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The Best Hotels in Ronda, Spain

The Andalusian town of Ronda is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Spain
The Andalusian town of Ronda is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Spain | Courtesy of Hotel la Fuente de la Higuera / Expedia.com

Ronda, in the Málaga province of Spain, is packed with excellent hotels, many of which are boutique with views of El Tajo Gorge and the dramatic Puente Nuevo bridge, the Plaza de Toros de Ronda — the oldest bullring in Spain — and the old Moorish quarter. Including a converted townhouse built in 1736 for the heirs to the conqueror of Peru, these are the best places to stay in this wonderful Andalusian town.

Hotel Catalonia Ronda

Hotel, Resort

Yellow exterior of Hotel Catalonia Ronda at night
Courtesy of Hotel Catalonia Ronda / Expedia.com

From the elegant Modernista facade to the shimmering design and decor within, few places in town can match the glitz of Hotel Catalonia Ronda. It has a raft of amenities too, from a spa with a heated pool and sauna to a rooftop infinity pool with views over Ronda’s famed El Tajo Gorge and the Plaza de Toros de Ronda, the oldest bullring in Spain. These vistas are shared with the hotel’s Panorámico Restaurant, as well as many of the pricier rooms.

Molino del Arco

Luxury

Stylish bedroom at Molino del Arco with four poster bed
Courtesy of Molino del Arco / Expedia.com

Part of an estate that has remained in the Clavero family for more than 500 years, the Molino del Arco was a 17th-century finca (ranch-style estate) before being converted into a boutique hotel. Landscaped gardens blend with olive groves and vineyards, and there’s a swimming pool surrounded by lawn that provides views over the valley towards Ronda a few kilometres away. Inviting lounges and honesty bars give it a homely vibe, which extends to the unfussy guest rooms.

Hotel la Fuente de la Higuera

Boutique Hotel

Homely living room at Hotel la Fuente de la Higuera with velvet sofa, fire place and dark furniture
Courtesy of Hotel la Fuente de la Higuera / Expedia.com

On a hillside with picturesque vistas over the valley, this rustic hotel provides bucolic serenity just a short drive from Ronda. The centuries-old property was originally an olive mill and has been updated, while retaining respect for its past. Brimming with plant life, the peaceful garden contains a generous swimming pool with loungers. Dining is a highlight here too, with Michelin-star talent in the kitchen.

Hotel Ronda Nuevo

Hotel

Two single beds in room at Hotel Ronda Nuevo with contemporary art behind bed
Courtesy of Hotel Ronda Nuevo / Expedia.com

Hotel Ronda Nuevo has just three rooms, each with its own theme – you can choose from cinema, flamenco or literature – but all share simple, modern decor plus up-to-date amenities that include app-controlled lighting, temperature and music. Two of the rooms also feature jacuzzi tubs. The modernised centuries-old building is located on the south side of the city gorge, just steps from the two dramatic bridges that span it.

Casa Palacio VillaZambra

Hotel, Boutique Hotel

Double bedroom at Casa Palacio VillaZambra with pink striped curtains and dark wooden furniture
Courtesy of Casa Palacio VillaZambra / Expedia.com

Those with a fear of heights might want to think twice about a stay at Casa Palacio VillaZambra. The cliff-edge setting on the older side of town makes for some of the most dramatic and vertiginous views over El Tajo Gorge, the bridge and surrounding landscape. The hotel is housed in a whitewashed villa with palatial interiors that include antiques and a range of ornate architectural flourishes.

Hotel Enfrente Arte

Boutique Hotel

Swimming pool with unique figurative statue at Enfrente Arte Hotel
Courtesy of Enfrente Arte Hotel / Expedia.com

Enfrente Arte is a friendly boutique hotel on one of the prettiest streets in Ronda. Each of its 12 bedrooms is themed around a particular artist or subject — especially lovely is the light-filled Picasso Twin, which opens out onto a spacious first-floor balcony overlooking the street below. Spaces to relax include a roof terrace with great views, a tropical garden and a self-service bar stocked with local wines. Also included in the room rate is the best breakfast in Ronda, featuring custom-made crepes.

Baraka

Boutique Hotel

Two single beds in room at Pension Baraka, Ronda with yellow walls and hanging curtains
Courtesy of Pension Baraka / Hotels.com

Pension Baraka is in a beautiful 18th-century townhouse in the old Moorish quarter of Ronda and has two rooms, each with its own name. Warda (Arabic for rose) has a double bed, paintings by the hotel owner Anahid and steps leading into a courtyard, while Safra (yellow) is a twin room with mountain views. You’ll love the personal service from the proprietor, who is happy to give you recommendations about what to see and do in Ronda.

Soho Boutique Palacio San Gabriel

Boutique Hotel

Room at Hotel Montelirio with terracotta tiles, curtained bed and red colour palette
Courtesy of Soho Boutique Palacio San Gabriel / Expedia.com

Hotel San Gabriel is run by Ana and José Perez, siblings who grew up in this gorgeous 18th-century building before their parents turned it into a hotel. The townhouse dates from 1736 when it was built for the Pizarros, heirs of the conqueror of Peru, and was acquired by the Perez family in the early ’90s after almost being destroyed in a fire. The 23 rooms are rendered in a traditional style, and facilities include a wine cellar and a cinema room with velvet seats that came from the main theatre in Ronda.

Hotel Montelirio

Hotel

Two single beds in room at Hotel Montelirio with sage walls and floral curtains
Courtesy of Hotel Montelirio / Expedia.com

For a luxury room with a view, head to Hotel Montelirio right on the edge of El Tajo Gorge overlooking the Puente Nuevo. The rooms are decorated with their own themes and in the Superior Doubles, you can relax in hydro-massage tubs while gazing upon the mighty bridge. Guests here rave about the Michelin-recommended restaurant, where you can enjoy imaginative, pan-European cuisine on a terrace overlooking the rugged scenery of the Serranía de Ronda.

Hotel Aire

Boutique Hotel

Minimalist double bedroom at Hotel Aire with white sheets, dark curtains and wooden floor
Courtesy of Hotel Aire / Expedia.com

Just down the winding little road that leads to Ronda’s understated 17th-century Old Bridge, one of the two that Puente Nuevo was built to improve upon, Aire Hotel has three individually decorated rooms in a stately old townhouse. The owner is charming and helpful, and the beds exceptionally comfortable. An excellent breakfast is included in the room price.

This is an updated version of an article by Mark Nayler.

About the author

A dyed-in-the-wool Londoner now firmly rooted among the cobbled streets of old town Palma de Mallorca, left a piece of himself in Mexico some time in the last millennium and had a previous existence touring the world with a band you've probably never heard of.

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