Hotel Misiana

The Hotel Misiana mostly attracts travelers looking to get the ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar from Tarifa to Tangiers. The hotel is tiny but well-thought out, with a charming design throughout. A rustic, shabby-chic dining room has geometric patterned tiles and sun-bleached wood on its floor, ferns in planters, and a vintage bicycle nailed up on its bare brick walls. Bare, oversized filament bulbs hang from the ceiling’s beams, and the room is filled with mismatched chairs and stalls, and a great bar painted robin egg blue at the far end. The hotel’s lobby desk is livened up with driftwood signs pointing to far-flung places, emphasizing the transient nature of the hotel’s guests. Out front are sun-bleached wooden benches painted bright colors, separated off from the street by potted greenery.

Located along the cobbled streets in the center of Tarifa, the Hotel Misiana is in an ideal spot for travelers looking to make use of ferries across the Straits of Gibraltar from Tarifa to Tangiers, as the marina is only a five-minute walk away. Slightly farther at 10 minutes is the wide, sandy Playa Chica. Tarifa is known as a popular windsurfing spot, and there are several places to hire equipment nearby. There are a number of bars, restaurants, and shops in Tarifa. Expect transfers to Jerez Airport to take roughly 90 minutes by car.

The Hotel Misiana’s 15 rooms are all painted in clean, bright whites with rustic driftwood and cool grays accents. Single and Double Rooms have either twin or double beds (some are two twins pushed together), and a desk and chair, but they're otherwise light on furniture. They are light and airy, though, with wooden floors and open closets showing a few drawers made out of distressed wood, a large safe on a marble shelf, and hangers dangling from a driftwood branch. Bathrooms have sleek ivory marble tiles, shower/tub combos, bidets, hairdryers, and a tray of free toiletries. Each room has free Wi-Fi, a safe, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and a flat-screen TV. On the downside, those facing the street may hear late-night noise.

The one Junior Suite is far larger, with a couch upholstered in cream fabric, a coffee table, and driftwood ornaments hanging off the walls. It also has a large, private roof terrace with sun loungers and potted plants, from which the Rock of Gibraltar and Africa are visible on a clear day.

The Hotel Misiana is very light on amenities, with no wellness or business amenities aside from one lone computer by the lobby. However, guests do rave about the quality breakfast buffet, served in the hotel’s rustic restaurant for a fee. Tables are topped with local charcuterie and cheeses, breads and pastries, fruits, and cakes, as well as hot items cooked-to-order and freshly squeezed orange juice. The restaurant is also open during the day and the evening as a tapas bar. There is no parking at the hotel, and parking is hard to find close by -- guests recommend finding a secure parking lot in town. The hotel has free and reliable Wi-Fi throughout.