A SMALL red berry drops off the branches shading me from the fierce afternoon sun.
If it hadn’t plopped directly into my glass of vermouth, I wouldn’t have noticed — as the band performing on the cobblestones before me had me fully engrossed.
This had become my typical afternoon routine at the peaceful
Zoëtry Mallorca hotel, deep in rugged countryside on the Spanish island of Majorca.
When guests aren’t flopped by one of the two peaceful pools (which remain uncrowded even in the school holidays) or reading their getaway novel in a quiet corner by the old windmill, they can get stuck into loads of free activities including tennis, yoga or live music.
My friend Abbie and I chose to curl up on a cushioned sofa in the sun, sipping on the hotel’s own brand of delicious vermouth.
It would be rude not to, as this fortified wine is made by the resort’s star chef, Andreu Genestra, and can’t be bought anywhere else in the world.
This is part of the sustainable ethos at Zoëtry Mallorca, where much of the food is grown in the surrounding gardens, including on ancient trees — rich with juicy fruit and berries — dotted in between the old buildings.
One of its restaurants, also run by Genestra, was awarded a green star in recognition of its eco-friendly dishes — that is on top of its Michelin star.
Our 12-course tasting menu of elegant Majorcan-style dishes there was nothing shy of delicious.
My favourites included the best potato omelette I’ve ever tried and lentil risotto with ceviche shrimp.
If that all sounds too rich or fancy, don’t panic.
There are three other restaurants serving more casual dishes, from tacos and sushi to salads and fried fish.
This was my first visit to Majorca, and all I really knew of it was what I caught on snippets of ITV’s Love Island.
The panning landscape shots of rugged mountains and lush trees where one solo villa seems to stand isolated from the rest of civilisation looked quite appealing.
And, in all fairness, the lush Zoëtry Mallorca hotel wasn’t all that different, sat in a quiet corner, a 20-minute drive from the busy capital Palma.
But, to my relief, the place was not littered with bikini-clad singletons looking to “couple-up”.
If you are keen for a more lively atmosphere then you can certainly get that in Palma, but this resort is all about laid-back getaways with a touch of wellness.
After all, it was only 20 years ago that this secluded 14th century manor house belonged to a wealthy family, and the place has certainly kept an air of sophistication about it.
In fact, many of the original items found when renovating the home are still dotted around, including in the bedrooms, each of which is unique in shape and size and has its own story to tell.
The tiny cove is picture-perfect with the bluest waters, flanked by chalky hills and dotted with little sailing boats.
Our bedroom had a plush super-king bed and patio doors leading on to a leafy garden area with a cushioned sofa — the perfect spot for sipping a morning coffee in our robes and watching the birds peck at fallen berries.
Abbie and I had decided to stick to the wellness theme and instead of hiring a car, like many guests had, we explored the area on electric bikes, which can be rented on-site.
Zoëtry Mallorca is located right at the edge of one of Majorca’s popular cycle routes and the advantage of being in such a remote location meant we rarely needed to cycle with the road traffic.
Helmets strapped on, we pedalled along empty dirt tracks, past rolling vineyards and through a tortoise conservation area.
Luckily we spotted the small shells crossing the path ahead of us before whacking our e-bikes up to full speed.
After 30 or so minutes we reached the clifftop above the beach of Cala Pi, on the western side of the island.
Glancing down, I was sure we must have stumbled upon one of Majorca’s best-kept secrets.
The tiny cove is picture-perfect with the bluest waters, flanked by chalky hills and dotted with little sailing boats.
Ice cream stalls and restaurants selling beer and light bites sit above the beach, at the top of the cliff, although I’d recommend packing a picnic, which is what many of the locals around us had done.
We were grateful for choosing e-bikes over traditional ones on the return leg. Not for achey legs, but for speed.
If we pedalled fast enough, we would have time for one more vermouth before check-out.
Race you there, Abbie.
GETTING THERE: EasyJet flies to Majorca from Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and other UK airports from £14.99 each way. See easyjet.com.
STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ B&B at the Zoëtry Mallorca is from around £605pp, based on two sharing. See hyatt.com.
