Belmond La Residencia
If you know anything about the hotel scene in Majorca, you’ll have heard of this grand dame – La Residencia – in the diminutive village of Deia. It’s for the seriously well-heeled – we’re talking the top A-listers: supposedly Princess Diana stayed here in the wake of her divorce from the Prince of Wales and Andrew Lloyd Webber hired the entire joint for a big birthday. And then we rock up… on the bus from Palma. I’m pretty sure most guests of the easy-on-the-eye hotel have rarely stepped on public transport.
I loved it immediately – as soon as I plodded up the twisting path from the main road in Deia. And all around view, views and more views: of the Tramuntara mountains, their peaks concealed in tufts of cloud; a scattering of fincas, brightened up with bougainvillea along the terraces of the mountains; and olive and citrus groves where I’d later discover lemons the size of my fist.
There was no better view than from our private terrace. And the sun-filled suite – echoing a traditional Spanish finca – really was the business: think wooden beams, whitewashed walls, flowing curtains and eye-catching art. Charlie’s travel cot was set up in the living room, which meant we could either slink around the terrace, gazing over Deia in the honeyed light, or cosy up in the bedroom without waking him. In all honesty, he was none the wiser with the shutters working their magic, and to our amazement, we even had to wake him each morning (do you hate me now?!).
Thankfully, and despite its raft of upmarket guests, La Residencia is far from stuffy. And the best news? It’s incredibly welcoming to families. Staff fussed over Charlie as if he were Prince George, and no one batted an eyelid when Adam tossed him around the outdoor pool like a sodden ball, leaving a spray of water in his wake.
The setting for the pool is unbelievable – this has to go down as one of the best places for a dunk with an astounding view, lying in the shadow of Deia’s terraced mountains. And it boosted my insta feed with some very atmospheric pics during the rain when the steam rose from the water and hit the clouds.
And it rained… a lot. But in all reality, it really didn’t matter. We spent a day mooching between the gorgeously warm pool in the spa, to our suite, and into town to nibble on plates of calamari, aioli and steak at the surprisingly good value Es Punt in town.
Deia’s foodie credentials are pretty sensational, and we tucked into plate after dazzling plate during one lunch at Café Miro – the hotel’s daytime restaurant. It’s the place to get slowly sozzled on Cava over long sultry afternoons and to salivate over textbook tapas dishes that are superbly fresh – think patatas bravas, garlic prawns, crispy veal rolls and salty rosemary focaccia.
La Residencia is a place to swoon over: rooms are vast and peaceful; the setting is outrageously beautiful; the spa demands hours of horizontal lounging; and there’s nothing quite like lolling around the pool – an orange juice resting on your tummy – with astounding views rolling out in each direction. Hands down one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in.
Check out my travel video of Belmond La Residencia and Deia here.
