Hello friends,
Today I want to share a Spanish apartment that feels unexpectedly Scandanavian but mixes a little of that warm Mediterranean vibe also. We managed to escape for a week in those lovely, lazy days when everything slows down after Christmas and over the New Year. We divided the time between exploring Malaga and the ancient town of Ronda in Spain’s Andalusia. We found an absolute gem of a property to rent in Ronda, which I’ll be sharing with you today, together with some of the highlights of our visit.
Tucked away on the first floor of a building in the bustling new town of Ronda, right above the town’s main shopping street, is Aljara Suites. It’s a reminder that Scandinavian design travels effortlessly – even to sun-washed Southern Spain. This light-filled apartment blends Nordic calm with Mediterranean warmth, creating a space that feels both soothing and uplifting from the moment you arrive.
The interior is defined by everything we love about Scandinavian living: soft neutral tones chosen throughout, pale wood finishes, clean architectural lines and even bravely; a white kitchen. With the clever open plan layout of the living, dining and kitchen – the apartment felt huge ! A huge, jute rug was used in the seating area to create a relaxing ‘zone’ and to separate it from the kitchen and dining areas. Whether we were making breakfast with the balcony doors open or unwinding in the evening with a drink, the layout felt both relaxing and practical.
Warm white and light beige walls reflect the Andalusian sunshine throughout the day, amplifying the natural light and giving the apartment its wonderfully airy, open feel. Large windows and a small private balcony above the street, draw the outdoors in, allowing sunlight to spill gently across the space from morning until dusk. The tall windows are dressed in simple, light, white linen curtains that keep the space feeling airy.
We were worried initially that the apartment might be noisy, because of busy street below but the bedrooms are cleverly tucked away at the back looking into a courtyard which allowed for a sound sleep ! The two bedrooms continue the same serene theme as the rest of the apartment with crisp bedding, muted tones and soft lighting that creates a cocoon-like retreat after a day exploring Ronda’s dramatic bridges and winding streets. There are nods to the Mediterranean like the faux olive trees in rattan baskets and the warm exposed brick feature above the bed that bring in the character of Andalusia.
There are two bathrooms in the apartment which have a spa-like simplicity. I fell in love with the large format stone effect ceramic tiles and the very minimal grouting that is used between the tiles. (Of course I was thinking how much easier these must be to clean!). They were paired with a horizontal wood effect tile in the shower area which brought warmth and softness to the bathroom. Together, they strike that perfect balance between Scandinavian simplicity and Mediterranean soul — minimal and tactile and which gave you the feeling of a being in a high end Spa.
Furniture is thoughtfully chosen – simple, modern and functional, yet undeniably warm. There’s a quiet elegance in the way natural materials, like the irregular shaped oak mirror in the open plan area is layered with soft textiles like the boucle fabric of the footstools. A huge gold standing lamp brings practical light to the living room area and makes it the perfect spot to curl up with a book and a cuppa. Nothing feels over-styled or excessive. The result is an atmosphere that instantly calms the mind and encourages you to slow down.
What makes Aljara Suites special is this gentle contrast: outside, the bustle of Ronda’s main shopping street and the colour and history of Southern Spain; inside, the clarity and calm of Scandinavian design. It’s a space that feels restorative without being cold, stylish without being showy – a perfect example of how Nordic interiors can create a sense of sanctuary anywhere in the world.
Ronda
Ronda is one of those places that quietly stays with you long after you’ve left. Perched high in the mountains of Southern Spain, it feels both dramatic and steeped in history.
The town is famously split in two by a deep gorge, El Tajo, with the Puente Nuevo bridge floating almost impossibly between its cliffs. From every viewpoint, there is space, light and wide open mountainous landscapes. The town of Ronda itself is split into the historic Old Town: La Ciudad and bustling New Town: El Mercadillo.
Despite its grandeur, Ronda moves gently. Mornings begin with church bells and coffee in sunlit plazas, afternoons drift by with shaded walks and long lunches, and evenings glow softly as warm light settles over terracotta rooftops and stone walls. Ronda is particularly special at Christmas time with every plaza and street festooned with beautiful Christmas lights and lit up nativity scenes.
Memorable Eats in Ronda
There are wonderful tapas, gastrobars and traditional resteraunts on every street in Ronda. We learnt the hard way on our first day that the ‘siesta hours’ are very much observed and getting anything to eat between the hours of 4 – 7.30/8pm is an absolute mission, as most places close ! Once you know, it’s easy to plan ahead.
Tapas – We had some of the best tapas in Ronda at Bodega El Socorro – a tapas bar/resteraunt which is wonderfully traditional inside and was heaving with locals on the Friday night of our stay. The place was lively and super friendly and was one of our foodie highlights. We had the ‘berenjnas fritas con miel de cana’ – or fried aubergines with cane honey and the ‘ensalada de burrata con tomatoes cherry’ or a huge slab of local, creamy burrata served with the sweetest cherry tomatoes in balsamic… delicious !
Dinner – A visit to hotel la Fuenta de la Higuera, a beautiful, authentic countryside boutique hotel in the Ronda countryside, is a worthwhile treat for dinner ! Located in the mountains outside Ronda, the hotel organised a taxi for us which took about 15 minutes. Many of the ingredients are grown in the hotel’s own kitchen gardens. We were served in the hotels orangery and had carrot soup with goat’s cheese and ginger, hake with a pea sauce and garden veg, topped off with white chocolate ‘torrijas’ with marscarpone ice cream – which was like a fancy, creamy bread and butter pudding. This place is very charming and we were only sorry we missed the views from the hotel during daylight.
Breakfast – There aren’t too many options for a savoury breakfast in Ronda – but we did eat at Torre Tapas on Carrera Espinel just a short stroll from the apartment. While the service is fairly chaotic, we had some good simple fare like scrambled eggs with avacado on toast and some decent cafe con leche ! If you aren’t counting calories, you can do like the Spanish and choose a lovely little cafe for a chocolate caliente (thick hot chocolate) with churros, the long, golden sticks of fried dough, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, that come dusted in sugar and are made for dipping in your hot chocolate!
Our Favourite Moments in Ronda
Mills of the Tagus Walk – There are many gorgeous walks and hikes to do around Ronda and its surrounds but this was one of our favourite for the unique viewpoints of Ronda’s incredible Tajo gorge and Puente Nuevo from below. We followed the route described on the All Trails app, which took us just outside of the town and down the valley past two ancient water mills built along the Guadalevín River. The walk down is paved and easy to follow and meanders past farms, olive trees and an equestrian centre. The slope climbs gently back up and you are rewarded with dramatic and expansive views of the landscape around Ronda on the ascent. The trail leads you back into town and past the beautiful Catalonia Reina Victoria hotel where we couldn’t resist relaxing with a coffee on their panoramic terrace with breathtaking views over the countryside. Not to be missed.
Mondragon Palace – We enjoyed a relaxed wander around the beautiful Mondragon palace in the heart of the old town, with it’s spectacular giant fortress door, which gives you all the flavour of Ronda’s Moorish past. The beautiful water garden was a highlight with the whispers of the past from the Moorish fountains and arches, remanents of the original tiles and the spectacular views across the Sierra de Grazalema mountains. The palace also houses a wonderful museum that explores Ronda’s and surrounding area’s history as far back as the stone age ! Finish off your visit with coffee and some of the Arabic inspired sweets such as cuernos de gacela – crescent shaped pastries filled with almond paste in one of Old Town’s little cafes. ( There I go talking about food again … ) !
A relaxed beer on the terrace of Casa Don Bosco – This is a wonderful, historic mansion hugging the cliff edge in Ronda’s old town. The house once served as a care home for elderly priests and is now open to the public as a museum. The is a small entrance fee which is well worth it to sit and drink on the terrace overlooking the Tajo which offers one of the best panoramas of the Puenta Nuevo and the Guadalevin valley. There was no-one else there when we visited and we had the most spectacular views all to ourselves.
Shopping at Mantas Grazelema – A gorgeous craft shop selling authentic woollen products made by Artesanía Textil de Grazalema, a great place for artisan textiles and gifts. In particular they had beautiful quality wool blankets and throws which would be a perfect touch in your scandi inspired cosy corner. This shop is a little off the beaten track but not far from Ronda’s famous bullring. It’s well worth checking out if you want to bring home something special and locally produced.
The rooftop bar of Hotel Catalonia – This spot, although a little crowded when we visited, enjoys one of the best views in Ronda town. We enjoyed sipping a (questionable) coffee, with the old bullring sitting perfectly round below, Ronda’s rooftops spilling out around it and beyond them the soft, rugged hills of the Serranía fading into the distance. It’s one of those views that asks you to pause for a moment, even if the coffee doesn’t quite live up to the setting.
Ronda surprised us in the best ways — a town of dramatic gorges, timeless white streets and gentle Andalusian light. Our Scandinavian-inspired apartment was a calm base for wandering historic corners, finding quiet cafés, and gazing out across mountains and rooftops. It’s one of those places where every stroll feels like a discovery, and you leave already planning your next visit.
*Please note that images of Aljara suites property are reproduced with permission of the owner.
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