Finca Cortesin Hotel

Carretera de Casares, s/n 29690 Casares, Málaga Spain

Set in the undulating Andalucian countryside between Marbella and Cádiz, this charming luxury estate has style in spades. Exquisitely marrying Moorish, Grecian and 19th-century Asian design, the sprawling property delights at every turn. Green baize adorns the walls, Japanese silks hang alongside classical busts, rich kilim-covered furniture sits on farmhouse-style tiled floors, and patterned wallpapers are framed by rustic, antique doors. Modern accents finish the eclectic look – think glass specimen domes, an abundance of greenery and driftwood mirrors. It really shouldn’t work but it does.

Guest rooms are in the desert-pink cloister, its central courtyard laden with strelizia (birds of paradise) and palms. Preempting your every need, the suites and villas are bedecked with comfortable furnishings and boast sizeable marble and black granite showers with Penhaligon’s products. Terraces offer knockout views across the vast, inky blue-green pool, the hotel’s world-famous golf course and the glistening ocean beyond.

Within the grounds, 1,000-year-old olive trees stand proudly against manicured gardens and the heady, heavenly scent of jasmine, which crawls prettily along the length of the main building, is a memorable snapshot of any stay here.
The food offering is excellent, whether you opt for the relaxed El Jardín De Lutz with its quirky decor and deliciously fresh regional plates, Michelin-starred Kabuki Raw, which serves up authentic Japanese, or the classic Italian Don Giavanni.

Be sure to spend your lunchtimes poolside at the Beach Club, a ten-minute drive away, where there’s a sparkling infinity pool, or at Pool 35 after whiling away the morning in the Romanesque- style spa. For sundowners, the hotel’s Blue Bar will see you in good stead, with the dulcet tones of local musicians playing from the terrace making for a perfect backdrop. Doubles from £365