La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel, Mallorca

We recommend this address to couples seeking silent luxury, far from the crowded beaches in the south of the island. It is a hotel for discreet honeymoons, lovers of painting and local history, or travellers who prefer the mountains to the sea at their doorstep. Families find their place thanks to the family rooms, yet the overall atmosphere stays hushed, more adult than playful.

La Residencia unites two Mallorcan fincas from the 16th and 17th centuries, Son Canals and Son Moragues, restructured into a hotel without erasing their rural silhouette. Dry-stone walls, exposed beams, terracotta floors and colourful shutters form a sober Mediterranean setting, far from the classic palace. The terraced gardens, planted with olive trees and citrus, occupy a large part of the property and shape the view from the rooms.

The hotel restaurant draws on regional produce, including olives and garden vegetables, in a deliberately rustic setting. Room service allows dinner in the room or on the terrace facing the mountain. We stay within a simple Mediterranean register rather than demonstrative gastronomy, which matches the spirit of the place.

La Residencia stands above Deià, a stone village known for having drawn painters and writers since the early 20th century. The north-west coast of Mallorca, between the Serra de Tramuntana and the Mediterranean, remains one of the most unspoilt on the island. Palma and its airport lie about 45 minutes away by road, Sóller roughly twenty minutes. The area has none of the lively seafront feel: narrow lanes, artists' studios, near-rural quiet after 8 pm.