There's something magical about La Fructuosa, a 19th-century inn hugging the slopes of a tiny mountain village. The views really take your breath away. After falling under Gaucin's spell during a visit to the Art Gaucin festival, owners Catherine and Daniel (she is a sculptor and ceramicist, he ran a B&B) moved from Brussels to start a new life here. You can expect a warm multilingual welcome, cheery paintings and sculptures on the walls, a convivial atmosphere, and great food in the old wine cellar.
Upstairs, six cheerful and unique bedrooms make a restorative base for overnight guests, and up again, a roof terrace gazes over the mountains towards the distant coast. By day, this area is ideal for relaxing, walking in the mountains and exploring Andalucia's iconic pueblos blancos (white hilltop towns).
Highs
- Its location: perched in a pretty mountain village with views out to Gibraltar and beyond
- A window into traditional village life: the restaurant is a firm favourite with locals as well as weary travellers
- The shared roof terrace with fabulous views to the coast, where you can happily while away the hours with a bottle of red
- Original chestnut beams and wine press add an authentic sense of history
- It's brilliant value for money
Lows
- The restaurant has changed hands since we last visited and is now run independently, but the new chef is Michelin starred so standards are unlikely to slip!
- Staff are only on site for part of the day, so it’s best suited to more independent travellers
- There's no swimming pool or garden, but there is a large shared roof terrace
- Driving in Gaucin is pretty hairy, with steep and narrow one-way streets. You'll need to park a few hundred metres from the hotel and walk down
Best time to go
Come in spring and autumn for walking, April/May for wild flowers and migratory birds. July and August can be very hot and there is no swimming pool, although being high up in the mountains always ensures it is a few degrees cooler than on the coast. Artistic types should come in May for the Art Gaucin Open Studios event.
Our top tips
Although Gaucin's chaotic maze of tiny cobbled streets and whitewashed houses can seem daunting at first, after 24 hours in the village you will be navigating them like a pro. Don’t miss a sunset walk up to the castillo (castle).
- Boutique Hotel
- 6 guest rooms
- Breakfast (+ restaurant 5 nights per week)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
This old house is decorated in a traditional Spanish style, using splashes of turquoise, ochre and terracotta to create six light, spacious and cheerful rooms named after the themed artwork adorning their walls. Each is unique, though stunning views are guaranteed in all.
Architecture buffs will like the Almendros room, where guests can sleep beneath the house’s original roof (an additional storey was later added to much of the property) while outdoorsy types are likely to gravitate towards the sunshine yellow Jardin room, where French doors and a Juliet balcony overlook open panoramas. Two rooms have been renovated since our last visit to create El Mar and El Cielo, both on the second floor (the former is a twin room and the latter a double); they also have an adjoining door - ideal for families.
There are well-stocked and reasonably priced minibars that are handy for evening tipples, plus fans to keep you cool in summer and heating for winter.
Features include:
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfast is a la carte, with an array of fresh local pastries, Andalusian salami and Spanish cheeses on the menu. We had yoghurt with blackberry compote, served in an enormous goblet-like dish. Be sure to say yes when the fresh juice is offered: it was some of the best we’ve tasted. The jasmine and honeysuckle laden terrace has magical views of the surrounding mountains and the Mediterranean coast in the distance. In cooler months, guests eat in the converted wine cellar dining room with its intimate alcoves, vases filled with arum lilies and walls adorned with local art.
Open Tuesday to Saturday night for dinner, Textures by MR restaurant serves tasting menus of the 4-, 6-, 8- or 10-course variety. The emphasis is on local ingredients, with food sourced from nearby farms and markets, and the option of wine pairing with each course. Three-course lunches are available on Fridays and Saturdays.
When the restaurant is closed, Gaucin has a number of other great small bars and restaurants. El Zorro was our favourite for local specialities such as fried aubergine drizzled with wild honey and garlic marinated aceitunas (green olives).
Features include:
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Explore Gaucin village and get a taste of local life
- Dine on the restaurant terrace overlooking the mountains
- Go walking in the surrounding mountains
- Play golf on one of the region's many golf courses
- Visit the beautiful, windswept but unspoilt beach at Bolonia (60-90 minutes away)
- Drive to Ronda with its spectacular gorge, bridge and bullring (45 minutes) or Jimena de la Frontera (25 minutes)
- Take the fast boat from Tarifa to Tangiers for a day trip (45 minutes each way) or stay a couple of days in the laid back village of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Golf
- Hiking
- Tennis
- Traditional cultures
Kids
This is a typically Spanish hotel where children are welcomed with open arms. Under 3s stay for free.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
El Mar and El Cielo (one double and one twin) have an adjoining door - perfect for families with older kids. El Jardin has a double sofabed and space for a baby cot; La Aves has a single sofabed plus space for a baby cot. All rooms can hold a baby cot.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Baby equipment:
- Baby cots
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Kids Activities on site:
- TV
- WiFi
Kids Activities nearby:
- Walking in the Andalusian hills
- Horse riding
- Beaches (around an hour's drive)
Distances:
- Airport: 45 minutes (Gibraltar), 1.5 hours (Malaga)
- Hospital: 45 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
La Fructuosa is in Gaucin, a small village about 40 minutes' drive south of Ronda, Andalucia.
By Air
Fly into Gibraltar (60km), Malaga (125km) or Seville (163km).
From the Airport
You can travel by train to Gaucin and take a taxi, but to make the most of your trip, we strongly recommend that you hire a car. Remember to take caution and follow the speed limit (regardless of what the locals are doing). The streets of Gaucin are very narrow and parking is limited.
Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Andalucia and getting around
Airports:
- Gibraltar - North Front 60.0 km GIL
- Malaga - Costa del Sol 120.0 km AGP
Other:
- Beach 35.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape