La Esperanza

I always enjoy the Motown night and dancing here. The food is good, the manager is very nice, and most of the staff are pleasant. It's a nice mid-level place run by a local family, and I usually enjoy coming for lunch or dinner. But I have to mark it down a lot after stopping by several afternoons for Salmorejo. The service was terrible, the servers were horribly disrespectful, and service was almost nonexistent. Unfortunately, it wasn't just one bad experience with the afternoon dining room staff.

We came in for a drink and food because the back terrace overlooking the beach is lovely. The bottle of wine was fine, and the toasted sandwich with fries was okay, if a bit overdone. The roasted pepper salad was unexpected: no lettuce or tomato, and more like a soup, with the peppers cooked to a mush. Cold, it was delicious and could have made a good side with fish or meat, but on its own? The biggest letdown was the fish and chips with peas. They said they only had mushy peas, not garden peas. Those arrived cold, and when we asked for them to be heated, they didn't come back until we'd finished eating. When we complained, the waiter said it wasn't his fault because he was on his own. Maybe they need to think about staffing. It's a shame, as the venue is getting popular, but poor service could hurt that.

Hotel Continental is family-owned and draws people who appreciate small, intimate hotels and personal service. After years of coming here, we still return because the reception management gives first-class service from the moment you book online or by phone. The boutique hotel sits right on the beach, with rooms on two floors and good-sized balconies overlooking the water. The bar and dining areas also face the beach, with plenty of room to relax and eat. There's a basement disco attached that opens on weekends. I've given up on five-star hotels where you're just a number. Places like Hotel Continental are gems in the hotel directory.

We booked a sea-view room with a balcony. It was extremely quiet, though too hot to sit outside during our stay. The room was compact but had an exceptional air-conditioning system and a normal fridge. I loved the walk-in shower, since I'm not a fan of showers over baths, and there was a free safe. Parking was on site. The hotel had a good pool setup by the beach, with new loungers and umbrellas. Breakfast had plenty of choice and great morning coffee, while the restaurant's lunch menu was reasonably priced.