Nestled in 568 acres of Mediterranean beauty, Es Racó d’Artà is a serene blend of rustic luxury and eco-conscious design, perfect for those needing a true getaway.
Camí des Racó. Ctra. de Cala Mitjana Km1.5, Balearic Islands, Spain Get directions
"EXTERIORS: I decided to shoot these scenes in black and white in order to better contrast the flat reflective surface of the hotel’s infinity pool with the rugged, windswept landscape of northeastern Mallorca. The shots were taken on a late August afternoon and the light was not exactly how I wanted it — a bit too harsh to create the feeling I was aiming to achieve. Shifting to black and white helped solve this issue and simplified the photo. I composed both shots to be slightly off center and purposely included several distinct textures (water, rock, concrete, vegetation) to provide context to the scene as well as display Es Racó d’Artà’s strong connection with its natural surroundings. In the first photo, distinct lines created by the pool’s edge lead the viewer’s eye toward the horizon, evoking a feeling of calmness. In the second, the sleek and modern pool occupies the bottom third of the image, creating a contrast with the olive tree grove, forest, and hilltop church in the distance. INTERIORS: Inside Es Racó d’Artà, minimalist design meets artistic furnishings. In these photos I took advantage of the warm tones that emanate from the native wood throughout the hotel’s central structure. The first photo, taken in one of the main common areas, showcases a piece of local art trailing alongside a stone staircase. I composed this shot at an angle, and loved the way the art aided in leading the viewer’s gaze upward, beckoning one to wonder what lies above. The second photo shows a calming scene in the hotel’s lounge area. The afternoon light created a nice contrast in tone throughout this space. The open book draws the viewer in, leading you to imagine yourself picking it up to read and relax on the couch. The wooden beams of the ceiling illustrate the materials that compose the building, and the glimpse of a rolling olive green landscape through the window is a reminder of the property’s location amidst nature." - Mark Fedeli
"Architect/designer Antoni Esteva and his long-time associate and builder Jaume Danús are behind some of Mallorca’s most fascinating hotel projects, but this is their best yet. The traditional possessió, or estate, sprawls across acres of glorious countryside in the island’s pristine north-east corner, with elements of monastic refuge, farm stay and nature reserve. The main building, a mansion whose foundations date from the 13th century, has a fortress-like air. Rustic minimalism is Esteva’s stock in trade. This strikes first in the whitewashed interior, the predominant use of natural fibres and the total absence of clutter. Locally crafted objects are artfully positioned (a hat on a hook, a basket in a corner) but the soundtrack is silence. All-round wellness is the point of a stay here. The spa focuses on meditation and water therapies, plus there’s yoga. The wooden slab that serves as a reception desk has no computer and the mobile-phone signal is deliberately reduced. Esteva knows that paying lip service to green values simply won’t do any more, so the property uses solar and geothermal energy and has an ecological water-treatment system. Fruit, vegetables, honey and olive oil come from the organic garden, wine from its vineyard. Natural infusions and kombucha are offered instead of commercial fizzy drinks. If all this sounds too austere to be truly comfortable, know that the effect of a few days here is one of deep, transformative relaxation. Es Racó is somewhere from which you’ll emerge a changed person. —Paul Richardson" - Roxy Kavousi-Walker, Stephanie Rafanelli
"Many an old farmhouse in the Balearic islands has been transformed into a luxe and exceedingly private escape. Even in this context, though, Es Racó d’Artà is something special: in the size of the estate, which comprises not just a farmhouse but nearly two dozen outlying casas and casitas, as well as in the sheer excellence of its design, by the well-known local architect Toni Esteva." - Guide MICHELIN
"Architect and designer Antoni Esteva and his long-time builder and associate Jaume Dalmau are behind some of Mallorca’s most fascinating hotel projects, but this is their best yet. The traditional possessió, or estate, sprawls over 568 acres of glorious countryside in the island’s pristine, out-of-the-way northeast corner, with elements of monastic refuge, farm stay, nature reserve, and exclusive rural hideaway. The property’s core building, a fine Mallorcan mansion whose foundations date from the 13th century, has a fortress-like air. “Rustic minimalism” is Esteva’s stock-in-trade. This strikes first in the whitewashed interior, the predominant use of wood and natural fibers, and the total absence of clutter. Fine contemporary art hangs on the walls and locally-made craft objects are artfully positioned (a hat on a hook, a basket in a corner)—but the rest is silence. All-around wellness is the root of a stay. There is no computer screen on the plain wooden slab that serves as a reception desk, and, perhaps controversially, the mobile phone signal is deliberately blocked in all public spaces. Esteva knows that lip-service to green values simply won’t do anymore—the commitment to sustainability is across the board, and almost everything is biodegradable, locally-sourced, and organic, while the estate has its own biomass plant, solar and geothermal energy, and ecological water-treatment system. Fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, and wine comes from its vineyard. Commercial fizzy drinks are banned from the property; natural infusions and kombuchas are offered instead. If all this might sound too worthy and austere to be truly comfortable, the effect of a few days here is one of deep, transformative relaxation. Es Racó is somewhere, hopes its creator, from which you’ll emerge a changed person. From $630 per night. —Paul Richardson" - CNT Editors
"Architect and designer Antoni Esteva and his long-time builder and associate Jaume Dalmau are behind some of Mallorca’s most fascinating hotel projects, but this is their best yet. The traditional possessió, or estate, sprawls over 568 acres of glorious countryside in the island’s pristine, out-of-the-way northeast corner, with elements of monastic refuge, farm stay, nature reserve, and exclusive rural hideaway. The property’s core building, a fine Mallorcan mansion whose foundations date from the 13th century, has a fortress-like air. “Rustic minimalism” is Esteva’s stock-in-trade. This strikes first in the whitewashed interior, the predominant use of wood and natural fibers, and the total absence of clutter. Fine contemporary art hangs on the walls and locally-made craft objects are artfully positioned (a hat on a hook, a basket in a corner)—but the rest is silence. All-around wellness is the root of a stay. There is no computer screen on the plain wooden slab that serves as a reception desk, and, perhaps controversially, the mobile phone signal is deliberately blocked in all public spaces. Esteva knows that lip-service to green values simply won’t do anymore—the commitment to sustainability is across the board, and almost everything is biodegradable, locally-sourced, and organic, while the estate has its own biomass plant, solar and geothermal energy, and ecological water-treatment system. Fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, and wine comes from its vineyard. Commercial fizzy drinks are banned from the property; natural infusions and kombuchas are offered instead. If all this might sound too worthy and austere to be truly comfortable, the effect of a few days here is one of deep, transformative relaxation. Es Racó is somewhere, hopes its creator, from which you’ll emerge a changed person. From $630 per night. —Paul Richardson" - CNT Editors
