Zafiro Palace Andratx review: a new luxury marvel in Mallorca

Surrounded by the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, thick pine forest, and looking straight out to the haze of the Mediterranean, the Zafiro Palace Andratx is the newest property from the Zafiro Hotels group on Mallorca and Menorca.

Owned by the Plomer family, this contemporary hotel in Mallorca with its wooden decking, glass balconies and warm, sand-coloured exterior is secluded enough to offer complete privacy and peace, but close enough to the harbour for guests looking to leave the gates and explore every day.

Why stay here?

With year-round sunshine, and flights from London to Palma taking just over two hours, Mallorca is an obvious destination for families, but the hotel’s luxury all-inclusive option makes it an ideal choice if you’re travelling with young children. All 304 suites have private pools completely free from prying eyes. Our Owner Suite, a whopping 194sqm space, featured two en-suite bedrooms with a large living and dining area. The children’s room was already fitted with bed rails, stacked with colouring books and pencils, and Yzzy the koala bear waiting on the pillows. Bathrooms stocked full-size bottles of products, along with separate bath and beach towels – negating the need to faff with collecting and returning towels by the pool.

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The suite’s two minibars are restocked every morning with one containing non-alcoholic drinks: four varieties of juice, water and Coca-Cola, and an alcoholic one with three types of lager and five different tonics. Once the kids are in bed, guests can make use of the living room’s giant TV that rotates 360 degrees, and crack open any of the full-size bottles of Japanese Suntory whisky, artisan Mallorcan gin or gran reserva rum. Sunsets in this part of the world leave crimson rumples in the clouds, setting the skies alight, which are best experienced on the wraparound terrace – either in the hydromassage bath or plunge pool.

During the day, those who want to relax in peace can have 90-minute massages at the spa, or head to the adults-only area, while families can choose from one of six other swimming pools including a specially heated one where the poolside van serves Mr Whippy-style ice cream and cocktails. Children aged five and older can be dropped off at Mini Club, while younger children are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian to paint, dance, watch Disney films or use the playground. Currently there is no evening babysitting service, but the hotel management is looking into options.

Eating and drinking

Buffets can be hit and miss, but the Market restaurant at Zafiro Palace Andratx hits all the right notes: there’s the safe option of nuggets, burgers, goujons and chips for children along with a chef cooking fresh pasta, paella and pizzas. However, the main grill is always hissing with giant red prawns, slivers of beef and slabs of meaty swordfish cooked to order. With joints of tenderloin, crisp aromatic duck, and baby lamb with gravy and dauphinoise, parents can run a trial and error system to satisfy young palates without compromising on their own preferences. There are numerous vegan and vegetarian options, with around 20 different types of salt, ten different olive oils and every fruit from strips of mango and dragonfruit to slabs of pineapple and melon.

La Veranda Italian restaurant overlooks the pool and is less frequented by children, making it a preferable option for couples wanting a quiet meal of seafood risotto, fried calamari and rosé cava – which is topped up before you can blink. Other choices that require reservations include El Olivo for tapas and seafood, Tastes & Sushi for Peruvian and Japanese, and Caliu Steakhouse for grilled sirloin with pungent chimichurri – not to mention some of the best garlic prawns in hot, salty butter.

What to do?

Golfers can take a two-minute walk next door to the Golf de Andratx championship course, apparently a favourite of Michael Douglas and Claudia Schiffer. Home to the longest hole in Spain – the 609m “Green Monster” par-five hole six – it’s a beautiful course shaded by forest, with views across a shimmering ocean. Non-sporty sunseekers can continue on for another couple of minutes down the hill to the resort village of Camp de Mar. Here you can find a strip of supermarkets and pizza parlours by a quiet curved beach surrounded by pine trees, and water clear and shallow enough for toddlers to safely splash in.

For chic-boutique browsing take a ten-minute taxi ride to Port d’Andratx, a working fishing village with seafood restaurants and cocktail bars. On Wednesdays wander through the market and breathe in the smell of leather handbags, roasted almonds and fresh lemons, before stopping off at No.11 for a sharp mint julep and crisp Andalusian squid with lemon mayo.

How to book

A junior suite with bed and breakfast at Zafiro Palace Andratx starts from £333 per night, with the premium all-inclusive rate starting from £527 per night; zafirohotels.com