25-04-2025
The Lodge Mallorca Brings New Relaxed Luxury To A Busy Spanish Island
The main farmhouse and pool deck at the Lodge Mallorca
Mallorca may be known for its nightlife, its glorious beaches and lately, unfortunately, some of its tourism growing pains. But forget all that. The owners of the Lodge Mallorca are out to show that the rural heart of the island is still beating—and still welcoming visitors with its warm hospitality and homestyle gastronomy.
Despite the somewhat generic, un-SEO-friendly name, the Lodge is one of a kind. It's part of an ultra-boutique collection of Spanish hideaways that's set on being exactly that: Único Hotels. Even that brand name is still likely at odds with the algorithms, but that's perhaps the point. These are hotels that aren't chasing anything. They exist for people in the know, who learn about them from personal friends or trusted travel advisers, who want something more thoughtful than whatever the bots serve them.
Único Hotels is the creation of Barcelona-based hotelier Pau Guardans (the founder and former CEO of AC Hotels), who still runs the eight hotels in the collection as a family business. While he prefers to stay out of the limelight, he remains closely involved with the hotel operations. His wife has creative input into the style of the rooms.
The Lodge's main building and pool
It's clear that they're more focused on delighting their customers than pleasing any investors. The leading Spanish newspaper, El País, has written that his essence is 'elegance shaped by charm, environmental sensitivity and hospitable luxury.'
The Lodge Mallorca is the embodiment of those values. It opened in 2023 in the Serra Tramuntana natural reserve, with the biggest lavender field in the Balearic Islands in front (they trick it out for picnics and aperitivos in the purple spring) and hills laced with hiking trails in the back. From the top, you can see the Mediterranean, the beaches of Playa de Muro and Formentor, and villages like Alcudia and Pollensa. In between are nearly 400 acres of almond, carob and olive trees, many of them centuries-old.
The estate is also home to 24 rooms and suites. A handful of them are in the original stone farmhouse, which dates from the 19th century and still has a massive old olive press that dominates the reception area. The rest are independent or nearly so, scattered around the property with ample privacy and a close connection to their natural surroundings.
The old olive press in the hotel reception
Their look and feeling are soothing and sublime, thanks to the deft hand of noted Spanish interior designer Pilar García-Nieto. Things are soft and gauzy, or nubby and gnarled. There's no flash or drama, just an invitation to touch, to breathe, to settle in. Some rooms have private pools or gardens; all have beguiling views over the countryside.
This being the Mediterranean, gastronomy is part of the draw. The Singular restaurant (again with the confident naming!) aims to keep things simple and elemental. The chefs cook as much as possible over fires made from various woods that are gathered around the property. The menu is extensive, ranging from classic Spanish and island snacks like suckling pig fritters, gilda mallorquina (skewers of sobrasada cured sausage, whole chili peppers, anchovies, olives and figs) and fluffy tortilla bites (here topped with black truffles) to more substantial plates like lamb ribs with fried garlic and Padrón peppers, and line-caught squid in its ink with pine nuts and Tap de Corti paprika.
Much of the food comes from the hotel's gardens, with the rest from local fishers and farmers. The private-label olive oil and wine come from the Lodge's sister hotel smack-dab in the center of the island, the lovely stone farmhouse Finca Serena, whose name is as apt as it gets.
The bedroom of a pool garden suite
Some products, both in the restaurant (especially the bar) and in the spa, are based on lavender from those fields on the Lodge's property and honey that's collected from the hives that are tucked away behind one of the hiking trails. These are also neatly packaged for guests to take home, along with the olive oil and wine from Finca Serena—a nice reminder that here, at least, they're as welcome as can be.
PS: Although there's a direct flight from New York to Palma, Mallorca, a Madrid stopover is always a good idea. Hotel Único Madrid is a stunner, fresh from a renovation of its 44 rooms by Spain's designer of the moment, María Santos, and it's still the only five-star place to stay in the elegant Barrio Salamanca. Its brand-new casual bistro, El Patio de Claudio, is an especially big—and welcome—change from its previous life as a Michelin two-star. (The name is a reference to the hotel's prestigious address on Calle de Claudio Coello.) Instead of all the pomp and circumstance, chef Mario Valles is now turning out a French-Mediterranean menu that's elegant and luxurious (morels, foie gras) without being fussy.
