Hotel Cortijo del Marques: The Best-Kept Secret in Granada

When you drive up to Cortijo del Marques, you might not think that you have arrived at the right spot. Or at least that's what we thought when we arrived! Located off of a partial dirt road, surrounded by farmland, the property is in an unassuming area surrounded by the original brick property wall. The history and integrity of the original property have been meticulously maintained while all rooms and common areas have been updated with modern amenities.

Dining on property is a special treat with special care taken at each meal to accommodate any dietary restrictions. Breakfast is my personal favorite while traveling, and trust me when I say that the breakfasts we had during our stay were some of the best I've had! Lunch and dinner are both served on site, with reservations being necessary for dinner. I enjoyed croquettes and gazpacho each day during lunch and both were delicious! The seasonal dinner menu changes each night and is based on the chef's daily market finds. Special consideration was made for two of my more selective eaters and they were offered a different menu more suited to their palate. I can't forget to mention the amazing wine list—please do yourself a favor and ask Eilko to recommend a wine to pair with your meal!

Since we are a family of five, we chose to stay in Los Olives, which accommodated us perfectly. Our girls had their own space downstairs while the adults had our own bedroom and bathroom upstairs. The beds were very comfortable and the air conditioning provided a great temperature during our summertime visit.

One of the things that really made this property stand out was the common areas. This is a small property, but at no time did I feel like other guests were intrusive or vice versa. Located around the property are shaded hammocks, a small yoga lawn, lounge chairs and umbrellas, and some of the largest lemons I have ever seen. The chapel is beautiful and works to maintain the historical charm of the property. The crown jewel, in my opinion, is the pool area. Having a pool on property is a must for visiting Spain in the summertime, and this pool area is incorporated perfectly to maintain the serenity of the natural landscape.

While I've tried to describe how special this place is, it really is the passion and warmth of its owners that make it stand out. Silvia and Eilko were nothing but the best hosts as they welcomed us to their property. It is clear that they take pride of ownership and that translates to their very capable and friendly staff. We look forward to visiting them again soon!

If you enjoy wine, make sure that you have some here. The wine collection is amazing!

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Spain page.