Hotel Rural Alqueria de Morayma

We left still hungry after spending a little over €50 on our food and drinks. My boyfriend’s tuna came with only a small amount of fish and a bit of salad, and it wasn’t very warm. For a dish costing over €20, we expected him to feel full, but he didn’t. We were also charged for bread and olives we hadn’t asked for, and that charge was counted twice. The view of the Alhambra is lovely, but the meal made us feel we hadn’t got our money’s worth.

There are lots of cats around the property and in the restaurant, six kittens and one adult cat. That wasn’t mentioned on the phone or website, so keep it in mind if you have allergies. The location in the heart of the Alpujarras is beautiful, but our stay at Alqueria de Moryama was undermined by poor management and maintenance. We got a small room, about 12 m2, facing the passageway used by other rooms and the pool. It was noisy and had little natural light, a hard mattress, and almost no proper pillows. In the morning we even found a cockroach in the bed. Service at reception and in the restaurant/bar was close to nonexistent. The staff were unfriendly, the atmosphere wasn’t welcoming, and no one explained much about the hotel or the area. The restaurant was also disappointing: oily, under-seasoned food, napkins left on the floor, and waiters giving meal leftovers to the cats, which made us wonder. The pool was taken over for hours by around ten friends of the staff, with no regard for the noise or other guests. Our room was called “Del Guiri,” meaning the tourist’s room. We couldn’t help wondering whether that was because we’re not Spanish. The place has potential, but we wouldn’t spend our money or time here; go somewhere else.

The grounds and buildings are lovely, and the view is magic. There’s a bodega where they make their own wine. If you like a rich, juicy red at 15%, give it a try. The staff were good, the tapas were good, and lunch or dinner was pretty good too.

We’ve been coming here for more than ten years, and the food has always been good. It’s a peaceful spot for lunch, in a beautiful setting, and the staff are friendly and helpful. Highly recommended.