Hotel Montelirio

The room was comfortable and quiet, and breakfast was good with a view. The hotel sits centrally overlooking the gorge and bridge. The restaurant and terraces also have great views, though some rooms don’t. There’s a small pool, but not much else in the way of facilities.

We only stayed one night and found it serviceable, though perhaps a bit pricey for what it is. Then again, it’s hard to find anything much cheaper in this city. The public areas have good views, while only the most expensive rooms overlook the bridge. Our room felt dated, and the thin walls meant my wife had to ask the neighbors next door to quiet down so she could sleep. We’d reserved parking, and the receptionist took care of the valet service. We skipped breakfast. The pool and Turkish bath were closed for winter.

On Boxing Day we drove out and were delighted to see both Acinipo and Sentinel de Bodegas, about 30 minutes away. Our Christmas Day dinner was upstairs. The menu was quite extensive, but the room was cold enough that I had to wear my coat zipped up. The prawn starter was a good choice and could easily have been shared. I was disappointed that my steak came without the jacket potato, and my partner’s duck was tough. Breakfast felt a bit limited. We didn’t spot the fried eggs in the Bain-Marie until the end of our second breakfast, tucked in the far corner. By the last breakfast we’d found the bacon there too. We arrived around 6pm on Christmas Eve in our old Honda Jazz. It was small enough to leave outside a little shop where the road widens, though there’s a bit more space about 20 yards further on. We’d booked overnight parking, and reception staff were ready to take the keys and park it in a secure gated garage around 40 yards away. I’d have no hesitation leaving my treasured JBA Falcon there. Room 001 had a fantastic view over the bridge and valley through double glazed doors with a Juliet balcony. We could hear the stream and waterfall below even with the windows shut, and it never stops. I worried that would disturb my sleep, but it didn’t. There’s something therapeutic and reassuring about falling asleep to a waterfall. The room was a good size, with a larger than average bathroom. The bed was comfortable. The modern TV seemed small by today’s standards and would be better on top of the drawers, where the kettle and cups were instead. There was no milk for English tea and only a few tea bags, though I liked the mint tea. Our first night was cold, unusual for Spain, but Ronda is in the mountains at around 1000m above sea level. There wasn’t enough bedding, and I hadn’t worked out the heating controls. See photo for the settings we found. Christmas Eve dinner had a limited choice, squid or lamb for mains. We had the lamb with boiled potatoes and vegetables. The chocolate fondant was the star of the meal, which was served in the lower breakfast restaurant. We had a very pleasant stay over Xmas 2025. Don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel DocksideGlyn and help raise funds for Cancer Research. It’s free.

The staff were so friendly and helpful, and I wish we’d had a few more nights here. Our room was a beautiful antique space with all the amenities and a stunning view of the bridge and the Gorge. I saw one of the most amazing sunsets I’ve ever had.