Hotel Casapalaciega S.XIX

Dinner was a treat, with the chef serving us the tasting menu. He’s a professional but also very friendly and approachable, so we left the choices entirely to him. First came fresh, exquisite salmon with vegetables and exceptionally fresh tomatoes, followed by a delicious sorbet. Then there was braised beef with asparagus, tender green beans, and steamed baby carrots, all locally sourced. We didn’t get a chance to photograph dessert. We’ll definitely be back!

Berja was a pleasant surprise, and the hotel completely won me over. It’s a dreamlike place in a palatial 19th-century building, and both the management and customer service team did more than I expected. Dinner had no menu, but the dishes were exquisite: marinated salmon over lettuce and seafood, then lobster salad and sorbet, followed by Arabic-style braised beef. Papaya was dessert.

The beef tagine we were served was excellent, and the staff were so friendly that we felt right at home. I only wish they had a menu. The house itself is beautiful, a palatial place in central Berja that the owner renovated with exquisite taste. The dining rooms, patios, bedrooms, and pool patio are all lovely.

Breakfast alone makes a stay worthwhile. The owner is attentive and very friendly, always trying to make sure guests have the best stay possible. It’s a restored old manor house, with furniture and furnishings from another era, so the rooms are adequate for what they are. The bathroom works well, and everything is clean and tidy. In one of the last villages in the Alpujarras, this is the best place to stay in Berja.