T+L’s First In Hotel Review of Oku Andalusia in Spain

Oku Andalusia

• The 225-room resort boasts a prime setting on Spain’s Costa del Sol, near the exclusive coastal enclave of Sotogrande and the Los Alcornocales Nature Reserve.
• Despite its family-friendly ethos, the hotel still has a serene seaside setting, with plenty of sophisticated adults-only spaces.
• The relaxed wabi-sabi design capitalizes on views of the Strait of Gibraltar, extending all the way to Morocco.
• Active travelers will have no shortage of excursions and activities to keep them busy, from on-site padel tournaments and nearby nature hikes to cooking classes and horseback riding on the wild beaches of Tarifa.

As a childless woman in my early 30s, I rarely seek out family-friendly beach resorts. But when I was invited to the new Oku Andalusia, I immediately said yes. I’d heard rave reviews about the brand’s design-forward outposts in Ibiza, Spain; Bodrum, Turkey; and the Greek island of Kos, all ritzy seaside idylls synonymous with grown-up fun and swanky seaside environs. So even though the new hotel in Andalusia marks Oku’s first family-friendly concept, I felt confident I’d find the same chilled-out coastal atmosphere and considered design.

My instinct was validated the moment I glided past the front gates and into the reception building—a whitewashed structure with soaring ceilings, low-slung earthy furnishings, and abundant greenery. The airy space was anchored by a levitating straw sculpture, a wink to Andalusia’s famed esparto grass window blinds, while the hotel’s signature creamy sandalwood scent made me feel like I’d entered a spa. Down at the pool area, I took in the glamorous seaside scene: bronzed couples sipping cocktails and, yes, a few young families all lounging by a series of glittering tiered pools while a DJ played electronic beats.

“I’ve worked in many hotels,” the front-of-house manager told me as we walked along the manicured pathways leading to my room. “This is the first property I’ve ever been to that feels adults-only but is just as welcoming to families.” She explained that kid-friendly facilities had been factored in from day one—never tacked on as an afterthought—creating a rare balance where children and adults could spread out in comfort and style.

This turned out to be one of the hotel’s many selling points. The 225-room resort puts travelers within easy reach of the jewels of the western Costa Del Sol: the imposing Rock of Gibraltar, the biodiverse Los Alcornocales nature reserve, the exclusive enclave of Sotogrande, and the charming town of San Roque.

One morning, the hotel set up a 2.5-hour horseback riding excursion along the wild shores of the Playa de Los Lances in Tarifa; I rode a pure-bred Spanish horse, its tail flicking in the wind as the sea breeze carried kite surfers high into the air. Another day, the hotel offered to set up a visit to a goat farm to learn how the region’s famed payoyo cheese is made. But by day two, I had found my own rhythm: sunrise swims in my private plunge pool, followed by long walks along the scenic stretch of beach steps from the hotel, with the Rock of Gibraltar and Morocco’s Rif Mountains shimmering across the water.

There was just as much to indulge in without ever leaving the grounds: Biologique Recherche facials and Natura Bissé body treatments in the airy, light-filled spa; sunrise yoga and laughter therapy in a high-ceilinged fitness studio overlooking a lush garden; and four restaurants serving everything from blistered wood-fired pizzas and croquetas de jamón to glossy hamachi crudo and hand rolls. The high point was dinner at the sophisticated, low-lit Teyo, where Japanese flavors meet Spanish recipes—think a tuna tartare riff on huevos rotos, with wild Atlantic bluefin tuna layered over crisp potato, a fried egg, and a dollop of imperial caviar.

Below, my review of Oku Andalusia.

The Rooms

Wabi-sabi, the minimalist Japanese aesthetic, informs the chic, understated guest rooms, done up in earthy tones, linen and jute textiles, and Moroccan-inspired pendant-like light fixtures. The nine different room categories include entry-level standard rooms with either garden or sea views; roof terrace rooms with expansive sea views stretching all the way to Morocco; two-bedroom suites designed for friends and families; and, for the ultimate splurge, a four-bedroom villa with glass walls, a private pool, and a panoramic terrace where the concierge can set up movie screenings or private yoga and meditation sessions.

My room, the Deluxe Suite Private Pool, is ideal for couples or anyone seeking peace and quiet. I woke early to watch the sunrise from my spacious private terrace with a plunge pool and views of the sea and a neighboring farm where cows and horses grazed. A yoga mat and blocks were on hand for my morning sun salutations. In the evening, my suite’s temperature-controlled wine fridge, with each rack cooled differently for a range of wine styles, made easy work of preparing an in-suite aperitivo. 

Food and Drink

Cocktails from the Main Bar.

Georg Roske/OKU Andalusia

I don’t usually rise early on vacation, yet Oku’s lavish, wide-ranging breakfast turned me into a morning person. Glazed doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and pain au chocolat satisfy those with a sweet tooth, while a pan con tomate station, an excellent Spanish cheese spread, and tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelet) kept things local. And if you rise early, you can snag a front-row seat on the scenic terrace with views over the pools and the sea.

Many guests lunched from their cabanas, but I made a beeline for To Kima, the relaxed all-day eatery near the pool. The crowd-pleasing menu has something for everyone: pizzas from a wood-burning oven, poke bowls, lobster rolls, Japanese curry bowls, and the daily fresh catch, making it a slam-dunk for picky eaters.  

Dinner is where the food scene really shines. Teyo is an upscale, tucked-away dining room with low lighting, intimate booths, and an open kitchen. My guest and I started with sparkling sake, then grazed on edamame dusted with spicy umami salt, silky Japanese eggplant with honey miso and wakame seaweed, and a huevos rotos–inspired tuna tartare crowned with crisp potato and a fried egg. Midway through, the chef arrived to shape a spicy salmon gunkan-maki hand roll tableside, adding some theatrical flair to the meal. We shared organic lamb skewers glazed with red miso and a succulent baby chicken with barley miso. It was so good we wished we’d sprung for the full omakase with sake and wine pairings.

Activities and Experiences

Sun loungers lay around the pool.

Georg Roske/OKU Andalusia

Days at Oku Andalusia can be as active or as languorous as you like. With five indoor and outdoor pools, plus an adults-only beach club with a pool set into the sand, there are countless ways to soak up the sun. While parents unwind at the spa or shop for resort wear at the excellent on-site clothing boutique, children can head to the kids’ club, a hillside complex with an adventure playground, modeled after a Spanish farmhouse, with a wet splash zone and a shallow pool.

The airy fitness studio runs wellness programming throughout the day: meditation, vinyasa yoga, breathwork, and even a laughter-therapy session to lift the mood. My friend and I tried partner yoga, supporting each other in standing poses and using each other’s weight to deepen seated stretches.

You could easily spend your entire holiday on-site, but the hotel’s curated excursions make exploring easy. Golfers have their pick of world-class courses nearby, including the Robert Trent Jones–designed championship layout at Real Club Valderrama. Walkers can hike and birdwatch in El Estrecho Natural Park, follow serene reservoirs and streams in Los Alcornocales Nature Reserve, or take the two-hour Benahavís River Walk, a mix of rock scrambles, swims, and crystal-clear pools. Seaside adventures include: dolphin-watching excursions in the Strait of Gibraltar; windsurfing in Tarifa, Europe’s mecca for kite sports; and private boat tours to Marbella and the Rock of Gibraltar. One of the highlights of our stay was our multi-hour horseback riding adventure along the wild Playa de Los Lances in Tarifa, where we trotted along the sand while admiring kite surfers.

The Spa

For pampering, head to the 21,527-square-foot spa, featuring a gym, sauna, steam room, and a decadent treatment menu.

I chose a stress-melting, deep-tissue massage with Barcelona’s Natura Bissé dry oil, then stretched out with a cup of tea in the stunning meditation courtyard, complete with an old-growth olive tree surrounded by reflective waters. Specialty treatments include the Andalusian Ayurvedic Ritual, designed to ease physical and emotional heaviness with revitalizing aromas and mindful breathing, and a Sleep Well massage that blends stretching with hot-and-cold therapy.

If the hotel’s outdoor pools have a cool, youthful vibe (think DJ beats and poolside paloma cocktails), the spa’s vast heated indoor pool is all about serenity.

Family-friendly Offerings

The Villa living and dining room.

Georg Roske/OKU Andalusia

At Oku Andalusia, families are considered at every turn: smart room layouts with space to spread out, kid-friendly pools, children’s menus, and even adorable kids’ clothes at the on-site boutique. Guest relations can stage in-room picnics and birthday set-ups, complete with cake, cookies, and decorations.

The kids’ club is a family-friendly oasis with an adventure playground and a waterpark. Meanwhile, the public beach, just steps from the hotel, has shallow water and a long, walkable stretch that’s perfect for building sandcastles and collecting shells.

Sustainability and Accessibility

Like its sibling properties, Oku Andalusia demonstrates a commitment to sustainability with recycling facilities, solar power, modern irrigation, and water diversion systems. The kitchen sources ingredients from nearby farms and Spanish producers, whether it’s wild bluefin tuna or Cantabrian anchovies. Oku Hotels are also a member of the Conscious Travel Foundation, a non-profit community of impact-driven businesses devoted to making positive change in the industry.

In terms of accessibility, all common areas are step-free, and select ground-floor rooms are adapted for wheelchair users.

Location

Occupying a seaside perch inside the upscale gated community of Alcaidesa, the resort is well placed for exploring the western Costa del Sol. It’s under 90 minutes by car from Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) and about 30 minutes from Gibraltar.

Renting a car is handy but not essential: the resort’s curated excursions cover guided visits to Ronda, perched above its dramatic gorge; the charming seaside town of Estepona; and Gibraltar, where you can tour St. Michael’s Cave and browse the duty-free shops.

Book Now

Oku Hotels doesn’t have a loyalty program, but new subscribers to the company’s Oku Insider newsletter receive 10 percent off their first Oku Hotels stay.

Nightly rates at Oku Andalusia start from $444.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.