Royal Hideaway Corales Beach hotel review: the luxury side of Tenerife

Tenerife might not be the obvious choice for a luxury getaway, but Barceló Hotel Group’s chic new outpost makes this sun-baked island the perfect high-end short-haul escape.

The newly opened Royal Hideaway Corales Beach is located on the southern tip of Tenerife in the lesser known town of Costa Adeje. Just 12 miles from Tenerife South airport, the hotel sits on the doorstep of the sleepy fishing town of La Caleta and overlooks the black volcanic sands of Playa de Enrama.

Divided into distinct areas, there are two Barceló properties to choose from: Corales Beach is an adults-only hotel, with a rooftop infinity pool, four child-free restaurants and ocean views from every room, while Corales Suites (the property’s sister hotel), caters for the whole family.

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Designed by renowned Spanish architect Leonardo Omar, in partnership with UK-based MKV London, the hotel has a sleek aesthetic inspired by the clean lines of the nearby marine coral. The five-star hotel was dreamt up with some serious pampering in mind. Corales Beach is home to a 1000sq m spa and wellness centre, with seven private luxury treatment suites, sauna, Turkish bath and a fitness studio. The complex also includes a hydrotherapy circuit with hydromassage, swan neck jets and waterfalls. “Personal Wellness Assistants” (think upgraded, less shouty personal trainers), are on hand throughout your stay to give personalised advice on everything from which treatments you should choose to how to structure your high-intensity workouts.

The 121 junior suites are impressive. The sharp design teamed with a glorious swathe of space contributes to a feeling of peaceful serenity from the moment you step into your room. Open-plan bathrooms feature free-standing bathtubs (with expansive views of the Atlantic), as well as rainforest-style showers and premium White Company toiletries. Giant beds, pillow menus, high thread count linens and blissful blackout curtains contribute to a slumber like no other, with 24-hour room service on hand should you need it.

There are nine restaurants on-site but the jewel in the crown is Maresía, run by the Padron Brothers, the only chefs to specialise in Canarian cuisine with a Michelin star. Food is taken seriously here, with a laboratory-style kitchen constantly devising inventive new tasting menus with impeccably matched wines. During The Week Portfolio’s visit, we particularly enjoyed the smoked eel with raspberries and teriyaki mayonnaise, wreckfish with gazpachuelo soup and delicate shavings of parmesan and black truffle atop boats of roasted onion. Each spectacularly done. Maresía also stretches up to the rooftop bar where you can enjoy signature cocktails by the infinity pool at sundown – the perfect Instagram shot.

The other à la carte option is San Hõ, an imaginative fusion of Peruvian and Japanese flavours and cooking methods. The tasting menu we enjoyed included sashimi-grade seafood, fragrant Asian broths and delicate crispy wontons, which we washed down with some top-notch pisco sours.

The next morning, a trip to the Nao buffet-style restaurant for breakfast offered a wide array of made-to-order cooked items (from Eggs Benedict to a full English), alongside platters of fresh fruits, breads, and a cheerful bartender who will made up my morning smoothie. A perfect start to the day after an evening featuring a few too many pisco sours.

If you aren’t feeling sociable and would prefer to dine in privacy, you can take advantage of the hotel’s new “in-room dining experience”, available in suites with kitchens. After an initial food profiling, a chef will put together a bespoke menu for you to approve before bringing the ingredients to you. Accompanied by an affable bartender, the chef will then cook with you or for you, depending on how much you want to be involved. Or you can sit back and drink cocktails while you enjoy the A-list treatment.

With all that pampering, you may not be tempted to leave your upmarket bolthole but Royal Hideaway also offers a range of luxury experiences around the island including helicopter, Ferrari and boat tours, private visits to local attractions including the Cueva del Viento and local wineries, deep sea-fishing and paragliding through Teide National Park. The lack of light pollution makes this Unesco World Heritage Site a prime star-gazing spot, and the hotel’s luxury yacht comes with an astronomer (naturally), who will point out the main constellations after an onboard dining experience.

Tenerife also lays claim to a stash of museums (from exhibitions of perfectly preserved mummies to quirky dolls), snow-topped Pico del Teide (Spain’s highest mountain peak) and natural caves filled with fossils and lava stalactites. The surrounding Atlantic Ocean is home to a wealth of marine species including Gorgonians, black coral, dolphins, whales and turtles, all providing a stunning underwater show for scuba divers. Add in this swish new hotel, 300 days of sun a year, direct UK flights and it’s easy to see why this uncomplicated island is having a resurgence.

Classic Collection Holidays (0800 047 1964; classic-collection.co.uk) offers 5 nights at Royal Hideaway Corales Resort, Tenerife from £1,249 per person. Price based on two adults sharing an ocean facing junior suite on a bed & breakfast basis and includes return flights from London Gatwick (up to 24 UK departure airports available) and private transfers. Half board upgrade from £51 per person per night.