The Riad - Adults Only 

We visited Tarifa for one night to celebrate my birthday during a fortnight holiday to Southern Spain. This hotel & in particular, the staff made this such a unique & truly wonderful trip. The hotel is located up a little side street just a couple of hundred metres or so from the central part of Tarifa with its squares, winding streets, bars restaurants & shops, it really is a Riad in all senses in that it’s an oasis of calm, beautiful interiors with a truly Moroccan vibe. Gorgeous water features, scents of oud throughout & a fab terrace for breakfast. It’s also walking distance (5mins) to a large long stay car park which is so handy! We communicated with Rafael on reception & Serafin at the Spa in the lead up to our stay which was great but when we met them in person, it was even better as were all the staff. These guys were just amazing….Rafael upgraded us to a junior suite, (thank you so much!) we were given coffee and a slice of delicious cake on the roof terrace - sadly we didn’t catch the lady’s name who served us - but she also deserves a mention. The whole place just has a beautiful atmosphere. We had booked a Hammam ritual at the spa which is actually now located across a couple of streets in a stunningly renovated house that had been abandoned for years. Ismael from reception took us there himself & was again, a super lovely host & nothing was too much trouble. The original stone walls from around the 17th century remain, beautifully restored & it is simply perfect. We were greeted by Serafin who is probably one of the friendliest & charming people we have ever met, his vibe is contagious which is a delight! It’s luxurious but super cool & intimate at the same time. Paloma, our therapist was out of this world, professional yet warm & welcoming at the same time. The combination of Moroccan & Turkish Hammam styles is really great & we left feeling relaxed yet also invigorated! Our minibar was complimentary so before dinner we took a couple of beers up to the roof terrace to enjoy the evening sun. The hotel is not manned overnight but you have keys for the front door as well as your room & a number in case of emergency. Before he left, Ismael came to see us & let us know he was going & told us what to do with the terrace door - we felt right at home. Tarifa has an overall atmosphere of bohemian, communal charm & if you want to experience this in your hotel choice, this is the one for you. Thank you guys, we absolutely loved it! Kate & Tim xxx