Imagine this: the early morning sun is peaking through your window, you can feel the warmth on your face and that feeling of holiday excitement instantly kicks in. I overslept for the sunset, and think my room is facing the wrong way anyway but the room is now filled with the soft morning glow of the Mediterranean sun.
I hop on to make a coffee in sit in the terrace enjoying the serenity surrounding me – lavender-filled gardens (yes even in early spring the lavender in Mallorca is bloom) and olives grove dancing in the morning breeze before me. A gentle buzz in the atmosphere comes from the bees, who pollinate every wildflower when they can see. And that is how a day at Carrossa Hotel & Spa would start and end for me.
The hotel
Its hilltop location and secluded part of the island make the stay feel like a sanctuary of some sort. The resort is 350 acres of land, most of it filled with wildflower fields and footpaths, and its hilltop locations really do bring many grid-perfect opportunities.
The main part of the hotel, where the reception, restaurants and bars are located is built in a stone-house architecture, recognised for its Mediterranean traditional home feel.
In contrast, the architecture that prevails in the areas of the suites is mostly minimalist-style buildings. The suites are large and brightly lit with access to the terraced area and a living room styles section in the suite. The terrace opens up to a large garden, so it’s not fully private, but it’s secluded enough to enjoy some peace and quiet after a long day of exploring. To top that up, there is also a very abundant pillow to ensre all comfort needs are met. I opted for the Feather Down Pillow, also known as “The Dream”.
Food
Back to the main buildings, you will find the symbol of the hotel perched in the courtyard – a 400-year-old olive tree. This is also the area for all your dining needs. Starting with breakfast which is served at the main restaurant (at the time of vising in early spring, this was the only restaurant opened due to it being off season). The restaurant offers pretty spectacular views of the fields before the backdrop of small Mallorcan villages dotted around in background, and finally, of course, the sea.
The breakfast is abundant of both traditional Spanish meats, cheeses and various omelette, as well as continental and brunch-style food with lots of avocado present on each plate. However, the star of the show really is the Enseimada. This is a traditional Mallorcan soft puff pastry layered with custard and rolled into a cinnamon bun shaped, except there is no cinnamon (thank god) and lots of icing sugar on top.
The real star, however, is the chef behind the carefully curated menu across the whole resort. The renowned Catalan culinarian Angel Zapata Martin, with various Michelin-starred venues under his belt, was recently appointed as executive chef in the resort and has crafted the menu for the season. The menu curated by Chef Martin is simple and stripped back. However, it also changes daily. The cuisine is a blend of traditional Spanish cuisine with a French influence, with items such as dry-aged beef filet and knuckle of veal being a permanent fixture on the menu.
What to do
The days at Carrossa are mostly spend at leisure rotating between a morning yoga session, reclining by the infinity pool and popping in and out of the spa.
The dress code for the day is mostly spa gown and swimwear. In the day, the property is particularly quiet as it’s predominantly popular with golfers due to its close proximity to five golf courses. Four of which are within 15 min drive (Capdepera, Son Servera, Pula and Son Servera), and a fifth one – Alcanada – slightly further away in just under an hour's drive from the hotel.
Once you are done indulging in relaxing activities, get down to the traditional market town Artá. The town is very small and what people would only describe as charming. Its mostly pedestrianised town centre becomes a bustling market hub. Makers of traditional crafts, and some more mainstream ones, gather on Tuesdays to sell their good. You can everything from souvenirs, sparkly holiday jewellery to locally made salami, Manchego and some of the biggest pastries I’ve seen. We are talking head-sized custard tarts.
The town’s other and arguably bigger attraction is the Santuari de Sant Salvador fort, sat at the top of the town. Small, windy, hilly streets and a few 180 steps lead you to the top of the fort, where views of the town open up in front of you. Perfect chance for that post-card style holiday pic.
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