Hotel San Roque

I have just returned from a week at this Hotel and was lucky enough to stay in the clocktower suite. Here is my unbiased review. The location is stunning - Garrachico is the old capital and is full of culture as well as seriously top class eateries. You will be spoilt for choice for eating out. The Hotel is very central to the town square and local shops, bars and restaurants. While I was there a lot of the shops and bars were closed as it was technically out of season but there were still plenty that were open. The Hotel itself is very quiet and we were the only English couple there. Apart from the odd "good morning" at breakfast you will barely see your fellow guests so its not a place for socialising. It is incredibly quiet and there is no bar so no "hub" to meet your fellow guests in the evening to chat. The eating area is by the pool with only a few tables and so there is no restaurant as such. We had dinner there on our first evening and the meal was perfect but the Hotel lacks ambiance and atmosphere. The reception areas, although beautiful are mainly empty for most of the time. Our room was spotlessly clean with plenty of hot water etc and the bed was super comfortable with soft, white bed linen. There are no lifts here and so there are a lot of stairs and our room in the clock tower had a spiral staircase that would not be easy for anyone with mobility issues. I felt that it was a bit penny pinching for a Hotel of this calibre and cost to charge for water however you can buy water much cheaper at the local supermarket. We wanted a tour of a local winery and the reception staff went out of their way to find a perfect trip for us that was really enjoyable so they are there to help and are friendly and efficient. Nothing is too much trouble. There is a small sunbathing area however the swimming pool is very small, more like a plunge pool and not big enough to do any serious swimming. Its supposed to be heated but for me it was very cold so I only dipped myself in once. If you are vegetarian you will struggle and vegans will probably starve!!! Nothing is labelled and so its very difficult. As a vegetarian I found there was limited choice both at the Hotel and surrounding eateries and vegans will find it a struggle.

We booked for a week at the end Sept/ beg October and had a perfect stay. With around 20 rooms, the friendly and informative staff made sure that we were looked after from the moment we arrived. With our plane arriving late we did not get to the hotel till after 9 but the hotel ensured we could still get a meal. The hotel is beautifully furnished, features a large open atrium and the meals are served around the swimming pool in a beautiful courtyard area. The rooms are spacious and the bed extremely comfortable. a. The hotel is located just a short walk from the rock pools and the sea front and also close to the main town square and the various shops, restaurants and cafes Garachico has to offer. The hotel is peaceful, features a small library room and drinks and refreshments can be provided in the public areas. And room service is available too. You can even enjoy a drink on the rooftop terrace with views of the town and mountains. What makes the hotel special is the service. We were always greeted with a smile by the reception team, given information on how and where to get tourist bus passes and places/beaches to visit in the area and all the staff ensured we were well looked after. My wife has specific dietary requirements – gluten free and vegan – and we contacted the hotel in advance to confirm they could cater for this, Every evening she was provided with surprise starters and main courses, the the staff always taking care to check her food preferences. All the food was delightful – nouvelle cuisine style - and plenty of choice for breakfast too. Our special thanks to the chefs and serving staff who went out of their way to meet her dietary needs. The hotel San Roque provides a totally different experience to the huge and impersonal tourist hotels in the south of the island and you are never far away from the dramatic mountainous backdrop and the rocky northern coastline. We will return and would heartily recommend this hotel to anyone looking for pleasant surroundings, helpful and friendly service and excellent staff in a small hotel in a beautiful town with lots of history and interesting buildings and, of course, the wonderful rock pools.