Destination Olivera restaurant at Castell Son Claret

Palma de Mallorca is currently enjoying a lot of attention as a gastronomic short-break destination, but you don’t have to be in Mallorca’s capital to find great cuisine. How about lunch out in a stunning rural hotel in the southwest of Mallorca?

If you want to escape the bustle of Palma de Mallorca for a while and find a peaceful place to enjoy a leisurely lunch, I can recommend the 5-star hotel Castell Son Claret, located in open countryside near the village of Es Capdellà.

Lunch & Dinner Restaurant at Castell Son Claret

Chef Pep Forteza leads the kitchen brigade at Olivera restaurant. The Boss and I have stayed quite a few times at this hotel for personal celebrations and have always eaten dinner in Olivera. The restaurant itself has simple but elegant décor, the service is attentive and friendly and, in fine weather, you can eat on the gorgeous terrace with its views of the pool and Serra de Tramuntana mountains. Oh, and the food’s delicious and makes good use of some of the large estate’s fresh produce.

One of my favourite things about this hotel is the in-house bakery, which produces the wide variety of breads and rolls offered in the hotel. I have a huge weakness for good bread – and breakfast after an overnight stay in the hotel is a real treat!

A look at some of the new Olivera dishes

The cuisine is mainly Mediterranean with some international influences and several of the dishes are presented on tableware created especially for the hotel. Eat from the lunchtime à la carte menu or opt for the chef’s three-course lunch menu for 35 euros (available Monday to Friday). (Price correct at time of publication).

Castell Son Claret has an excellent wine cellar, with around 600 references, curated by sommelier Sebastián Longo – who won an award earlier this year. During my recent visit I tried some new Mallorcan wines that were not yet on the general market, from Selva Vins. If you’re driving or don’t want to drink alcohol, do try one of the hotel’s exclusive alcohol-free cocktails. You can feel pretty smug drinking these: not only are they good for you, they also taste fresh and delicious – and make an impressive addition to any Instagram account!

Olivera’s maitre d’ Roberto Gottelli at the new outdoor Olivera bar with two of the new wines from Selva Vins

One to try from Selva Vins – not yet on the general market

Looks good. Tastes good. A rosado from new winery Selva Vins

A small selection of the breads produced fresh each morning in the hotel’s own bakery

Fresh fish cooked in the Josper oven

A trio of Moroccan dips

Beetroot risotto topped with scallops

Wagyu beef tacos

Veal pepito in a Mallorcan llonguet with fries and spicy sauce

Vegetable paella

Falafel with an aromatic salad

Gorgeous to look at, delicious to drink – and alcohol free too

Another alcohol-free cocktail from the hotel’s mixologists

©Jan Edwards 2018