Review: Hotel Corazón

Why book?

It’s one of the most talked-about hotels of the year and a visionary artistic retreat for a new generation of travelers wanting to connect with the island’s wild, untamed side. It’s a place for those who wish to be immersed in art, alchemy, exploration and nature, embracing the freedom of Mallorca’s rugged, romantic north in a next-level hotel that feels like a home.

Set the scene

A 40-minute drive from Palma airport, Hotel Corazón lies halfway between Deià and Sóller among the Tramuntana mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. You approach the property along a sweeping, dramatic drive that evokes the winding mountain roads of Topanga Canyon. Arriving at Hotel Corazón, you are greeted by an artfully restored 16th-century finca perched on the roadside, spilling into the lush gardens overflowing with palm and jacaranda trees. Entering the riad-style courtyard, white organically-sculpted stairways lead to a somewhat otherworldly reception, as if you’ve wandered onto the retro-futurist movie set of Jodorowsky’s The Holy Mountain.

The backstory

Hotel Corazón is owned and run by first-time hoteliers – British fashion photographer Kate Bellm and her partner Edgar Lopez. Having fallen in love with the site, they initially set out to create an artist residency offering space to artists within their network and beyond. Creating a space to give back to the community while inviting a few like-minded friends and strangers into the fold eventually evolved. True to the original intention, artist residencies still run alongside guest stays. The first residency was undertaken by Berlin-based sculptor Yasmin Bawa, who spent the spring sculpting a reception desk to resemble Bellm's favourite rock on the island. The hotel’s beating heart and historic core is the farmland it sits upon, hosting Lopez's lovingly nurtured cactus garden and 50 garden beds filled with vegetables, fruits, and herbs, all harvested for use in the restaurant kitchen.

The rooms

The 15 linen-draped rooms are individually designed with a strong sense of character in hazy shades of pink, sage and ochre. The interiors are heavily influenced by the organic architecture movement of the 1970s, featuring free-flowing shapes that mirror the beauty and complexity of nature and create a smooth, fluid space where the boundaries between inside and outside are blurred. All rooms have either mountain, garden, or courtyard views and balance seclusion and privacy with a feeling of being part of a larger whole. Palm fronds peek through windows; showers are carved into egg-shaped domes, and shaggy carpets and sheepskins are draped onto local materials of terracotta, alabaster, ceramic, clay and natural stone.

Food and drink

The hotel’s restaurant and bar sit on a sun-drenched terrace with dramatic mountain views. The cosy corner sofa is piled with cushions and views over the hilly vista are breathtakingly impressive. The menu is local, seasonal, medicinal and delicious, harvested from the farmland on the property, and any food not grown on-site comes exclusively from local growers and suppliers. Head chef Grace Berrow conjures up simple, Mediterranean-inspired dishes, such as panzanella salad and burrata with salsa verde, burst with flavor and are generously seasoned with garden herbs and pickled seeds. The bar and restaurant have become a fashion-forward hangout, with sun-kissed families, lovers and friends gathering to eat at sunset, drink or enjoy live music. The palm-fringed bar invites you to pull up a stool and converse, serving a well-curated range of wines, beers, spirits, zippy cocktails, and a refreshingly broad offering of alcohol-free elixirs and herbal potions. In cooler seasons, meals are served in a conservatory under cosy blankets, with a wood-burning stove. Keep your eyes peeled for resident hotel cat Ginger.

Wellness

The elegant deep blue pool (for hotel guests only) is a dreamlike haven overlooking the ocean and mountains, ideal for lounging and sunset views. Bountiful palm-leaf parasols cast shade onto daybeds. Yoga, sound healing, massage, and reiki are available on request, as are guided hikes and boat reservations.

The neighbourhood/area

Hotel Corazón’s location leaves you spoilt for choice when it comes to adventures in nature. With its soaring coastal views and a sprinkling of honey-coloured houses that perch on the rocks, Deià is arguably the prettiest village in Mallorca. In the other direction lies Sóller, a lively hamlet set in a deep valley on the coast. Kate and Edgar are on hand to share their local wisdom via a Whatsapp concierge service, so take them up on their offer to open up their black book of island wonders and ask for the best swimming spots, waterfalls, caves and directions for the best coastal road trips.

The service

Dressed in relaxed cotton uniforms in various shades of terracotta, everyone working here has an envy-inducing healthy glow, making you feel at home from the moment you arrive. An open house and community feel are the ethos at the core of Hotel Corazón, and the staff play a large part in bringing this spirit to life. They are a fountain of wisdom when it comes to the island’s beauty spots and historical sites; ask them anything.

For families

The Holy Ficus and La Cueva rooms, with separate living areas and built-in sofas, are well suited to families. The terrace is regularly filled with children of the owners’ friends and collaborators, and the restaurant menu includes child-friendly options.

Eco effort

Impressive. The owners have intentionally returned the land to its original purpose – a fertile, abundant farm. The farmland is cultivated without pesticides, using traditional regenerative farming techniques, including cover cropping, composting, biochar, crop rotation and partner planting. With art and community serving as a central thread of Hotel Corazón’s ethos and vision, everything from the textiles and furniture to the artwork is custom-made by local artisans using the island’s local materials.

Accessibility

The hotel is currently not wheelchair accessible.

Anything left to mention?

Merch to die for. The hotel shop stocks a range of goods made by local artists, such as ceramic ashtrays, cowboy boots, straw bags, crystals, healing herbal tea from the garden, t-shirts, bottle openers, and matchbooks, among many other treasures. From start to finish, Hotel Corazón is a labour of love.