HOTEL 100% FUN This is a tremendous little chilled hotel with an Ibiza and Bali vibe. The rooms are scattered throughout the grounds, mainly around the swimming pool. During the day, the pool area is quiet and relaxed, as many residents are kitesurfing or doing other beach activities. It is best to visit during the day, although during school holidays, it can get busy with children. Although the rooms are relatively small, each has a sitting area outside. The footpath from

HURRICANE HOTEL The palm-fronted Hurricane Hotel sits above the beach where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, with Morocco just 15 km away across the straits of Gibraltar. It is on the coastal highway outside the town of Tarifa. The laid-back Andalusian theme is set in lush gardens with a romantic dinner terrace with views across Africa. The wind and kite-surfing school helps you make the most of Tarifa's famous waves. With the quiet patio and garden, this place

LA FRAGATA I walked into La Fragata (founded by Mari y Juan in 1979), the restaurant just down the beach from me, and the waiters immediately grabbed my hand and hailed me because they remembered me from last year. The owner came out and declared, "Jon Listen ", the man from California ......... It was close enough, and I felt like frigging Ernest Hemingway……… I have been craving fish, especially dorada (gilthead sea bream), and they have it. Some fish are priced by the kg,

BAR RESTAURANT TOKI-ALAI Heading east along the coast road from Mundaka, you will find this lovely Restaurant, which is situated on a beautiful little surfers' beach. It is a reasonably large stone Restaurant/bar. One glass wall provides a fantastic view of the beach. It is an excellent spot for a nice, relaxing lunch, trying a few delicious pintxos at the bar, or having a more leisurely meal in the evening. There is a very good menu del dia for €25 (weekdays) and €30 (weeke

Our first stop is the beach town of Praia da Rocha. I last came here in 1998. I noticed that the main strip does not resemble that time. It is now full of karaoke bars and shops selling tourist ware, apart from the classical Bella Vista Hotel and Spa.  We spent our first two nights at the HOTEL DA ROCHA    Four Stars Avenida Tomás Cabreira, 8500-802 Praia da Rocha, Portimão +351 282 424 081 www.hoteldarocha.com It is a nice, clean hotel with friendly staff. The swimming pool

APONIENTE Two Michelin Stars   Chef de Mar Ángel León Gonzales now has his third Michelin star in his ultra-modern restaurant, which he has recently moved into. It is a converted 18th-century flour mill overlooking the estuary and, most appropriately, looking out to sea, on the banks of the Guadalete River. This is a review from 2015, the restaurant has moved to new premises and now has three Michelin Stars. The old restaurant is now an upmarket tapas bar/restaurant and is

RESTAURANTE KAIA-KAIPE Michelin Plate IIO In December 2019, we returned to the fishing port of Getaria and the excellent Restaurante Kaia-Kaipe. Getaria is the typical picture postcard Basque Country fishing village. The village was home to Plácido Domingo's mother and the famous fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga. You can now visit the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa (€7 entry fee) Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa It was also home to the explorer, navigator, and mariner Juan

RESTAURANTE ANTONIO Zahara de Los Atúnes is a fishing village and a summer tourist resort with a fantastic Atlantic-facing beach. The town is appropriately named after the fish because of the local, traditional seasonal La Almadraba (an age-old Phoenician technique for trapping and catching Atlantic bluefin tuna in elaborate nets). The Moors introduced this technique, which takes place every May and June, during which many fiestas are held. In a land that so honours the pig,

This top hotel is set on beautiful golden sands and is a great escape from the madness of Platja d'en Bossa. There are so many room options. If you are worried about space, book any room or suite other than the basic silver room, as these can be small, and the location is in the tower, so it is not as good. The stylish, modern rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and great sound systems to charge your iPod with tunes. Plus, blackout curtains are av

PERMANENTLY CLOSED IN 2023? KIOSKO LA FRANJA Jonathon Lipsin writes: This is my favourite swimming spot on the Island, situated on Platja de Migjorn, where I used to live behind the Piratabus. I enjoyed visiting La Franja, this little chiringuito, after my swim. A chiringuito is basically a wooden shack on the beach that sells basic sandwiches, tapas, cold beer, and wine. The people are friendly, and the service is quick. Unlike the more popular chiringuitos, like Bartolo's a