Grand Lodge Las Dunas – Evaluate

Not too long ago reopened as a part of Marriott’s Autograph Assortment, Grand Lodge Las Dunas immerses company within the appeal and privateness of an previous Hollywood hideaway, but with actually cinematic sea views. Evocative of a Spanish hacienda with its signature octagonal tower, and gardens descending by way of a sequence of fountains in direction of the Mediterranean. This quieter stretch of the Costa del Sol is the place Estepona’s Andalusian authenticity is an enriching various to the vibrancy of jetset Marbella.

The Arrival

You drive in beneath a stone arch and arrive in an octagonal courtyard. To the precise, a row of e-bikes ready within the morning solar. Within the centre, a small fountain. On the left, an previous Spanish wood cart spilling over with crimson geraniums. The scene embraces you with calm.

Inside, the atrium climbs three storeys beneath an octagonal roof. Behind reception, glass doorways result in a balcony over the gardens, with the fountain drawing your eye to the glowing Mediterranean.

From the big octagonal fountain on the coronary heart of the gardens, a small cascade drops one degree once more to the infinity pool. The design is pure Andalusia and references the long-lasting gardens of the Generalife on the Alhambra.

The Backyard

Frangipani, palms, classical marble sculptures and the scent of jasmine within the late afternoon. The gardens are one of many joys of the property, embracing the suites, the eating pavilion, the spa and the infinity pool in a single composition. The octagonal motif recurs all through, within the entrance courtyard, the central fountain, the eating pavilion and the tower above reception.

The Suite

The property slopes gently to the ocean, so the reception degree sits above the gardens. Our backyard suite, formally on the bottom flooring, ran alongside the decrease terrace. The lounge was beneficiant, with a eating desk, couch, armchairs, designer pendant lights and French doorways opening to a non-public terrace. The bed room was equally giant, with a king mattress, work desk, deep wardrobes and a second related terrace.

The generosity of area is the legacy of an earlier rework that decreased the room depend and created giant suites. Marriott’s latest renovations constructed on this with a muted, calming palette of taupes and lotions, touches of olive inexperienced, and designer touches just like the architectural lighting.

At floor degree on a leafy facet of the property, our suite was not as vivid as these on the upper flooring however benefited from the coolness. The bed room terrace additionally had area for 2 solar loungers, the form of element the property will possible deal with throughout this opening season.

The Golden Prelude

Every Autograph Assortment property has a signature second. At Las Dunas, it’s the Golden Prelude, a sequence of touches throughout the day that reaches its excessive level at sundown. A spa therapeutic massage timed for the second the sunshine places on a spectacular scene throughout the water. A non-alcoholic cocktail served afterwards. At turndown, a small phial of lavender essence from the spa for sprinkling on the pillow and a sachet of Mediterranean Golden Prelude tea on the facet desk.

Casa Calma

There are three Casa Calma restaurant areas, all working from the identical menu. The primary restaurant occupies an octagonal pavilion on the essential backyard degree, with a superbly designed bar at one finish, three arched mirrored cabinets catching the afternoon mild, and sofas that make the room as a lot a drawing room as a eating room. Casa Calma Backyard, the terrace simply exterior, is the place breakfast and lunch are loved, with views over the gardens and the ocean and the fountain within the background. Beneath, on the seafront, Casa Calma Mirador units tables immediately above the sand from late morning till early night.

The menu is properly accomplished reasonably than memorable. Scarlet prawn and seafood croquetas had been wonderful. A burrata salad was served with some actually wonderful native tomatoes. A tenderloin steak arrived completely ready with candy potato fries. Every meal opened with a small amuse-bouche, Cádiz prawns one night time, fried Málaga boquerones the subsequent. The kitchen nonetheless serves a single menu throughout all three areas, and one suspects the supply will widen because the season builds.

Lunch on the Mirador was lighter, with home made sushi, that didn’t fairly hit the mark, a tasty dish of roasted avocado with pomegranate seeds and an ensaladilla rusa. Accompanied by a glass of rosé, it made for a calming second to share.

The F&B workforce is tremendous. Victor behind the bar helped us navigate the cocktail record, whereas Javier ran our dinner service with heat. Diego taken care of lunch with the identical pure, pleasant attentiveness. There’s a second F&B venue off the doorway courtyard which is presently closed. As soon as it opens as a signature restaurant, the eating supply will match the Grand Lodge standing of this Autograph Assortment property.

Breakfast

Breakfast at Casa Calma Backyard was memorable. Dappled daylight catches the desk, the sound of the fountain behind, the ocean views forward. Eggs Benedict was wonderful, as had been the mollete rolls from Antequera with tomato and Ibérico ham. Fernando and Juan José supplied pleasant desk service that turned the resort breakfast into an expensive morning ritual.

The Pool and The Mirador

The infinity pool sits at backyard degree, framed by palms, with the Mediterranean past. On a transparent day Gibraltar is seen throughout the Strait, and on the very clearest days the mountains of Morocco rise behind it. The seaside itself is modest, like a lot of the coast on this stretch. However there are many luxurious solar loungers set across the pool, and within the gardens shaded by timber and parasols.

The Spa

The doorway to the Serena Spa is discovered within the lengthy glass-walled gallery hung with up to date artwork, a hall that catches morning mild and is furnished with sofas and designer David López Quincoces armchairs.

The spa provides an indoor pool and a ten-station hydrotherapy circuit, with three thermal excursions together with a detox sequence that strikes from Roman baths to Finnish sauna to distinction bathe, with timed leisure between. The sundown therapeutic massage, taken as a part of the Golden Prelude, is the one to ebook.

The Sendero Litoral

Estepona, like a lot of the Costa del Sol, has a Sendero Litoral that runs alongside nearly the complete municipal shoreline, an unbroken strolling and biking path. Take two of the resort’s e-bikes and comply with it for an hour in direction of Estepona city, passing villas, seaside eating places and little corners of untouched coast the place locals nonetheless farm the land with modest kitchen gardens rising seasonal greens.

The Location

The resort sits on the New Golden Mile, the quieter sister to the stretch from Marbella to Puerto Banús. The coast has matured slowly right here, with residential developments and a handful of inns reasonably than the ultra-luxury and events additional east. Estepona has emerged as one of many extra genuine locations within the province, with a thriving previous city, an arts scene and sense of id. Las Dunas belongs to this model of the Costa del Sol, calm and grounded.

The Model

The resort is a part of Marriott’s Autograph Assortment, the group’s portfolio of impartial five-star properties, managed domestically by ACHM Motels, the Spanish operator chaired by Antonio Catalán. The overall supervisor, Marco Schiralli, got here from Formentera, the place charges run into 4 figures and company anticipate a refined, quiet model of service. His expertise exhibits within the workforce he has constructed, and I’m positive we’ll see thrilling developments at Grand Lodge Las Dunas.

Closing Thought

Grand Lodge Las Dunas is a hideaway within the correct grand resort sense. The setting is difficult to fault. The service is true, and because the season develops, so will the menu. If the Costa del Sol you need is tranquil, that is your resort.