La Reserva de Sotogrande

This five-bedroom villa sits at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in Zona M, La Reserva de Sotogrande, in the municipality of San Roque, Cádiz. From its elevated, south-facing position it looks out over the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and Sotogrande Marina, and on very clear days the view carries on to the North African coast. Built in 2011 and arranged over four levels, it is an established home with five bathrooms, generous terraces and wide glazing that brings in light through the day.

The principal living level is built around a high-ceilinged reception room with a fireplace, which gives the house a warm focus in the cooler months. A contemporary kitchen and dining space sits alongside and works as the everyday hub, whether that means a quick breakfast or a long lunch with friends. Floor-to-ceiling openings lead straight out to covered and open terraces, so the outlook becomes part of the room and meals move outside easily.

The principal suite takes up a generous share of the house. Alongside the bedroom are a bathroom, a dressing area and an extra room that can be set up as a private office, gym or quiet retreat. The suite opens onto its own terrace with a jacuzzi, a good place to take in the view at the end of the day. On the upper level, three further bedrooms each have an en-suite bathroom, dressing space and good natural light, and two of them open onto large private terraces.

The lower garden level adds a useful degree of flexibility. A separate fifth guest suite gives visiting family or friends their own space, and beside it a large multi-purpose area with its own kitchen is currently set up as an office and leisure space. Because this level works independently from the rest of the house, an owner could adapt it in future, for example as a self-contained apartment, private gym, cinema, spa or entertainment space, subject to their own planning and technical checks.

Outside, landscaped gardens surround an L-shaped private pool, with terraces for outdoor dining, sitting in the sun and entertaining. The south-facing aspect and raised position suit long summer evenings outdoors and the sunsets that come with them. A private garage, storage, air conditioning and central heating cover the practical side, and La Reserva Club, Sotogrande International School, the area's golf courses and everyday amenities are all within easy reach. For a family that hosts often, or anyone who wants a settled home looking out to the marina, it makes a comfortable base in Sotogrande.