Salobrena Information

The area around Salobrena has been inhabited for thousands of years including by Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs. The population of the town is about 12,000 people, mainly Spanish and it is split into 3 distinct parts:

The old town was built up around the Arab castle which sits at the top of the large rock which makes this area so distinctive. The style of the town houses is distinctly Andalucian and they are set in long narrow cobbled streets which wind up the hill to the castle with geraniums and other plants adding splashes of colour along the route.

The new town has developed over recent years to house Spanish families who work in the area and is where you will now find the banks, supermarkets and Post Office. The style of property is typically apartment buildings about 3 floors high.

Beach properties are owned mainly by Spanish who live in land and move to the coast en- mass in the middle of summer. The properties here have been built over the last twenty years and are a mixture of apartments and town houses, again there are very few tall blocks here with most being about 3 or 4 floors high.

Salobrena Bars and Restaurants

Like all Spanish towns Salobrena has a wide variety of restaurants and bars which are spread throughout the three areas mentioned above.

La Pesetas - probably the roof terrace of this restaurant has the best view of the local restarants and is located in the historic area near the castle.

El Peñon - is another wel located restaurant on the beach which has been built into the large rock which like a finger points out to sea, the food here can be a bit average but the location maintains this as a popular restaurant. Freshly grilled sardines are a popular choice.

La Bahia - located on the beach opposite El Peñon, the location is very good and the quality reliable

Argentinian Steak House - One of two good meat restaurants, here you cook your own meat on a hot stone (very simple to do and tasty!). Located amongst a number of other restaurants at the end of the main road which leads to the beach.

El Padrino - Situated just as you arrive at the beaches next to the Argentinan Steak House, good quality Italian style dishes and pizzas.

La Bodega - probably the best steak restaurant in the area. Not the best of locations near the main entrance to Salobrena from the N340 coast road but we often hear rave reviews about their steaks

Meson de la Villa - Located centrally in a pedestrian area of the new town it is a popular location for local residents and visitors alike. Typically Spanish dishes are to be found here.

These are just a small selection of local restaurants. You are bound to discover other personal favourites such as along the beach where you will find a hand full of beach restaurants built on the sand called chiringuitos which are very popular with the Spanish at lunchtime.

The bars are even more numerous - one custom to be aware of is that as the area is still very Spanish, including nearly all tourists, at most bars/restaurants when ordering someething to drink it is still normal to receive a plate of tapas (for which no additional charge is made). At most bars the tapas vary throughout the night but is likely to including a plate of smal fish (freshly caught locally), a meat (typically pork) in sauce, jamon serrano, vegetables (such as "potatos pobre" a potato and onion stew). Once a common custom in Spain it is now rare to find seaside towns offering such free snacks but this area still remains traditionally Spanish and treats tourists whether Spanish or foreign as something to be appreciated and valued.

Salobrena Tourism

Although you may not have heard of Salobrena most Spanish certainly have and it is a popular holiday destination for people all over Spain but particularly the local inland cities (Granada, Jaen, Cordoba). The main months for tourism here are July and August when the population of Salobrena increases substantially as all the beach front apartments fill up with Spanish families escaping the oppresive heat to be found just a few kilometers inland. The beach area is at this time transformed into an area full of life, those who live here probably would remark that it becomes rather noisy and congested - which is an understandable comment when you are acustomed to the other 10 months of the year here when life is more tranquil and there is no need to struggle to find parking or a table at your favourite restaurant.

On the hillsides just out side of Salobrena there is very little noticeable change over these months, there are more Spanish children using the large communal pool, the temperature is a bit hotter but the area remains relatively unchanged and many residents retreat to their homes to enjoy the summer near their pool overlooking the town and beaches of Salobrena.

Despite the popularity of the area Salobrena has never been a destination for the larger holiday companies and package holidays and mass tourism have not spoilt the area. The Spanish here appreciate it when foreigners take time to come here and get to know the area and although it is not common to hear English being spoken if you make a little bit of effort to communicate with the Spanish they are very patient and helpful.

Salobrena Accommodation

We have access to a large number of rental villas on the hillside where we live which overlooks the town of Salobrena (please see our page Vacation Rentals) but if you would prefer to be based in the town or go to a hotel there are several alternatives in Salobrena among which we would recommend

Hostals
Hostal Jayma www.hostaljayma.com
Hostal St Juan www.hostalsanjuan.com

Hotels
Hotel Avenida www.hotelavenidatropical.com
Hotel Salobrena www.hotelsalobrena.com/home.php (please note this is located about 3km outside of the town)