Recently reopened as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, Grand Hotel Las Dunas immerses guests in the charm and privacy of an old Hollywood hideaway, yet with truly cinematic sea views. Evocative of a Spanish hacienda with its signature octagonal tower, and gardens descending through a sequence of fountains towards the Mediterranean. This quieter stretch of the Costa del Sol is where Estepona’s Andalusian authenticity is an enriching alternative to the vibrancy of jetset Marbella.
Andalucía, Estepona
Grand Hotel Las Dunas
(5 stars)The Arrival
You drive in under a stone arch and arrive in an octagonal courtyard. To the right, a row of e-bikes waiting in the morning sun. In the centre, a small fountain. On the left, an old Spanish wooden cart spilling over with red geraniums. The scene embraces you with calm.
Inside, the atrium climbs three storeys under an octagonal roof. Behind reception, glass doors lead to a balcony over the gardens, with the fountain drawing your eye to the sparkling Mediterranean.
From the large octagonal fountain at the heart of the gardens, a small cascade drops one level again to the infinity pool. The design is pure Andalusia and references the iconic gardens of the Generalife at the Alhambra.
The Garden
Frangipani, palms, classical marble sculptures and the scent of jasmine in the late afternoon. The gardens are one of the joys of the property, embracing the suites, the dining pavilion, the spa and the infinity pool in a single composition. The octagonal motif recurs throughout, in the entrance courtyard, the central fountain, the dining pavilion and the tower above reception.
The Suite
The property slopes gently to the sea, so the reception level sits above the gardens. Our garden suite, officially on the ground floor, ran along the lower terrace. The living room was generous, with a dining table, sofa, armchairs, designer pendant lights and French doors opening to a private terrace. The bedroom was equally large, with a king bed, work desk, deep wardrobes and a second connected terrace.
The generosity of space is the legacy of an earlier remodel that reduced the room count and created large suites. Marriott’s recent renovations built on this with a muted, calming palette of taupes and creams, touches of olive green, and designer touches like the architectural lighting.
At ground level on a leafy side of the property, our suite was not as bright as those on the higher floors but benefited from the coolness. The bedroom terrace also had space for two sun loungers, the kind of detail the property will likely address during this opening season.
The Golden Prelude
Each Autograph Collection property has a signature moment. At Las Dunas, it is the Golden Prelude, a sequence of touches across the day that reaches its high point at sunset. A spa massage timed for the moment the light puts on a spectacular scene across the water. A non-alcoholic cocktail served afterwards. At turndown, a small phial of lavender essence from the spa for sprinkling on the pillow and a sachet of Mediterranean Golden Prelude tea on the side table.
Casa Calma
There are three Casa Calma restaurant spaces, all working from the same menu. The main restaurant occupies an octagonal pavilion at the main garden level, with a beautifully designed bar at one end, three arched mirrored shelves catching the afternoon light, and sofas that make the room as much a drawing room as a dining room. Casa Calma Garden, the terrace just outside, is where breakfast and lunch are enjoyed, with views over the gardens and the sea and the fountain in the background. Below, at the seafront, Casa Calma Mirador sets tables directly above the sand from late morning until early evening.
The menu is nicely done rather than memorable. Scarlet prawn and seafood croquetas were excellent. A burrata salad was served with some truly excellent local tomatoes. A tenderloin steak arrived perfectly prepared with sweet potato fries. Each meal opened with a small amuse-bouche, Cádiz prawns one night, fried Málaga boquerones the next. The kitchen still serves a single menu across all three spaces, and one suspects the offer will widen as the season builds.
Lunch on the Mirador was lighter, with homemade sushi, that did not quite hit the mark, a tasty dish of roasted avocado with pomegranate seeds and an ensaladilla rusa. Accompanied by a glass of rosé, it made for a relaxing moment to share.
The F&B team is super. Victor behind the bar helped us navigate the cocktail list, while Javier ran our dinner service with warmth. Diego looked after lunch with the same natural, friendly attentiveness. There is a second F&B venue off the entrance courtyard which is presently closed. Once it opens as a signature restaurant, the dining offer will match the Grand Hotel status of this Autograph Collection property.
Breakfast
Breakfast at Casa Calma Garden was memorable. Dappled sunlight catches the table, the sound of the fountain behind, the sea views ahead. Eggs Benedict was excellent, as were the mollete rolls from Antequera with tomato and Ibérico ham. Fernando and Juan José offered friendly table service that turned the hotel breakfast into a luxurious morning ritual.
The Pool and The Mirador
The infinity pool sits at garden level, framed by palms, with the Mediterranean beyond. On a clear day Gibraltar is visible across the Strait, and on the very clearest days the mountains of Morocco rise behind it. The beach itself is modest, like much of the coast on this stretch. But there are plenty of luxurious sun loungers set around the pool, and in the gardens shaded by trees and parasols.
The Spa
The entrance to the Serena Spa is found in the long glass-walled gallery hung with contemporary art, a corridor that catches morning light and is furnished with sofas and designer David López Quincoces armchairs.
The spa offers an indoor pool and a ten-station hydrotherapy circuit, with three thermal tours including a detox sequence that moves from Roman baths to Finnish sauna to contrast shower, with timed relaxation between. The sunset massage, taken as part of the Golden Prelude, is the one to book.
The Sendero Litoral
Estepona, like much of the Costa del Sol, has a Sendero Litoral that runs along almost the entire municipal coastline, an unbroken walking and cycling path. Take two of the hotel’s e-bikes and follow it for an hour towards Estepona town, passing villas, beach restaurants and little corners of untouched coast where locals still farm the land with modest kitchen gardens growing seasonal vegetables.
The Location
The hotel sits on the New Golden Mile, the quieter sister to the stretch from Marbella to Puerto Banús. The coast has matured slowly here, with residential developments and a handful of hotels rather than the ultra-luxury and parties further east. Estepona has emerged as one of the more authentic destinations in the province, with a thriving old town, an arts scene and a good sense of identity. Las Dunas belongs to this version of the Costa del Sol, calm and grounded.
The Brand
The hotel is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the group’s portfolio of independent five-star properties, managed locally by ACHM Hotels, the Spanish operator chaired by Antonio Catalán. The general manager, Marco Schiralli, came from Formentera, where rates run into four figures and guests expect a refined, quiet style of service. His experience shows in the team he has built, and I am sure we will see exciting developments at Grand Hotel Las Dunas.
Final Thought
Grand Hotel Las Dunas is a hideaway in the proper grand hotel sense. The setting is hard to fault. The service is right, and as the season develops, so will the menu. If the Costa del Sol you want is tranquil, this is your hotel.
