A Weekend In Mallorca, Part 3

Having had a quick peek at the setting for breakfast at the Calatrava Boutique Hotel upon arriving, I was uncharacteristically keen to get out of bed and head up to the excellent roof terrace to kickstart another day exploring the island.

Breakfast at the Calatrava Hotel is not something to be missed. The roof terrace, with beautiful views out over Palma Marina and the Mediterranean, where you can have a long and delicious breakfast. Much like the Can Cera Hotel there is a buffet where you can enjoy a selection of fresh fruits, breads, Spanish meats, cheeses, yoghurts and a choice of freshly cooked hot food. After admiring the view and enjoying the rooftop we packed our bags and headed out on the road to our final destination of the weekend - the idyllic cliffside village of Deia.

To get to Deia we decided to follow the popular island drive around the East coast of the island, following the motorway first, then through the village of Andratx before climbing up and around the coastal road which hugs the cliffs leading to Deia. The drive was beautiful, with wonderful views of out over the sea and the stunning scenery of the Traumantana Mountains throughout.

Since the large fire in Andratx earlier this year, much of the forestry and wildlife of this part of the island has been damaged. The tree trunks had been blackened and the leaves turned a vivid orange colour, it was fascinating seeing the contrast of the fresh untouched trees bursting with green colours sitting right next to the ashy dark orange burnt trees.

After the hour or so drive across the mountains I was excited to stretch my legs and I was not disappointed when we reached the beautiful village of Deia. Having never been to Mallorca before, and having not heard much about this village I wasn’t sure what to expect; it’s safe to say Deia is one of the most beautiful places I have been. Surrounded by impressive mountains, this sandstone coloured village is tucked and molded into the mountainside. With the wonderful church perched overlooking the village and Mediterranean ocean below.

Driving though the gates and into La Residencia I just knew this was going to be a stay not to forget. The wonderful gardens with green grass, beautiful flowers and perfectly-trimmed hedges were just the start. Checking in, our car was whisked away to be parked, our bags were labeled and delivered straight up to our room and we were offered to enjoy a welcome drink of our choice on the large sun terrace that wraps around the side of the main building of the hotel. The traditional stone that each of the buildings of the hotel is made from is something to see in itself; they reflect the natural beauty of the mountains behind and the ocean below. Perching on the terrace and sipping our drinks in the warm sunshine we felt instantly relaxed as the friendly staff catered to our needs.

We decided that before venturing into our room (which I suspected we would never want to leave) we would go and explore the village. Walking around the lovely paved streets and roads we made our way up to the church, which sits atop the village, to soak up the views and look out over Deia. While hardly exhausting, our little wander round all the little streets, nooks and crannies of the village meant we were a little peckish as we stumbled upon Sa Vinya. Sitting down in the (rather windy) garden area, we ordered some tapas dishes to share and sat back to enjoy the Mediterranean feel and calm atmosphere.

Once we arrived back at La Residencia the helpful staff were there to give us a tour of the grounds and show us to our room. In keeping with everything else at La Residencia, the grounds can only be described as utterly luxurious: with a large swimming pool and comfy sun beds, a smaller adults only pool, a wonderful spa area, 2 tennis courts, and huge gardens all surrounded by the beautiful stone buildings it is luxury and comfort at its best.

Having glimpsed the stunning grounds we then arrived at our room - my excitement was building as we appeared out of the lift at one of the highest points of the grounds - ready to relax in our Junior suite. I was blown away - with its own private terrace and plunge pool, huge luxurious bathroom, four poster bed and lovely living area the room exceeded expectations. The first thing I did after our friendly guide had left was jump on the bed and sink into the crisp white sheets – I felt like I could have just stayed there all day! Tucking into the delicious fruit bowl we decided it would be remiss not to have a closer look around the grounds - so we forced ourselves to leave the room behind and took a scenic route before visiting the spa area and spending a few hours relaxing in the late afternoon.

On our way to the spa we were able to explore the hotel's galleries, gardens and find the friendly donkeys who live just behind a fence in a corner of the hotel's grounds. After browsing the wonderful ateliers and peaking our heads in to the famous El Olivio restaurant we walked past the wonderful smelling herb garden to say hello to the donkeys. After ‘donkeying’ around for a little while we finally made our way to the spa area. Slipping into the warm bubbling outdoor hot tub with views over to the other side of the Deia village we both had relaxed and happy smiles on our faces.

Wandering back up to our room we enjoyed the private terrace, a cup of excellent complimentary coffee and the unforgettable sunset before we got ready and headed out for dinner. Although there is the excellent El Olivo (which our Editor has reviewed previously here) and Son Moragues Café Miro restaurants on site at La Residencia, we had been told about a small Chinese restaurant in the heart of Deia serving some lovely fresh Asian dishes and just couldn’t resist giving it a go.

Sa Cova is tucked away on Carrer Felipe Bauza, a popular street for a selection of restaurants in Deia. Having been seated by the friendly waitress we ordered some Tsing beers and chose a selection of starters and main courses to share. Each dish in this restaurant is made fresh to order creating a bit of a long wait between courses but, it was worth it, as the wonderful soft steaming dumplings and piping hot spicy chicken arrived. This relaxed and casual restaurant is perfect if you are looking for something a little different in Deia. The fresh food, lovely staff and friendly chef (who made an appearance at the end of the night) were the recipe for a perfect, relaxed Sunday evening.

Waking up in the enormous four-poster bed with the sun rising over the Traumantana mountains outside we got dressed and made our way down to breakfast. The La Residencia breakfast was spectacular. An incredible buffet was piled high with fresh fruit, cereals, cheese, meats, yoghurts, fruit juice and anything else you could possibly want. Once sat back down with our plates we ordered the suggestion of the day (scrambled eggs with tomatoes) and eggs benedict. Both of these dishes were incredibly fresh and I would particularly recommend the eggs benedict, just make sure you don’t fill up on the buffet first!

Checking out of the hotel we felt totally relaxed and looked after, and a little sad to be leaving the beautiful Deia and La Residencia behind. The short 30 minute drive to the airport meant we were home in no time and already planning our next Mallorcan adventure!!