On the Costa Blanca, in Calpe (Alicante), just 1 hour and 30 minutes from Valencia, The Cookbook Hotel has entered a new phase that feels less like a reinvention and more like a considered refinement of its original identity. The property now positions itself as a destination built around experience, where hospitality, food, and wellbeing are closely connected in a single guest journey. This evolution is guided by the concept of The Exquisite Pause, a philosophy that redefines Mediterranean luxury through simplicity, authenticity, and attention to detail. The result is a property that remains rooted in its family-owned character but now expresses it with greater clarity and consistency. With 16 redesigned rooms, the atmosphere stays intimate and residential, while the interiors have been updated to improve comfort and create a stronger sense of calm.

At the centre of the hotel is the Ascolese family, whose history continues to define its identity. The name “The Cookbook” comes from a tradition where handwritten recipe books were passed from mother to daughter on the day of marriage. What began as a private family gesture has become the foundation of the hotel’s identity. It shapes the way guests are welcomed and how service is delivered, with an emphasis on care, community and familiarity.

Gastronomy is the main driver of the hotel and shapes the structure of the stay. Chef José Manuel Miguel leads the culinary direction across the property, ensuring a consistent approach across both restaurants and all food and beverage spaces. His role connects every part of the experience, making food a constant presence rather than a separate element.

The main restaurant is Beat, a Michelin-starred restaurant also holding two Repsol Suns. It brings together French technique and Mediterranean ingredients, with a strong focus on seasonal produce and local sourcing. The menu is built around precision and contrast, with the interplay between butter and extra-virgin olive oil serving as a reference point for its French and Mediterranean influences. Beat has also recently been redesigned, with the kitchen now open to the dining room. This change removes the separation between preparation and service, allowing guests to see the kitchen in action and creating a more immersive community dining experience.

Alongside it is Komfort, a Bib Gourmand restaurant offering a more informal approach. It focuses on Mediterranean dishes rooted in local tradition, including rice dishes, grilled fish, seafood, and updated regional recipes. While Beat focuses on fine dining, Komfort translates the same culinary philosophy into a simpler, more accessible format.

The culinary offer extends beyond the restaurants. The Lounge Bar continues this approach with cocktails and non-alcoholic creations that are paired with elevated versions of Mediterranean tapas. This creates continuity across different moments of the day and ensures that gastronomy remains present even in informal settings.

The hotel also works closely with its local environment to uphold sustainability efforts. Sustainability is not treated as a separate initiative but as part of how the hotel operates. Produce from its own garden is used alongside fish sourced from the Calpe fish market, ensuring a direct link to the local area. This commitment continues beyond the kitchen through curated guest experiences, including visits to wineries, oil producers, and the fishing port. These activities are designed to bring guests closer to the landscape and the people who shape it. One of the most distinctive initiatives of this effort is also its involvement in biodiversity work in the Montgó Natural Park. The hotel supports a beehive project, and the honey produced is used in breakfast service as well as in a small range of products, including sweets, soaps, and fragrances. This turns sustainability into something visible and directly integrated into the guest experience.

Well-being is another key dimension of this hotel transformation. The upcoming spa concept, The Salt Collection, is inspired by the nearby salt flats of Calpe. It is designed as a holistic approach that considers physical, mental, emotional, and social balance. Rather than focusing solely on relaxation, it addresses the pressures of modern life and offers structured experiences, such as stress-management workshops and digital-detox sessions. This positions well-being as a restorative process within the hotel experience rather than a luxury add-on.

Within the broader context of AR Hotels & Resorts, the group’s properties on the Costa Blanca are designed as standalone destinations where dining plays a defining role in shaping identity and experience. In this context, The Cookbook stands out as a fully integrated example of that approach. It brings together accommodation, gastronomy, well-being, and local engagement into a single clear offer. The focus is not on excess or spectacle, but on coherence, quality, and a strong connection to place, resulting in a stay that feels structured, intentional, and closely tied to its Mediterranean setting.

Report by Lilly Salvador

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’

The Cookbook Hotel

Urbanización, Partida Marisol Park, 1-A, 03710 Alicante, Spain

Website: https://thecookbookhotel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecookbookhotel