Petit Hotel Son Arnau is one of a growing number of stylish boutique hotels in rural Mallorca. On the edge of the village of Selva (just a couple of kilometres from Inca), it opened at the beginning of 2014 and is run by Alex and Susan Terry. You can read their story in my article for abcMallorca here: http://issuu.com/abc-llorca.com/docs/76th_abcmallorca_summer_edition/79?e=0

Dinner at Petit Hotel Son Arnau

One of several new paintings in the hotel dining room since our previous visit.

Although the hotel dining room is not open to the public, we were lucky enough to be able to join friends there for dinner last week. Alex – whose background is in banking – has come into his own in the kitchen, and the multilingual Susan – who previously worked in the hospitality industry – is a really delightful hostess in the dining room. We’d already recognised that last year when we stayed at the hotel (see my post on this blog of August 14th), but this hardworking and welcoming couple has since gained in experience and confidence and it’s clear that they are loving it. And so are their guests, it seems.

Dinner menu

Dinner for guests this year costs 26 euros for three courses (with choices), including bread, olives and alioli made from milk rather than eggs. We’d also had the latter at Sol y Vida restaurant in Cala Murada. The menu changes daily and is based on fresh market produce. On the night we visited this was on offer:

Mediterranean chicken and pasta salad

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Chili king prawn cocktail

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Bruschetta of mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil and balsamic glaze on rustic bread

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4-hour slow-cooked leg of lamb

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Tuna tataki with a toasted sesame seed dressing on a bed of cucumber and radish salad

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Warm cauliflower salad

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Spanish orange cake with fresh fruits

 Optional selection of cheeses with tomato chutney – supplement of 5 euros.

A delicious starter: chili king prawns

Meltingly tender lamb and lentils.

Susan’s gluten-free orange cake (made with almond flour). Divine.

Special mention should be given to the Spanish orange cake, which was moist and full of flavour – and made by Susan. It looked so good I dived straight in, forgetting that I hadn’t taken a photograph. When Susan removed the empty slate, I mentioned this – only to be presented with a second portion a few moments later! I should like to place on record that this additional portion was shared after its moment in front of the camera!

Wines on their small but interesting list are Mallorcan and Spanish. We had a 2007 Cabernet i Callet (local grape variety) from Jaume Bennassar (a part-time winemaker who owns the restaurant in Orient famous for suckling pig). It was excellent and cost 23 euros.

Kitchen open four nights a week

Alex and Susan offer dinner for their guests on four nights a week; for those staying on the other nights, my own suggestions (in no particular order) for eating out in the vicinity are:

• Miceli, Selva
• Joan Marc, Inca
• Celler Can Amer, Inca
• Ca Na Toneta, Caimari (the next village, towards the mountains)
• Santi Taura, Lloseta (but you’d need to book way ahead)
• Sa Fábrica, Inca

I know that Alex and Susan will have additional recommendations to share with their guests.

If you’re staying at Petit Hotel Son Arnau, be sure to eat dinner in the hotel on at least one night. And in the warmer weather, it’ll be served on their village-view terrace.

©Jan Edwards 2015