T+L’s First In Hotel Review of Oku Andalusia in Spain

As a childless lady in my early 30s, I not often search out family-friendly seaside resorts. However after I was invited to the brand new Oku Andalusia, I instantly mentioned sure. I’d heard rave evaluations concerning the model’s design-forward outposts in Ibiza, Spain; Bodrum, Turkey; and the Greek island of Kos, all ritzy seaside idylls synonymous with grown-up enjoyable and swanky seaside environs. So despite the fact that the brand new resort in Andalusia marks Oku’s first family-friendly idea, I felt assured I’d discover the identical chilled-out coastal ambiance and regarded design.

My intuition was validated the second I glided previous the entrance gates and into the reception constructing—a whitewashed construction with hovering ceilings, low-slung earthy furnishings, and considerable greenery. The ethereal area was anchored by a levitating straw sculpture, a wink to Andalusia’s famed esparto grass window blinds, whereas the resort’s signature creamy sandalwood scent made me really feel like I’d entered a spa. Down on the pool space, I took within the glamorous seaside scene: bronzed {couples} sipping cocktails and, sure, a couple of younger households all lounging by a collection of glittering tiered swimming pools whereas a DJ performed digital beats.

“I’ve labored in lots of lodges,” the front-of-house supervisor advised me as we walked alongside the manicured pathways resulting in my room. “That is the primary property I’ve ever been to that feels adults-only however is simply as welcoming to households.” She defined that kid-friendly amenities had been factored in from day one—by no means tacked on as an afterthought—making a uncommon stability the place youngsters and adults might unfold out in consolation and elegance.

This turned out to be one of many resort’s many promoting factors. The 225-room resort places vacationers inside straightforward attain of the jewels of the western Costa Del Sol: the imposing Rock of Gibraltar, the biodiverse Los Alcornocales nature reserve, the unique enclave of Sotogrande, and the charming city of San Roque.

One morning, the resort arrange a 2.5-hour horseback using tour alongside the wild shores of the Playa de Los Lances in Tarifa; I rode a pure-bred Spanish horse, its tail flicking within the wind as the ocean breeze carried kite surfers excessive into the air. One other day, the resort provided to arrange a go to to a goat farm to find out how the area’s famed payoyo cheese is made. However by day two, I had discovered my very own rhythm: dawn swims in my personal plunge pool, adopted by lengthy walks alongside the scenic stretch of seaside steps from the resort, with the Rock of Gibraltar and Morocco’s Rif Mountains shimmering throughout the water.

There was simply as a lot to take pleasure in with out ever leaving the grounds: Biologique Recherche facials and Natura Bissé physique remedies within the ethereal, light-filled spa; dawn yoga and laughter remedy in a high-ceilinged health studio overlooking a lush backyard; and 4 eating places serving all the pieces from blistered wood-fired pizzas and croquetas de jamón to shiny hamachi crudo and hand rolls. The excessive level was dinner on the refined, low-lit Teyo, the place Japanese flavors meet Spanish recipes—assume a tuna tartare riff on huevos rotos, with wild Atlantic bluefin tuna layered over crisp potato, a fried egg, and a dollop of imperial caviar.

Under, my evaluate of Oku Andalusia.

The Rooms

Wabi-sabi, the minimalist Japanese aesthetic, informs the stylish, understated visitor rooms, finished up in earthy tones, linen and jute textiles, and Moroccan-inspired pendant-like lighting fixtures. The 9 completely different room classes embrace entry-level commonplace rooms with both backyard or sea views; roof terrace rooms with expansive sea views stretching all the way in which to Morocco; two-bedroom suites designed for pals and households; and, for the final word splurge, a four-bedroom villa with glass partitions, a personal pool, and a panoramic terrace the place the concierge can arrange film screenings or personal yoga and meditation periods.

My room, the Deluxe Suite Personal Pool, is good for {couples} or anybody searching for peace and quiet. I woke early to look at the dawn from my spacious personal terrace with a plunge pool and views of the ocean and a neighboring farm the place cows and horses grazed. A yoga mat and blocks have been available for my morning solar salutations. Within the night, my suite’s temperature-controlled wine fridge, with every rack cooled otherwise for a variety of wine types, made straightforward work of getting ready an in-suite aperitivo. 

Meals and Drink

I don’t often rise early on trip, but Oku’s lavish, wide-ranging breakfast turned me right into a morning particular person. Glazed doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and ache au chocolat fulfill these with a candy tooth, whereas a pan con tomate station, a superb Spanish cheese unfold, and tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelet) saved issues native. And for those who rise early, you possibly can snag a front-row seat on the scenic terrace with views over the swimming pools and the ocean.

Many visitors lunched from their cabanas, however I made a beeline for To Kima, the relaxed all-day eatery close to the pool. The group-pleasing menu has one thing for everybody: pizzas from a wood-burning oven, poke bowls, lobster rolls, Japanese curry bowls, and the every day recent catch, making it a slam-dunk for choosy eaters.  

Dinner is the place the meals scene actually shines. Teyo is an upscale, tucked-away eating room with low lighting, intimate cubicles, and an open kitchen. My visitor and I began with glowing sake, then grazed on edamame dusted with spicy umami salt, silky Japanese eggplant with honey miso and wakame seaweed, and a huevos rotos–impressed tuna tartare topped with crisp potato and a fried egg. Halfway by way of, the chef arrived to form a spicy salmon gunkan-maki hand roll tableside, including some theatrical aptitude to the meal. We shared natural lamb skewers glazed with pink miso and a succulent child rooster with barley miso. It was so good we wished we’d sprung for the complete omakase with sake and wine pairings.

Actions and Experiences

Days at Oku Andalusia will be as lively or as languorous as you want. With 5 indoor and outside swimming pools, plus an adults-only seaside membership with a pool set into the sand, there are numerous methods to absorb the solar. Whereas mother and father unwind on the spa or store for resort put on on the wonderful on-site clothes boutique, youngsters can head to the children’ membership, a hillside advanced with an journey playground, modeled after a Spanish farmhouse, with a moist splash zone and a shallow pool.

The ethereal health studio runs wellness programming all through the day: meditation, vinyasa yoga, breathwork, and even a laughter-therapy session to raise the temper. My pal and I attempted associate yoga, supporting one another in standing poses and utilizing one another’s weight to deepen seated stretches.

You might simply spend your total vacation on-site, however the resort’s curated excursions make exploring straightforward. Golfers have their decide of world-class programs close by, together with the Robert Trent Jones–designed championship structure at Actual Membership Valderrama. Walkers can hike and birdwatch in El Estrecho Pure Park, observe serene reservoirs and streams in Los Alcornocales Nature Reserve, or take the two-hour Benahavís River Stroll, a mixture of rock scrambles, swims, and crystal-clear swimming pools. Seaside adventures embrace: dolphin-watching excursions within the Strait of Gibraltar; windsurfing in Tarifa, Europe’s mecca for kite sports activities; and personal boat excursions to Marbella and the Rock of Gibraltar. One of many highlights of our keep was our multi-hour horseback using journey alongside the wild Playa de Los Lances in Tarifa, the place we trotted alongside the sand whereas admiring kite surfers.

The Spa

For pampering, head to the 21,527-square-foot spa, that includes a fitness center, sauna, steam room, and a decadent remedy menu.

I selected a stress-melting, deep-tissue therapeutic massage with Barcelona’s Natura Bissé dry oil, then stretched out with a cup of tea within the beautiful meditation courtyard, full with an old-growth olive tree surrounded by reflective waters. Specialty remedies embrace the Andalusian Ayurvedic Ritual, designed to ease bodily and emotional heaviness with revitalizing aromas and aware respiration, and a Sleep Properly therapeutic massage that blends stretching with hot-and-cold remedy.

If the resort’s outside swimming pools have a cool, youthful vibe (assume DJ beats and poolside paloma cocktails), the spa’s huge heated indoor pool is all about serenity.

Household-friendly Choices

At Oku Andalusia, households are thought-about at each flip: good room layouts with area to unfold out, kid-friendly swimming pools, youngsters’s menus, and even cute youngsters’ garments on the on-site boutique. Visitor relations can stage in-room picnics and birthday set-ups, full with cake, cookies, and decorations.

The youngsters’ membership is a family-friendly oasis with an journey playground and a waterpark. In the meantime, the general public seaside, simply steps from the resort, has shallow water and a protracted, walkable stretch that’s excellent for constructing sandcastles and accumulating shells.

Sustainability and Accessibility

Like its sibling properties, Oku Andalusia demonstrates a dedication to sustainability with recycling amenities, solar energy, fashionable irrigation, and water diversion techniques. The kitchen sources substances from close by farms and Spanish producers, whether or not it’s wild bluefin tuna or Cantabrian anchovies. Oku Motels are additionally a member of the Conscious Travel Foundation, a non-profit group of impact-driven companies devoted to creating constructive change within the business.

By way of accessibility, all widespread areas are step-free, and choose ground-floor rooms are tailored for wheelchair customers.

Location

Occupying a seaside perch contained in the upscale gated group of Alcaidesa, the resort is effectively positioned for exploring the western Costa del Sol. It’s beneath 90 minutes by automobile from Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) and about half-hour from Gibraltar.

Renting a automobile is useful however not important: the resort’s curated excursions cowl guided visits to Ronda, perched above its dramatic gorge; the charming seaside city of Estepona; and Gibraltar, the place you possibly can tour St. Michael’s Cave and browse the duty-free retailers.

E-book Now

Oku Motels does not have a loyalty program, however new subscribers to the corporate’s Oku Insider newsletter obtain 10 p.c off their first Oku Motels keep.

Nightly charges at Oku Andalusia begin from $444.

Each T+L resort evaluate is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed on the property, and every resort chosen aligns with our core values.