Casa La Siesta, Spain: A Family-Friendly Review
Family holidays can be wonderful, but lots of us find ourselves longing for the chilled-out nature of our pre-kid travels. Think long dinners, luxe accommodation and hours spent sunning yourself by the pool, soundtracked by chirping birds rather than the Moana soundtrack at the kids’ club, or the sound of your child begging for yet another ice cream
At Casa La Siesta, my family got pretty close to holiday bliss. A chic boutique hotel on Cadiz’s Costa de la Luz in Spain, it normally offers luxurious adults-only breaks, but opens its doors to families for several dedicated weeks per year (in school holidays, naturally). Which is, essentially, genius. All the trappings of a fancy rural escape, but without the accompanying worry that your kids are going to spoil the ambiance for other guests
As for Casa La Siesta itself, it’s unbelievably beautiful – a haven of honey-coloured stone, billowing white linens, and gorgeously scented orange trees set among rolling hills and acres of farmland. With spacious and beautifully decorated accommodation, excellent food, a heated pool, and welcoming staff, Casa La Siesta manages to deliver pretty much everything you could want from a hotel, as well as being perfectly positioned for day trips, lunches out, and travel to and from the airport. Put simply, it’s the only family holiday I’ve ever been on where I’ve managed to spend plenty of quality time with my children, yet have still come back feeling like I’ve had a break
Words by Lisa Niven-Phillips
Published: 29th May 2026 | Last updated: 4th June 2026
Your most asked questions, answered
What is Casa La Siesta, and why is it so popular with families?
With only six rooms – as well as a three-bedroom Casita, and a two-bedroom villa called The Stables – Casa La Siesta manages to combine hotel-like service with the sort of welcoming, low-key feel of a guesthouse. Staff introduce themselves by their first names, and remember yours too – as well as food preferences, dietary requirements and anything else that will make your stay more comfortable
The set up is great for families:
- Equipment like cots, high chairs and child beds are all available, meaning you can pack light. My youngest was even presented with a cute little set of Zara Kids cutlery to eat with.
- A separate low-fuss kids’ meal is available at dinner, with very good ice cream for dessert ( I finished it off more than once), but staff are also really flexible, and will rustle up a tomato pasta or omelette if preferred.
- Cereals are left out for the early risers, before the full breakfast service starts at 9am, which was very welcome.
- A few choice games and books in the communal area where meals are served mean that kids can keep themselves entertained whilst you linger over a coffee or cocktail.
- The pool is heated, meaning kids can splash about happily for hours – whatever the weather.
- A huge trampoline in a shady spot is a great way to burn off some energy.
- There’s plenty of space to run around in the beautiful gardens (and a kumquat tree which my children loved picking fruit from).
- Staff are friendly, unflappable, and dote on children
We visited during one of their special ‘family weeks’ that run through out the year and our kids felt entirely welcome. Nobody batted an eyelid when my youngest child tipped his pasta onto the floor one evening and my eldest was encouraged to set up his Lego in the communal area, where another child quickly joined in
There is no kids’ club, but my children were perfectly content, spending hours in the pool, bouncing on the trampoline, exploring the beautiful grounds and helping themselves to the freshly-baked cake that was always left out in the dining area
The surrounding area offers plenty to do as well. There are multiple sandy beaches just a short distance away, some of which offer surfing, horse-riding and body-boarding, whilst the historic city of Cadiz is ideally situated for a day trip. Best of all, the picturesque hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera is less than 20 minutes’ drive from the hotel, and boasts the most spectacular views, alongside excellent restaurants and a 10th-century Moorish castle to explore. Culture, with kids?! Totally doable
What's the dining set up?
The onsite restaurant is amazing, serving up the most delicious traditional Spanish meals made with local produce. If tapas is your thing you will be delighted. Sit inside round rustic wooden tables or outside on the terrance surrounded by twinkling candlelight
The kids’ menu is simple and will appeal to even fussy eaters. But if they don’t like what they see then just ask for something else as the staff will happily rustle up a pasta. Eating here is all about relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere
Where is Casa La Siesta?
Overlooking green fields, grazing cows and rolling hills, Casa La Siesta is situated deep within the Andalusian countryside, in the verdant region of Cadiz. Jerez airport is the closest, but at only 1 hour 15 minutes, Gibraltar is probably the most convenient, with direct flights to a number of UK airports. The hotel will happily arrange airport transfers, but hiring a car makes a lot of sense considering the remote location. Plus, there’s so much to see in the local area. We found the roads easy to navigate and incredibly picturesque
What’s the best time to visit Casa La Siesta?
The dedicated family weeks at Casa La Siesta differ each year, with specific dates available on the hotel’s website. As a rule of thumb though, it’s March/April, July/August, and October/November
Cadiz boasts a warm Mediterranean climate, and whilst the weather was a little mixed when we visited in April, we still had plenty of sunshine. Die-hard sun-seekers might prefer the summer weeks for the most reliable weather, but we found April the perfect time to visit, since it was warm enough for shorts, yet still cool enough to walk around the nearby towns and play on the beach without overheating. Plus, the gorgeous heated pool means you can swim in pretty much any weather and there are log burners in some of the rooms
Rooms & Suites
Chic and ideal for families
Kid's Entertainment
Simple fun in the perfect setting
Well first and foremost, we could see cows – my youngest’s favourite animal – from our terrace. So that was an instant hit. Beyond that, the dedicated family weeks mean that the presence of other kids is pretty much guaranteed, so you may find yourself getting to sit back and relax whilst they all play together (this happened to us!) There’s no formal entertainment on offer, but if you’re keen to enjoy some family time – which we were – then Casa La Siesta is perfectly set up for it
This is the kind of place were kids can really enjoy simple fun. There’s tons of space to run around and explore, games and books they can borrow, and a large trampoline in a shady spot where they bounce away to their hearts content while you read a book on a picnic blanket nearby
Then of course there is the pool which is the highlight of all children’s holidays. It’s heated which is great as it means kids can splash about happily for hours – whatever the weather
While it’s very much an adult-friendly place, when the family weeks are running, the team go out of their way to make parents and little ones feel welcome. Babysitting services are available if you fancy a night away, but staff were also happy to serve a charcuterie board and wine to our terrace one night, whilst the children slept inside the suite. It’s touches like this that make all the difference
Wining & Dining
Relaxed dining for all the family
Mealtimes at Casa la Siesta are convivial, relaxed and always delicious, with seasonal food sourced from local suppliers and artisans, or the Casa’s own organic kitchen garden. Breakfast is included, and is pleasingly traditional, with the likes of fruit, toast, tomato, eggs and cheese, as well as freshly-squeezed orange juice and all the coffee you can drink. An array of cereals are also on offer for children, and staff happily whipped up some porridge for my fussiest little eater
Also at breakfast comes your chance to peruse the day’s blackboard, upon which the evening’s dinner is detailed, as well as a kids’ option. You simply let staff know if you’d like to stay for dinner, for a very reasonable cost, or you can head out to one of the local towns for tapas. We loved having the option, choosing to explore further afield some nights, and enjoying the cosiness and convenience of the Casa on others. The cook, Connie, is wonderful – we enjoyed delicious Secreto Ibérico pork one night, and local fish on another, whilst one dessert involved a lavender ice cream I’m still thinking about
A great wine cellar and an impressive selection of sherries rounds things off nicely, whilst lighter lunches, snacks and tapas can also be arranged at short notice. There’s a coffee machine you can help yourself to at any time – a must – and an honesty bar and fridge, which means chilled wine whenever you fancy it
Again, the staff could not be more accommodating when it comes to little guests and are happy to rustle up something simple like an off-menu pasta to keep a fussy eater happy. There is an lovely, simple kids’ menu (with very good ice cream for dessert that I finished it off more than once) but it’s this flexibility that makes all the difference to parents at mealtimes when they just want to relax and not try to egotiate with a grumpy toddler
What is there for adults?
A haven of peace for parents
Apart from the fact it’s a sunny, lavender-scented haven from reality, Casa La Siesta has plenty of extra touches that make it perfect for parents – after all, for most of the year it’s an adults-only setting
First up there’s plenty of interiors inspiration. The Casa was started by the founder of interiors brand Bert & May, which accounts for how gorgeous the space is. Every detail is considered with luxurious touches such as hotel robes, fresh fluffy pool and bath towels daily, and a turndown service which means you come back from dinner to gently flickering candlelight
You’ll find genuinely excellent food, with a changing menu daily, and the option to sit either indoors or in the beautiful courtyard which adds that holiday magic to the process. Timings are flexible, too, which is a godsend for routine-driven kids
And if you do need to send a quick email then it’s worth knowing that there’s excellent and reliable wi-fi, making it as easy to research day trips as it is to pull up episodes of Bluey when you need to
The local area
The dream location
Casa La Siesta is such a beautiful place that it would be tempting to stay put the entire time, but the surrounding area has loads to offer too. Hotel staff are more than happy to help with recommendations and reservations, and can organise activities like surfing, outdoor karting and horse riding. They can even pack a picnic for you to take with you, if you like
We decided to play it by ear, and instantly fell in love with pretty Vejer de la Frontera, which we visited three separate times. Less than 20 minutes from the hotel by car, it’s a warren of Moorish, white-washed houses strewn with bougainvillea and perched atop a hill, with spectacular views of the countryside. There are plenty of great restaurants to try – we especially loved Califa Tapas – and tiny, picturesque streets to get lost in. A little further afield is Jerez de la Frontera, a historic city renowned for its sherry, flamenco and equestrian art, and the ancient city of Cadiz, with its striking baroque cathedral. A special mention has to go to the Heladería El Limonero ice cream shop in Cadiz, for truly sensational ice cream, including flavours like orange and walnut, chocolate and basil, and black sesame
You’re also spoilt for choice when it comes to sandy beaches, with several within a short drive of the hotel. We liked the surfy vibes at Los Caños de Meca, where horses galloped past us and the pretty lighthouse of Trafalgar formed a backdrop, as well as the golden sand and lively little town of Conil de la Frontera
Our verdict
I haven’t been so sad to leave a place in a long time as I did when we waved goodbye to Casa La Siesta after five glorious nights (packed off with plenty of cake to see us through the car trip to the airport). I think what makes it feel so special is that it’s in no way a compromise for the adults – if you hate the idea of resorts, this is for you – but the kids are also so well catered for. Our family is accustomed to Airbnbs and self-catering, so having a daily cleaning service, meals taken care of and time to breathe felt absolutely amazing. I can’t remember the last time I went for so long without washing up!
Having the dedicated family weeks makes so much sense too – I never felt worried that my kids were being too loud or that we were making too much mess, since everyone was in the same boat. The flexibility and easygoing nature of the staff made things so much easier too; I think their relaxed vibe meant we all relaxed too
The fact there isn’t a kids’ club means it might not be for everyone, but if you want to spend time together as a family in a way that’s chilled, wholesome and outdoorsy, it’s absolute heaven. Having a car to go on excursions meant we never got cabin fever – none of us are good at staying in one place for the entire time – and we felt we got a good feel for the local area. The only downside is that I now want to spend all of my money on tiles – there are some amazing little shops nearby. We’d all go back in a heartbeat and that’s the feeling you only get after a truly great holiday
Themes: Where to go when by month, with kids, The Family Friendly European Edit,
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