I first stayed here in October 2007 and everything about the hotel was first class, and the food in the Alqueria Restaurant arguably justifed its 2 Michelin stars.

From my stay last weekend it's obvious that budget cuts (understandable in this economic climate) have taken their toll. However hospitality and a smile are largely free and while most of the staff were efficient, with some notable exceptions, many were surly, chilly or at best, just unsmiling.

La Alqueria Restaurant - some very good dishes on the tasting menu, but some very average too. Service stressed.

For this money, neither the lack of friendliness nor the quality of the food is acceptable, so I can't recommend it.

Still had a great weekend - but that was mostly due to the fun people I was with and the hotel building and grounds, which will always be beautiful......

Rather bizarrely, the real weakness of this hotel is the food and its price. I went to this hotel with my wife. It is utterly beautiful. It teeters very close to being the wrong side of shabby chic, but for us it was perfect. Our room was spectacular, the gardens and pool are stunning, but the food was average and repetative. If you do not go to the L'alqueria restaurant in the evening, you must eat from the same menu as you had for lunch, which is not extensive and has a heavy bias towards fried fish. For what you get, it is also extremely expensive.

The hotel's supposed jewel is the L'alqueria restaurant. It was singularly dissappointing. Of the 16 courses we ate, not one stood out as exceptional, and the overriding sensation was of pointlessness. A mimetic peanut? So what? A deconstruced omlette, clever, but not much else - the price, ridiculous.

However, to its credit, the service was exceptional throughout our stay, and ignoring the 2 michelin starred L'Alqueria restaurant, we would happily return if a greater variety of simple Andalucian food was on offer.

One of the best hotel experiences in the world and undoubtedly the best hotel cuisine (Ferran Adria), in particular the unbeatable breakfast. Charming, quiet, historic, authentic, yet up to date in terms of luxury comfort and service. At starting prices in the €300 range, I would even say that this hotel is fantastic value for money. Close enough to Sevilla, but rather a country hotel, this is the ultimate hideaway.

The service, the food, the pool area/gardens were really really excellent. The room (we stayed in a master suite) was less good, but more than adequate.

Service is rather stiff and very correct but always quick and efficient. All our requests were solved very well and - to some extent - our needs and wishes were pre-empted. Nothing was ever a problem.

The food is the reason you go here. Eating in the two star La Alqueria is a fantastic experience. You are served a 15 course menu of the El Bulli highlights from the last 15 (I think) years. We decided to eat there two of the evenings and got 15 other courses the 2nd evening. Both spectacular and a real experience for all the senses. Simply great. During lunch the poolside restaurant La Alberca serves great, typical Spanish dishes, often tapas style. Menu is in pictures and I think we tried all the different things. All really delicious. The third restaurant La Abaceria is only open only during winter, so we did not eat there. However, one could have a dinner in the Guadarnes restaurant (in bar area but also al fresco) the days one did not feel like a full El Bulli style dinner. Also this good, but less special than the others.
And not to forget: The breakfast. Voted best hotel breakfast in the world, and I would agree. A tasting breakfast offering a selection of freshly baked sweet pastry; three different juices served in miniature bottles, toast and sweet butters and home made marmelades, fresh fruit and a selection of egg and other hot dishes. All served at your table, all home made and all different during the four breakfasts we had. Just great!!!

The pool is really huge with three different parts within a large garden with beautiful trees, flowers and fountains. Comfortable loungers or special daybeds, very attentive service and no disturbances at all. Just wonderful. We skipped planned sightseeing trips just to enjoy this oasis.

Our room was a master suite which was on the small side compared to other suites that we have stayed in. It consisted of a bedroom, partly separate living room with sofa, chair, table and desk and a pretty small bathroom with combined bath/shower and double sinks. Style was a combination of rustique (these rooms used to be the stalls) and romantic English flowery. Aircondition VERY noisy and not really efficient enough for the July heat. Outside private terrasse. All in all comfortable but nothing special.