Elegance par excellence

FOR FANTASTIC VIEWS, GREAT CUISINE AND AMAZING SPA TREATMENTS, JOIN THE A-LIST CELEBRITIES WHO HAVE ENJOYED THE ULTIMATE  RELAXING BREAK IN THE AWARD-WINNING LA RESIDENCIA HOTEL
Text: Sarah Farrel

Deia has been a mecca for artists for the best part of 200 years. English author Robert Graves called it home for many years since he fell in love with the Mallorcan countryside in 1929 and composer Chopin and his lover, the writer George Sands, spent a winter here, where Chopin composed some of  his finest works.
Its allure continues to this day with painters, poets, musicians and film stars falling for the charm of the pretty coastal and mountain village. As well as providing a peaceful haven where you can unwind and get away from it all, its spectacular views over the Tramuntana mountains and the crystal blue Mediterranean provide inspiration anew.
Many head for La Residencia, a beautiful hotel merging four buildings – the Son Moragues and Son Canals buildings date from the 16th and 17th century and were originally manor houses. Son Fony is from the 18th century and Son Fony II is new but designed to complement the other three.
Its owner Orient-Express Hotels has a reputation for elegance, quality, style and service – La Residencia certainly lives up to its good name. This is backed up by the prestigious awards it has won. At a gala ceremony in London last month La Residencia won the top spot in the Conde Nast Traveller awards for the best holiday hotel in Europe, Asia Minor and Russia Federation. The Orient-Express Hotel group also won the second prize with its Hotel Splendido in Portofino.
In 2007, it came second in the same award and was also voted 34th in the world´s top 100 hotels.

A work of art

Every room you walk into, including the reception, pays homage to artists with a connection to Deia.  The hotel has a private collection of more than 85 artists who have a relationship with Deia, either having lived or worked there. It also has an exhibition, which changes every two weeks or so under the experienced eye of the curator Cecilie Sheridan, wife of the former curator Georges.
The art collection is just one way that La Residencia stays true to its Mallorcan roots. All interiors and exteriors are in traditional Mallorcan architectural style with finely crafted furnishings. All of the 67 bedrooms and suites are individually furnished and decorated in traditional style, including a very comfortable wooden bed, crisp white bed linen, antiques and all mod-cons including wifi.
Some of the suites have their own private terrace or garden but all have terrific views to the sea, the village or the imposing mountains. Eight suites even have their own swimming pool or plunge pool -  perfect for couples who like a little seclusion.
A popular choice – especially for honeymoon couples looking for a romantic hideaway – is the luxury tower suite in the ancient watchtower, which is the oldest part of the hotel building. It is a beautiful suite accessed by a stone spiral staircase. On the first level is a bedroom and luxury bathroom while the top floor has a spacious lounge with a private sun terrace. All the rooms have stunning views of the mountains, village and sea.
La Residencia also has a four bedroom villa, just three minutes walk from the hotel, overlooking Deia and with fantastic Mediterranean views.

Simply the best

Restauradores classed its El Olivo restaurant as one of the best in Spain in 2007 and won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the eighth year running this year. It has also been awarded first prize at Madrid Fusion 2008 for the best dining service in a hotel restaurant.
It´s easy to understand why it has won so much praise from such distinguished quarters and is widely regarded as being one of the best restaurants in Spain as well as the jewel in the crown of La Residence. The restaurant is housed in the former Son Moragues olive press, which is still preserved. It is beautiful and combines style and elegance with  a relaxed air. There are a couple of gallery rooms for more private dining too.
The chief Guillermo Mendez is also no stranger to awards, coming first in the Balearic Championships and fourth in the Spanish Championships. He keeps abreast in the world of cuisine by attending stages at Raymond Blanc´s Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons and La Torre de Aqua and Nooler restaurants in Germany.
The food sounds inviting and includes a special vegetarian menu and a chef´s tasting menu (perfect if you can never decide what you want because everything sounds so good) as well as a la carte. It´s a fine Mediterranean choice while making the most of what Mallorca and mainland Spain has to offer such as the famous Soller prawns, sobrasada oil, lobster ‘pa amb oli’ with crispy Menorcan cheese, Es Trenc salts, Jabugo ham and black suckling pig. The sommelier will recommend wines to go with each dish from the fine range on offer.
Another nice touch is that diners are invited to leave their mobile phones with the hostess who will let them know if it rings – a great idea which should be taken up by more establishments.
The Son Fony restaurant is more casual with a choice of tapas, starters, pastas, risottos, fish and meat dishes.

Carefully chosen treatments

The spa is in the Top Ten list of the best hotel spas in Europe 2008 by Conde Nast Traveller. It is the third year that the spa has been in the top ten and is the only spa on Mallorca to have achieved this position.
It´s open to residents and non-residents and is well worth a visit. You can enjoy individual treatments or special one-day rituals to start your holiday, eliminate jet lag, for mothers-to-be, the ultimate spa day or a rainy day programme. You can choose from a wide range of massages, peels and polishes, facials, beauty treatments and alternative treatments.
One of the most unusual – I´ve certainly not heard of it being offered anywhere else on Mallorca – is Auro-Soma colour consultation. The client picks four coloured bottles from 106, which mirror your emotional state at the moment, Each bottle contains herbs, essential oils and crystals to bring harmony and balance to your aura and energy centres – your chakras. It incorporates the use of a heated water coach which also uses colour to aid relaxation and stimulate the brain.
One of the most popular treatments at the spa is cranio sacral therapy. Only introduced this year, it works with the bones in the head and spine to release tension and stress to provide a calming, relaxing and very special treatment.
Just walking into the spa aids stress release as all of the rooms boast fine views while some have their own private terrace where you can be treated while enjoying the vista.

At your leisure

Walk through the hotel´s olive groves (where the fruit are picked and taken to Soller to be pressed into La Residencia´s olive oil) and you will come to two immaculate tennis courts where you can enjoy a game or some coaching by the hotel´s tennis professional. Alternatively take a dip in either of the two heated outdoor pools or the indoor heated pool, enjoy an outdoor Jacuzzi while soaking up the views, relax in the gardens, work out in the gym, enjoy a sauna or take advantage of the shuttle service to a secluded local cove with private access.

Take a break

Now is the ideal time of year to take advantage of one of La Residencia´s breaks where you can enjoy special rates. These range from a five-night Christmas package including a Christmas Eve gala dinner and a five-course Christmas Day lunch or dinner; five-night New Year package including a New Year´s Eve gala dinner and dance and New Year champagne brunch; tennis break; golf break; spa break; art break; or a special celebration break which includes a helicopter tour to give you a bird´s eye view of the amazing Tramuntana mountains and the coast

Night to remember

Many of La Residencia´s guests book time and time again because they know they will be assured of the finest foods, quality service and great leisure facilities. Distinguished guests include Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, Bruce Springsteen, Ben Kingsley, Katherine Hammet, Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Michael Douglas, Pierce Brosnan, and the King and Queen of Spain. So you´ll be in good company.

La Residencia
Deia
Mallorca
971 639 011
www.hotel-laresidencia.com














 
 

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