El Jardín del Califa

Where do I start 🤦🏼‍♀️ Executive chef runs the front of the house 😵😧 Positive: Got a table without booking. One of the waitresses who served us, was really really nice, 5 stars for her! I would have given her a tip, but from what we observed tips don’t make it into waiters‘ pocket. Negative: Asked for a blanket 4 times, after an hour finally got it. One of them had food stuck to it. There were 3 gas heaters, two of them were going and the one next to us was not. Asked 3 times to light it. The guy tried 3 times and then just gave up. Obviously gas bottle was empty and no one cared to replace it. Meanwhile we froze, while eating pretty much overpriced food served by stressed out waiters that were being watched and sworn at by the manager. No one smiled ☹️ Bread and packaged crackers, am I missing something? Us, two people receive 3 breads and one package of the crackers. The table next to us, a couple with a child, speaking Spanish, receive 3 packages + bread. Also, why am I being charged for something I didn’t order? On the bill, surprise surprise, 2x charges. Yes, I know, I’ve heard that this is a tourist trap. At least serve crackers that don’t contain any chemicals. There are plenty of those around. And, btw, other restaurants around serve bread + crackers a package per person 😁 Tiny bowl of lamb soup had only two tiny pieces of lamb 🫣 tasted nice though. Halloumi cheese pieces were way too thick for a single fig per piece of cheese. Beef tagine tasted not bad but there wasn’t enough sauce. Ordered Arabic coffee with hot milk. Milk never came. At some point a wrong order came to our table, but that isn’t a big deal, just proves that the bigger the less manageable a restaurant is 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’ve also had stomach cramps couple of hours after eating at the restaurant ☹️ might have been due to wet lettuce. Everything else was cooked. That white sauce was bitter too, not sure if it was intended to be like that. Such a shame, could be an awesome restaurant, but so many things made our experience so unpleasant ☹️

We went here after a friend’s recommendation and was very happy. The food was very tasty. As a cheese lover, I really enjoyed the “crujiente de queso”. The eggplant dish was very delicious as well. The main course “kuzu tandir” has a peculiar presentation and was extremely delicious. Staff is friendly and helpful, prices are okay. Surroundings are really beautiful, especially the terrace, patio with lots of plants, and the bathroom area.

One of our favourite restaurants- anywhere. The haloumi starter is out of this world, and the slow cooked lamb with caramelised ginger and pistachio couscous is insane. The deserts are also superb. All of this in an extremely charming setting. I couldn’t rate it higher!

a very beautiful restaurant! the food was delicious and very high quality. the service was great.

We just ate at this charming café in our hotel and wow—what a hidden gem! El Jardín del Calista completely exceeded our expectations. We ordered the shawarma, hummus, and Mediterranean salad, and every bite was bursting with flavour. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, and the quality was top notch. The highlight was definitely the spicy sauce—packed with flavour but seriously fire. If you’re not into heat, you might want to skip it, but if you are, it’s a must-try. This spot is perfect for a quick, satisfying snack or light meal. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something tasty and fresh in a relaxed setting. We’ll definitely be back! UPDATE We loved it so much we went back for dinner and it was spectacular. Easily one of the best overall experiences from atmosphere to food quality to service that we’ve experienced in Europe.

The atmosphere here in this garden restaurant tucked back into the Hotel is lovely. Traditional style dishes are served up with flare, but unfortunately the ceramic did not keep my meal hot, so it was not as enjoyable as it could’ve been. Service was efficient enough, but not all that friendly.

We stopped by for a late lunch just before they closed and the staff was incredibly welcoming and helpful throughout the meal. Our (picky) son had the kids cous cous and really enjoyed it and my husband and I shared a beef tagine and lamb kebab... both of which were delicious (we're not experts on Morrocan cuisine, but we'd go back to learn more). The portions were generous and the setting is really nice. I'd definitely recommend paying this place a visit... we walked away happy and excited to move onto Morocco next month.

During our road trip, we stopped in the beautiful white village of Vejer de la Frontera for lunch at El Jardín del Califa—and it was a fantastic choice! The stunning decor and warm ambiance instantly transport you to Morocco. The food was excellent—we had Harira (a flavorful vegetable soup with chickpeas), a delicious Mezze selection, and perfectly grilled mixed meats, all packed with authentic flavors. As we had our small dog, we booked outdoor seating in advance. Despite unpredictable March weather, the skies cleared, letting us enjoy a wonderful meal in the garden. Welcoming staff and a memorable experience—highly recommend for anyone visiting Vejer!