Located on a prominent corner above the fortified walls of Baluard Es Príncep, a fortified bulwark created by Prince Felipe II, in the historic center of Palma, Mallorca, just on the edge of the new part of the town Es Príncep Hotel is a new built contemporary style luxury hotel with about half of its rooms with sea-view (partial or integral) which opened early 2018. It is also a member of the Leading Hotels of the World.
Floor-to-ceiling windows make up for very bright rooms whic feature a minimalist interior design. Most of the room category accommodations have a king bed or two twin beds, a small business desk and an armchair with a small table. Bathroom is glass enclosed with a walk-in shower (Le Labo bespoke amenities). Beds are comfortable, of an upscale level, with the hotel offering only artificial foam pillows and bed cover, with the natural option of feather / down. If you are visiting during the shoulder seasons when nights can be quite cold, the hotel only has a cooling system for its AC so I was told the only option was to turn it off if it feels cold during the night. Rooms are soundproof providing an all-day serene environment.
The highlight of the hotel is undoubtedly the rooftop terrace, Almaq, which offers breathtaking panoramas at any time of day. The rooftop area is graced by a small infinity edge pool which enhances the picture perfect views of the city, port of sea. Many guests used the rooftop for its sunbathing section, soaking in the best of the sun – access to this section of the rooftop is reserved for guests.
Almaq is open until late – evenings are charged with a buzzy, lively atmosphere: the music is turned up a notch and local bon vivants and cocktail connoisseurs are known to come and join the fun. Completing Almaq’s sunny picture is the chilled music played by day and the toe-tapping tunes which can be enjoyed long after the sun’s gone down. There is a an interesting mix of local guests – some locals, some staying at other accommodation as well as hotel guests who enjoy the comfort of the hotel.
The restaurant side of Almaq serves lunch and dinner with a blend of tapas and other international dishes. Lunch on the rooftop during was definitely one of the favourite experiences of my stay at Es Princep.
Es Princep features an exciting fine dining venue, Bala Roja (‘Red Bullet’) reminiscent of the cannons that protected the city from its historic walls headed by award-winning chef Andreu Genestra who has translated his passion for local Mallorcan cooking into dishes that showcase both his passion for tradition and his innovative spirit.
Dinner at Bala Roja was a sophisticated experience for me, with many very original dishes. Cocktail aficionados revel in the well-crafted mixtures at Gremium where creative mixologists perform acts of wizardry every night behind the bar. Service was impeccable and an overall atmosphere formal experience, without being pretentious. You will love the aesthetics impact of the glass enclosed pieces of ruins brightly lit under the thick glass floor of the restaurant.
Es Príncep’s Cocô Spa Oasis, is a haven for sybarites looking to unwind after days spent exploring the beauty of Palma. The Spa features a wide range of facial and body treatments with Anne Semonin products. There is also an indoor heated swimming pool, ideal for the colder months.
The overall service standard is of a good level, some of the staff especially the Front Office going out of their way to fulfil wishes and desires of the most discerning travellers. There is room for improvement for the service level at all the outlets of the hotel, some of them challenged by the English language proficiency and some with a tendency to provide a rather impersonal service. Predominantly, guests are from the U.K. and Germany.
The airport is within a 10 minute very convenient drive to the international airport and most of the city’s attractions are within walking distance, the hotel being on the edge between the old and new parts of town.
Oliver Petcu in Palma de Mallorca
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