On a cobbled street near the seafront of this interesting little port in the lush north-west of Tenerife, this small designer hotel provides 'a charming blend of style, comfort, cosy ambience, and friendliness', according to a visitor. It is 'very well managed' by the owner, Dominique Carayon, and his mother Laly (the cook). 'They and their staff could not be nicer; all requests are promptly dealt with.' Painted red, the 17th-century mansion, has a Bauhaus/Rennie Mackintosh interior: galleries, arcades, modern art, old woodwork. One patio has a huge futuristic steel sculpture, the other a small swimming pool, and wooden tables for meals. Bedrooms vary greatly: Room 17 has a sleeping area up a steep spiral staircase and a 'beautiful but claustrophobic sitting area (no windows)'. Room 20 has a 'charming sitting area with a good view of the bath'. All have jacuzzi bathtubs. Some visitors found the lighting difficult to control and the rooms dark. The no-choice three-course dinner (booked by 7 pm) is 'elegantly prepared and served: delicious, inventive starters and desserts, but main courses were sometimes less good'. 'Excellent breakfast.' 'Perfect tranquillity.' 'Garachico has no beaches, but lava flows have been creatively sculpted into rock pools and perches.'