Luxury Rural Bolthole
Location: Vejer de la Frontera, Andalucia, Spain
Style: Boutique country hotel
Budget: £££
Away from the hordes of people gathered on the beaches along the Costa del Sol and the hustle and bustle of the area’s cities lies the rolling countryside of Cadiz province in southern Andalucia. Tucked among the striking Moorish white washed towns dotted along the hillside is the boutique rural escape of Casa La Siesta. Here you can find total seclusion from the outside world, a place to soak up the warm Spanish sunshine, losing yourself in a novel and enjoying peace and tranquility in this luxury villa.
Staying at Casa la Siesta
Casa la Siesta is an old converted Spanish country house, with only 7 bedrooms which retain the traditional style of the building. Four of the rooms are located on the first floor of the main building, with the other three suites alongside the main courtyard at ground level.
All rooms are extremely spacious, with king beds, large walk in showers and, in the suites, roll top bathtubs. Rooms on the first floor have a terrace or Juliet balcony overlooking the courtyard or out across the rolling countryside, whilst those at ground floor have a small private patio to enjoy the views and revel in the quietness with only the chirping of birds to interrupt your thoughts.
The main courtyard has a picturesque pergola along one side, with a second bar, a table tennis table and some expansive sofas to chill out in the shade on. Wander down the steps away from the house to explore the pretty gardens, and reach the main heated swimming pool. Another pergola awaits stocked with towels and an icebox for your drinks whilst in the pool or relaxing on the sun loungers dotted around the edge.
During the colder months, or any of the very rare rainstorms, you can hide away in the main house with a bottle of wine from Casa la Siesta’s impressive and extensive wine list on one of the comfy armchairs beside the crackling fire. Books are dotted around the fireplace with a selection also provided in each room for you to enjoy during your stay, whether that’s in the bath, relaxing on a sun lounger or curled up fireside.
Casa la Siesta also offers two unique options for larger groups or families to book for private use. Set away from the main house The Stables, a two bedroom villa offers ultimate privacy, whilst Casita de la Siesta is a private part of the hotel, with up to three bedrooms, its own kitchen, lounge and private pool.
Dining at Casa la Siesta
All rooms at Casa la Siesta are booked on a bed and breakfast basis, although they do offer a full lunch and dinner service as well as a small snack menu throughout the day.
Breakfast is usually taken on the eastern terrace, allowing you to soak up the rising sun whilst eating. Consisting of some classic Spanish breakfast items, you can expect a delicious spread of pan con tomate, avocado, yoghurt, granola, fresh fruit and local cheese. Breakfast is served at a leisurely pace between 9am and 10.30am, with eggs cooked fresh to order.
With an in house chef at the hotel, you can also choose to enjoy lunch and dinner at Casa la Siesta, at a cost of EUR 25 and EUR 50 per person respectively. Each consists of a set menu, changing daily, which is posted on a chalkboard outside the kitchen. If you wish to deviate from the menu on offer or have any dietary requirements simply let Casa la Siesta know and they will do their best to find you a suitable replacement.
Utilising fresh local produce, and often including some ingredients from Casa la Siesta’s own garden, you can expect to tuck into a wide range of traditional and modern Spanish dishes. Starter is often a soup or salad, such as gazapacho, white garlic soup or orange and fennel salad. The main course usually varies between a meat, fish or vegetable centrepiece, with dishes such as beef fillet, tuna tataki and grilled aubergine all appearing. For dessert, delicious fresh fruit is usually served for lunch, whilst in the evening a homemade dish, such as chocolate tart with lavender ice cream or tarte tatin, is often on the menu.
Lunch and dinner tend to be served in the opposite courtyard to breakfast, making the most of the shaded colonnade to escape the midday sun at lunchtime and giving you stunning views of the sunset at dinnertime. The best way to truly experience the sun going down is, of course, with a glass of wine in hand. Enjoy a pre-dinner aperitif with some nibbles as the sky erupts in golden hues and take your seat for dinner under a sparkling canopy of fairy lights.
Day Trips from Casa la Siesta
Although it may be tempting, given the tranquillity (and the drinks cellar!) that Casa la Siesta offers, to spend all your days by the pool sipping on cocktails. Any visitors to the region should not miss out on some of the incredible sights nearby.
Casa la Siesta is only a 10 minute drive from the magical Moorish white town of Vejer de la Frontera. With its main town square, Plaza de Espana, named as one of the most beautiful in Spain, you can easily spend several hours here exploring the postcard perfect white streets in amazement.
The ancient port city of Cadiz, one of the oldest inhabited cities in Europe, is also only a short drive away. Despite being the host to many cruise ships, Cadiz somehow manages to avoid the rush of international tourists that converge on the likes of Seville and Cordoba. The food scene alone makes it well worth a day trip in our opinion, along with its magnificent city walls and fortifications, and a smattering of lovely beaches.
Jerez, not far from Cadiz, is also well worth a visit, as the most famous of the three Sherry towns in the region. You can explore some of the top sherry producers in the city, including the iconic Tio Pepe bodega. Make sure you save time to see the show at the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art during your visit, where you’ll be amazed by the incredible displays performed by the Andalucian horses.
If it’s more coastline that you are looking for, the beaches of Costa de la Luz are only ten minutes away. Exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, the waters are perfect for windsurfing and longboard surfing, albeit perhaps a bit windy for sunbathing on occasion!
Key Information about Casa la Siesta
What are the Casa la Siesta rates?
With only seven rooms at Casa la Siesta be sure to book ahead, and you can pick the exact room you wish to stay in. There are three ‘rooms’ costing EUR 340 per night, three ‘suites’ at EUR 400 per night and one superior suite for EUR 460 per night.
The room rates are inclusive of bed and breakfast, with free tea, coffee, water, soft drinks and beer available all day. An honesty bar system is operated for the extensive drinks cellar including both wine and spirits, and lunch and dinner can be added for an additional charge.
What's the best way to get to Casa la Siesta?
Casa la Siesta is located in the heart of the Cadiz province of Andalucia. The nearest airport is Jerez (with regular flights from the UK and elsewhere in Europe), which is about an hour away. Alternatively, Gibraltar, Seville and Malaga are all within a couple of hours drive. Casa la Siesta will gladly arrange airport transfers for you or even hire cars to be delivered directly to Casa la Siesta. If you’re looking to take some day trips around the region during your stay, a hire car is definitely the best option, which you can easily pick up from the airport.
Can I bring my children to Casa la Siesta?
Casa la Siesta is primarily an adults-only hotel, for which it is unapologetic of, giving the chance for all guests to enjoy the tranquillity of its surroundings. They do however host special family weeks sporadically throughout the year, during which children are welcome to visit and special activities are organised to keep the little ones busy while you relax.
When is the best time of year to visit Casa la Siesta?
Andalucia is famous for its year round good weather, boasting “330 days of sun a year”. As such, you can’t really go wrong with when you visit Casa la Siesta. Temperatures in the countryside do not reach the unbearable heights of the city centres in mid Summer, although if you come during Spring / Autumn, you can soak up the beautiful colours of the season and combine your stay with a visit to Cadiz, Seville or Cordoba.
Can I book the whole of Casa la Siesta?
You can book the whole of Casa la Siesta for your exclusive use, whether for a family holiday or even for a breathtaking wedding venue. Starting at EUR 13,400 for a weekend up to EUR 24,500 for the whole week, many additional services can be arranged, including private banquets and entertainment, to make it an extra special escape to the country.
Our final thoughts on... Casa la Siesta
There’s no doubt that the setting of Casa la Siesta is one of the most beautiful places we’ve stayed in Southern Spain, with exquisitely decorated rooms and immaculately presented gardens. And there’s no better way to enjoy the Spanish sunshine than beside the pool at Casa la Siesta with a glass of cava in hand, listening to the birds chirping around you. If you are looking for a spot of luxury and escapism amongst the rolling hills of Andalucia, Casa la Siesta is the place for you.
Find Out More…
Casa la Siesta – https://casalasiesta.com/
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Many thanks to Casa la Siesta for hosting us during our time in Spain. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely our own, we wouldn’t recommend something if we didn’t love it!
