Hotel Caserio de Iznajar

The terrace had a welcome cooler breeze and was covered, which helped in the heat. The location is fantastic, and the WhatsApp booking worked well: they confirmed our table and showed us to the terrace. There were a few groups arriving at once, but we were seated without much of a wait. Service took a while, with one waitress clearly stretched and one man covering the bar. There was a good choice of local and other dishes, and the food was tasty. We shared mixed croquettes, then ordered the chutelon steak for 50 euros. It was tasty, but it arrived more underdone than we wanted, and cutting the meat off the bone was a struggle because the fat needed more rendering. The croquettes had good flavor but were a little overcooked. We left thinking it was a nice experience, though better service and more care with the food details would have made it more special.

The patio felt very bare, and the hard upright wooden chairs were uncomfortable. Every other table had a tablecloth, while ours did not, and a loud air conditioning unit blew toward the two other guests. We had told them when booking that some of our larger group would arrive later, but nothing was done to make the wait more comfortable. When they arrived, we were hurried to decide because the kitchen was about to close. Explaining the menu to several foreign guests took a while, but eventually everyone got food. The Iberico ham was excellent, and so was the wine we asked for. Some people enjoyed their dishes; ours was what Spanish people call “regular.” The chicken burgers looked suspiciously red and had no flavor, and the bacon was badly undercooked, as I noticed on many plates. They were still using the autumn and winter menu, and when we asked about the spring and summer one, they said it hadn’t been changed yet. Spring had only ten days left. After the meal, the same menu came back with the postres, but nobody wanted dessert. Everyone wanted coffee or tea, which we were told wasn’t possible because they were closing at 12, even though it was only 11.20. Even before the late arrivals, I felt the staff didn’t want to be there. Our group accounted for roughly 90% of their takings that night, so a little flexibility would have helped. This was my first and last visit to the Caserio. People say it has improved a lot, and I dread to think what it was like before.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and one person seemed to be handling every position. She was excellent. The lake views are lovely, and the hotel is a good starting point for local walks, with suggestions available there, or a visit to the village of Iznajar, which is well worth seeing. We stayed in mid October, so it may be busier in summer. It’s a quiet, very Spanish hotel, and what you’d expect from its star rating, though it still exceeded our expectations. I’d recommend it if you’re in the area.

The room was comfortable and lovely, and the place itself is beautiful. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful, and they serve what looks like traditional food in a lovely patio. The bathroom, though, smelled really bad. They apologized and said the rain and the building’s age were the reason. The cleaner tried hard to mask it with cleaning products, but the smell returned quickly.