It was the sixties when the so-called Swedish Forest Center, a place where the name could mislead the premises, since it was not a work space, but a retreat and rest.
Taking advantage a large orchard next to Puerto Banús, the Swedish Forest Agency found in this nascent Costa del Sol for international tourism the perfect recreational center for the rest of its civil servants. Private rooms, a gym, a swimming pool or a large garden allowed the visitor to forget about working days in his native Sweden.
Main villa, where the restaurant is located.
Over time the facilities would be opened to all visitors, making the Swedish Forestry Center a regular venue for celebrations such as National Day.
In addition to this, he recalled in an interview his last director, Birgit Gumaelius, who had passed by to celebrate the National Day of Sweden Consul Stig Öberg with Princes Carl and Kristine Bernadotte or that he at the time Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Ingemund Bengtsson He was at the Swedish Forestry Center when he received the news of the assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme.
Nevertheless, Of those glory days little was left ten years ago, when the place was falling into disrepair little by little. Until a year ago, that original luxurious and exclusive Nordic past returned to its original splendor with the opening of the new luxury hotel boho-club.
The accommodation has a swimming pool.
Acquired by the Swedish real estate company Quartiers Properties, the set of buildings of Andalusian vernacular architecture that had ended up making up the complex has been subjected to a complete facelift, respecting, yes, the essence of the place with the addition of the modernity typical of the most contemporary Nordic style and the luxury by flag.
BETWEEN HOUSES AND SQUARES
Crossing the imposing entrance door of today's Boho Club means coming across a plot of nothing less than 30,000 square meters where a main villa and several bungalows They appear scattered but without losing order.
Because, precisely, one of the tasks of the architect in charge of the project, the Spanish Ishmael Merida, was none other than harmonize the total number of buildings that, over the years, had been added as a result of extensions and that, as the project points out, “had led to blurring the original idea: an emblematic residence of the golden age of Marbella in the sixties”.
worked hard to return the roots to the place, as well as the orchard it used to occupy, now converted into well-cared gardens that make it a pleasure to get lost. to turn it into the boutique hotel resort that today is "the complexes were ordered, meaning was given to each building, environments, squares were created...", says the project, giving rise to a space that could well be a small Andalusian town.
Here the boho-chic style rules.
The result is clear from the same input, where a large esplanade dotted with cathedral sculptures and graceful pathways houses a main building and no less than 19 whitewashed bungalows that invite enjoy a private space within a community where he commands the boho-chic style.
In their garden area they also expect two heated swimming pools, a small wellness center for treatments and massages, a fashion boutique and an art gallery.
DESIGN WITH PERSONALITY
The hotel sought to convey a bohemian, artistic, contemporary personality and, for this, he opted for some interiors to match. Nordics, of course.
It was the award-winning Swedish design firm Stylt the one in charge of creating the perfect synergy between scandinavian design and bohemian chic spirit from neighboring Puerto Banus. The alliance comes at the blow of furniture and fabrics bursting with color and organic shapes.
The interior design is the work of the Swedish design firm Stylt.
Emanating its own personality, past and present, foreign and native they go hand in hand thanks to well-combined contrasts both in rooms and in common places.
bold and surprising bamboo and velvet mixes, golden mosaics and traditional rustic tiles, strong colors and soft natural fabrics They will delight lovers of good design.
One of the suites.
With space for a total of 74 guests, There are four types of accommodations available at this boutique resort.
Whichever room is chosen, the elegant bohemian tonic is repeated in all the rooms, as well as the presence of King Size bed, Nespresso coffee machine, Smart TV with Chromecast, a stereo with play list and a home automation system with which to control the lights and air conditioning. In addition, all its amenities are organic.
Its simplest rooms, but not for that reason of inferior quality, await you in the residential building itself, where 24 rooms have terraces at the foot of the garden or upper rooms with open balconies to the neighboring Mediterranean.
Although the greatest delight awaits in the aforementioned bungalows, where the dependencies include a secret that is pure gold: a private pool on a charming terrace with a garden. Who does not dream of taking a bath first thing in the morning in a space just for him or her? Well here you can.
The bathrooms are industrial style.
The rooms are completed by a dressing room and a large industrial style bathroom. In addition, there is no lack of a cozy lounge with minimalist furniture and a collection of contemporary art in the form of canvases, small sculptures and elegant decorative objects.
Collection, the most gourmets will fall in love with the Boho Village. This private home, with space for up to eight people, has a total of four bedrooms with a dressing room and a private bathroom in each.
BETWEEN ART AND FLORA
In its exteriors, the mixture also dominates the view. Through corners bathed in vegetation, reed pergolas and even a recreation of the squares of Andalusian towns where stone and wood gain presence, without a doubt one of the greatest pleasures of the common space is its swimming pool. Located in the middle of the gardens, decorated with elegant wooden floors, From its clear waters you can enjoy the careful landscaping carried out by ADARVE.
Corner outside the restaurant.
Palm trees and large cacti invite you to forget everything. Respecting the original orchard, but recreating the most elegant garden areas, you can still find specimens that have witnessed the last century, such as its banana trees.
What can also be found is art. A large mirror polished steel heart does not go unnoticed. This is one of the two giant sculptures of richard hudson that grow in the gardens, fruit of the collaboration between the hotel and the gallery owner Fabien Fryns, responsible for adding color not only to the exterior, but also to the charming art gallery that awaits next to the main building.
Lobster gyozas.
STAR KITCHEN
Located on the ground floor of the main villa, awaits the kitchen of the chef Diego del Río, Michelin star at El Lago, who bets on a cuisine of Andalusian roots with international influences in a space that invites you to feel inside a luxurious private house, decorated with chandeliers and Italian furniture.
In addition, while delighting the palate, you can admire the selected art on the walls, where names like Henry Hudson, Claire Tabouret or David La Chapelle.
In this space open to the general public, summer came with renewed menu under the arm. Among its new dishes we find delicacies such as the tandoori beef cannelloni, coconut bechamel, cardamom and carrot purée; either the almadraba bluefin tuna contramormo, apple salmorejo, fennel and arugula. Perfect ideas to grab after significant bites from the chef like their lobster gyozas, now served with avocado, corn and sweet potato; shrimp croquettes or stewed mussels with coconut and citrus sauce.
Red tuna tiradito.
Complete the offer a selection of fish of the day and a grill where the sirloin, the entrecote or the Angus steak baked in a wood-fired oven will compete with more elaborate dishes such as the shoulder of goat with labneh, onion chutney and mint.
The letter closes a delicious Andalusian artisan cheese board or desserts like the fruit and vegetable minestrone, citrus soup and lemon peel sorbet. All this seasoned with a cellar that includes up to a hundred labels.
In addition to the letter, there is a tasting menu of eight passes (85 euros without pairing) Created by Del Rio. Is it availabe Sunday to Thursday.
We escaped?
On the other hand, those looking for a fresh outdoor cookbook, perfect for lunch, the pool bar Bernie's will more than meet expectations. In your letter, with direct views of the quiet pool, you can enjoy, in addition to snacks, salads and pasta dishes such as homemade focaccia, Boho burger and mini falafel wrap.
They are also served here the delicious and homemade breakfasts of the hotel. Because if, There is nothing better than starting the day with views of a garden, a swimming pool and Marbella's Golden Mile.
SUBSCRIBE HERE to our newsletter and receive all the news from Condé Nast Traveler #YoSoyTraveler