El Paraje del Chef

We loved our time at El Paraje del Chef and highly recommend it. The spacious, well-equipped cottages make it easy to enjoy the peaceful calm of the Alpujarras. Juan Carlos, his charming wife, and delightful father welcomed us so warmly and were incredibly generous hosts. The meals were fantastic above all. He’s a master chef, making healthy, distinctive dishes that are beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. We were amazed by the Michelin star quality dinners, the range of choices, and the intimate setting.

The sunrise over Laroles was breathtaking, and there are several hiking routes that pass right by the property, so we didn’t need to use the car. El Paraje del Chef was perfect for us, with amazing views and a calm, natural setting. The cottage had everything we needed. Eraicy and Carlos really care about their guests, and their passion for cooking and making people comfortable comes through. Carlos was happy to share what he learned during years as a chef in several countries. Breakfast was typically spanish, with local bread, serrano, and good coffee. Thank you for welcoming us, Eraicy and Carlos. Hope to see you again!

We hadn’t planned on staying longer, but after the first evening we changed our travel plans and added a night. Juan Carlos and his attentive, lovely small team put passion into every detail, from the menu to the cottages. We had dinner and breakfast twice, staying in a spacious, cosy cottage made with local wood. There was just one other couple, yet Juan Carlos made the second eight-course menu completely different. Both were amazing, mostly using excellent local ingredients, and blending traditional Andalusian dishes with creative international ideas. The ceviche was the best I’d ever had. The organic wine came from a small nearby winery, and was surprisingly amazing for this region. We’re very interested in good wine, and haven’t eaten better at many far pricier Michelin-starred restaurants. Do take a long hike in the beautiful hills before dinner, otherwise you might not manage the whole menu.

We had a lovely birthday dinner and stay at El Paraje del Chef. The food was breathtaking, Michelin star level cooking at a really reasonable price. Carlos and his wife were exceptionally welcoming hosts. We’ll return as soon as we can, can’t recommend it enough.