Free baby cots are available in some rooms, check in advance.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Only the Superior Rooms, which have private terraces, can accommodate an extra bed (for under 7s).

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 20-30 minutes (Granada)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

La Almunia del Valle is about a kilometre above the village of Monachil, 15 minutes southwest of Granada in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

By Air
Granada (33km away) is the nearest airport, followed by Malaga (144km away), Almeria (185km away), Seville (262km away), Gibraltar (263km away) and Jerez (277km away). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving them.

By Car
You will need your own car. Note that the access track is asphalted. For hire cars see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be provided after your booking is confirmed.

More on getting to Andalucia and getting around