La Fructuosa

Absolutely fabulous restaurant in Gaucin. Delicious food, great value, efficient, welcoming and helpful service. Lovely art-filled, rustic decor in a charming old building. Too cold to sit out on the terrace but it is very pretty with great views. Easily the best meal - by miles - that I had during a week's stay in Andalucia. The risotto was fantastic! And the figs + turron ice cream was the most delicous dessert I've ever had in my life! Strongly recommend this great restaurant - easily merits a trip up from the coast.

Perched in the whitewashed hilltop town of Gaucín, La Fructuosa is a charming Andalusian stay with postcard views and an artistic, old-world soul. Expect warm terracotta tones, mountain air, and a few quirks that come with age. A little polish (and politeness) would elevate this stay from rustic to remarkable. 🌄||---||P – Price||💶 Value for money: €100 per night feels fair for the spacious rooms and stunning views over the valley.|✅ Great value overall|🥒 Full Pickle||---||I – Infrastructure & Integrity||🏗️ Mostly well-maintained with strong water pressure, reliable AC, and no mould (a rare win in older Spanish buildings). However, the sulphur-smelling water and light inter-room noise take a bit of the shine off.|✅ Strong water pressure, good heating & cooling, blackout blinds|❌ Sulphur smell from pipes, some dust & scuffs, noisy doors|👌 Half Pickle||---||C – Comfort & Practicality||🛏️ Spacious rooms and comfy beds make for solid sleep, but the little details falter — limp pillows, no tissues, and limited power outlets. Great temperature control though, and that deep bathtub is a lovely touch (if you can get past the smell!).|✅ Big rooms, comfy bed, good climate options|❌ No safe, limited outlets, no desk, 1-ply toilet paper|👌 Half Pickle||---||K – Kindness||😕 Sadly, the low point of the stay. A booking mix-up led to frosty service and defensive staff. The interaction left guests feeling unwelcome, which dampened the otherwise lovely setting.|✅ Quick kettle delivery when requested|❌ Rude reception, poor attitude, zero warmth or apology|❌ No Pickle||---||L – Luxury & Little Touches||🧴 A few sweet extras — a working towel heater and free glass-bottled water — but little beyond that. No robes, no slippers, average toiletries, and a €2 fee for coffee pods make it feel more practical than pampered.|✅ Towel heater, free water|❌ No robes/slippers, paid coffee, dated TV, basic amenities|👌 Half Pickle||---||E – Experience||🌅 Here’s where La Fructuosa shines. Gorgeous mountain and valley views (you can even spot Gibraltar on a clear day), rustic charm, and a setting that feels straight out of an artist’s sketchbook. No spa or pool, but the atmosphere and location more than make up for it.|✅ Stunning views, safe area, charming vibe|❌ Limited parking access, a bit of noise between rooms|🥒 Full Pickle||---||🏁 Final Score: 4 out of 6 Pickles! 3.5 in Trip Advisor.||🥒🥒🥒🥒||La Fructuosa is a soulful Spanish escape for travellers who love character over polish. A little more kindness and a few modern updates would make this Gaucín gem truly shine.||---||🧭 About the PICKLE System:|Each stay is rated across six key areas — Price, Infrastructure, Comfort, Kindness, Luxury, and Experience — earning a 🥒 (full pickle), 👌 (half pickle), or ❌ (no pickle) per category. A perfect 6 earns the coveted 💜 Purple Pickle Award!

The most delicious lunch on a very cold grey day… perfectly cooked venison (not farmed) on a bed of truffled mashed potatoes. Only a 5min walk away… lucky old me 🙂

What a gem of a place. We booked not knowing what to expect and we’re pleasantly surprised. ||The food was of the highest quality (although the salmon a little too cooked for our liking - but that is our only observation). The service friendly and efficient with a menu that combines local with a well balanced offer to all tastes.||We were 5 plus dog and all enjoyed a wonderful lunch. Definitely should be a restaurant to return.

Stunning views in a quaint old building in the beautiful town of Gaucin. Peaceful and relaxing. I would have given a 5 if it had a few more luxury touches, some updated furniture and a smoother check in experience.

I absolutely loved my stay at La Fructuosa. It’s such a charming hotel… each room of a unique and vintage design… right in the center of one of Andalusia’s white villages in the mountains. This is the place to stay! What makes Gaucín especially unique is the funky blend of authentic locals and international artists who now call it home. And the restaurant! Really top-rate cuisine and service that seduces you. The only competition La Fructuosa has in Gaucín is this temptation I now have to buy a home there. It’s that seductive!

We went to the La Fructuosa restaurant and had an excellent dinner. The staff was very attentive and had no problem with dealing with a full house. All the starters, mains and deserts were absolutely delicious and the surroundings add to the cosy atmosphere on the little terrace. Would definitely recommend.

This hotel is a comfortable oasis in the wonderful village of Gaucin. It has a long history of accommodating guests and under these new owners has been upgraded to include good wifi and a wonderful restaurant on the main level. The room was beautifully decorated and looked out over the mountain range and towards the rest of Gaucin. Breakfast buffet each morning was delicious with freshly baked croissants and a host of other offerings. The staff was very friendly and accommodating throughout our stay. Highly recommended!

Was staying nearby and came here for dinner with my Wife one night. The views are fantastic from here. The service is fantastic, very friendly. I had langoustines for starter followed by Hake. I realized after buying the Hake I am not s huge fan but it was cooked very nicely and served with asparagus. We didn't have a desert. Over all the evening was very pleasant and the food great. If not maybe a little too traditional for our palate.