Casa Julio Verne, San Roque, Spain

A simple, friendly B&B in a quiet coastal town, close to great beaches and some of the best fish restaurants on the Costa de la Luz

i-escape logo
i-escape logo

A simple, friendly B&B in a quiet coastal town, close to great beaches and some of the best fish restaurants on the Costa de la Luz

When the Spanish were booted off Gibraltar they beat a retreat to a nearby hill from where their former home was visible across the bay.

Nowadays nobody would dream of trading a home in pristine little San Roque with its whitewashed houses for one on the shambolic, overcrowded Rock: this is one of the coast's most charming pueblos, all the more so for being so little known.

Rose and Sagi, who worked for airlines for years, fell under its spell when they opted for a new life on terra firma. Julio Verne was christened by a former owner who joined two adjacent town houses and installed a hammam. Rose and Sagi spent a year on further home improvements.

You now get a lot of space and comfort for your euros; there are just 3 rooms. Though not design-mag-memorable, the house has a cheerful vibe and the many artefacts and hangings collected on trips to India and Africa add colour and interest.

The best features are a big, airy sitting room and a roof terrace and garden which grabs a sweeping view across the rooftops of old San Roque to the bay, to boats, and to Gib. Casa Julio Verne in San Roque is a charming B&B with 3 rooms, with doubles costing from €85 for bed and breakfast.

To book boutique hotels in the Costa de la Luz of Andalucia and to read i-escape's full hotel review, click here

i-escape logo

The leading destination for fashion, beauty, shopping and finger-on-the-pulse views on the latest issues. Marie Claire's travel content helps you delight in discovering new destinations around the globe, offering a unique – and sometimes unchartered – travel experience. From new hotel openings to the destinations tipped to take over our travel calendars, this iconic name has it covered.