Amazingly, This 5-Star Mallorca Resort Gets It Right for Both Adults and Kids

Inside Zafiro Palace Andratx

Photo: Zafiro Hotels

At first glance, Zafiro Palace Andratx looks like a retreat for the jet set. The property is terraced into a hillside on Mallorca’s west side, barely visible until you pass through the electronic gate separating the resort from the resort town of Camp de Mar. The style inside has all the trappings of a Mediterranean hideaway: high ceilings and oversized windows, split sea and mountain views, a sand-and-stone palette, pale wood and textured fabric accents. Take the elevator up to the main level, though, and you’ll quickly hear children splashing in the central pool. Make no mistake: This is as much of a family property as it is anything else.

It makes sense when you learn more about the resort. The Mallorca-based Zafiro Hotel Group is family-owned, and the owners used to spend summers in Andratx. A gateway to the island’s UNESCO-listed Tramuntana range, Andratx is a popular destination among affluent travelers, including those who favor lowkey yet luxurious Camp de Mar over the area’s more glamorous Port d’Andratx. Camp de Mar is especially coveted among golfers and plays host to a Blue Flag beach signaling its safety for all ages and overall eco-excellence.

Summer is the busy season in the area and for the resort. (Zafiro Palace Andratx is closed between November and February.) It was busy when I visited in August, but thanks to the property’s sprawling layout, it never felt overly crowded. Only waiting in line at the live-cooking stations at the breakfast buffet at The Market, one of the resort’s five restaurants, did I get a true sense of the resort’s occupancy.

Zafiro’s layout is also the secret to its mass appeal. With 10 different freestanding accommodation blocks, designated spaces for adults and kids, and enough space to prevent noise from creeping into the quieter areas, the resort excels at helping different guest experiences coexist seamlessly.

Accommodations at Zafiro Palace Andratx

Photo: Zafiro Hotels

Every accommodation at Zafiro Palace Andratx is a suite. There are 304 suites total, mainly split between junior suites and one-bedroom suites, with or without a private or plunge pool. One lone, extra large suite has two bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, roomy living and dining areas, and an outdoor terrace with a private pool. It’s about three times as big as the average room, but even the junior suites generally include a separate sitting area and work space in addition to a sleeping space.

This model works well for all kinds of travelers: families might have more space for flexible sleeping arrangements, for example, while couples get extra spots to lounge in private. In the spirit of accommodating everyone, Zafiro also takes a uniquely customizable approach to room selection: after booking, you can use an interactive map to choose your exact suite location for an additional fee.

Photo: Zafiro Hotels

Lily and I stayed in a junior suite within the Zafiro Club Zone, which includes access to a private pool and bar area that’s calmer than the more trafficked common areas. We spent most of our in-room waking hours on our balcony, alternating between the Bali bed and our private whirlpool while she sipped on welcome wine and we snacked on the fruit and sweets that were left in our room daily.

Guests staying in the Zafiro Club Zone also get access to a complimentary concierge. Ours was named Laura. She arranged massages for us at the resort spa, made dinner reservations for us at two of the resort’s restaurants, and helped us rent a car to explore the towns of Valdemossa and Deià, as well as Mallorca’s capital city, Palma. Always on top of her guests’ comings and goings, Laura also intercepted us before heading to the port on the day we’d planned a sailing excursion aboard Zafiro’s llaüt, a traditional Mallorcan fishing vessel that the resort retrofitted to be fully electric and eco-friendly. It was too windy to sail that day, and we were able to salvage the afternoon thanks to her timely WhatsApp warning.

Where to stay for adults: Suites in Blocks 6 and 7 belong to the Zafiro Club Zone. Other perks of the Zafiro Club Zone include a complimentary massage, preferential restaurant reservations, and minibars stocked with premium drinks.

Where to stay for families: Block 8 is close to the kids’ club and family-friendly pool. Choose a ground-floor suite for direct pool access, or opt for a suite with an enclosed outdoor area if you have young kids. (All rooms with private pools come with gates that can be closed for added safety.) Zafiro can also provide baby cots and high chairs to make your stay more comfortable (cots cost four euros per day to rent).

Dining at Zafiro Palace Andratx

Zafiro Palace Andratx has five restaurants, two bars, and individual food and drink trucks by the different pools. The main restaurant, The Market, serves an impressive buffet breakfast. Though I generally prefer savory breakfasts, the standout for me here was the made-to-order crepe station. But my favorite breakfast during my stay was at La Veranda, an Italian-leaning dinner spot overlooking the resort’s main pool that serves a reservation-only, a la carte breakfast by day.

I ordered an omelet, Lily ordered eggs Benedict, and we split a tower of continental deliciousness: three tiers of fruit, charcuterie, nuts, jams, and more, served alongside a basket filled with breads and pastries. Next time I’d order that twice. For something even more special, you can organize to have a similar spread delivered to your private pool for a floating breakfast.

Dinner options include Japanese and Japanese-Peruvian fusion dishes at Tastes & Sushi, tomahawks for two at Caliu Steakhouse, and the resort’s take on Mediterranean haute cuisine at Mare Nostrum. The latter is a perfect example of Zafiro’s all-welcome approach to hospitality. While Lily and I sampled sophisticated dishes like mushroom-stuffed cannelloni with almond bechamel and a mousse-filled chocolate cigar flavored with real Cohiba ash, kids at the table next to us ordered chicken fingers and mini pizzas. There was even a baby menu in addition to the more traditional children’s menu, with options like chicken, vegetable, and fruit puree.

Photo: Zafiro Hotels

It’s more than the variety of food offerings and venues that makes Zafiro such an all-ages, choose-your-experience property. Flexibility is built into the whole dining model. You can choose between an all-inclusive, half board, or bed and breakfast package, running the gamut from just having breakfast at The Market included to having everything from your restaurant meals to cocktails covered.

According to front office manager Marc, who gave me a site tour on my first day at the resort, the all-inclusive package is most popular among families, while some adults-only groups like having the freedom to dine both on and off the property. (Others prioritize the fact that premium alcohol is covered in the all-inclusive model.)

Where to eat for adults: After dinner at any or all of the on-site restaurants, head to the Blue Lounge for live music and a nightcap.

Where to eat for families: While five restaurants have a kid’s menu, and there’s even child-height sections at The Market buffet so kids can serve themselves, I saw kids having the most fun ordering at the various food trucks around the property. Parents can also arrange babysitting services if they’re in the mood for a date night.

Amenities at Zafiro Palace Andratx

Photo: Zafiro Hotels

Outside of the restaurants, most of the guest activity I observed at the resort was concentrated around the cascading main pool, which is both kid-friendly and has a swim-up bar for adults. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the rooftop Sky Pool was never very crowded, despite showcasing some of the best landscape views anywhere on the property. There are five communal pools total at Zafiro Palace Andratx, including two pools at OPAL, the on-site spa.

Spa facilities, including a Turkish bath and sauna, are open to guests anytime, whether or not you’ve booked a treatment. Though I avoided the heat of the bath and sauna during pregnancy, being early in my first trimester meant that a massage was still comfortably on the table — literally. I opted for a 50-minute calming massage, but as Zafiro Club Zone guests, both Lily and I were also eligible for one complimentary 25-minute massage during our stay. Other treatments target specific desires, from skin vitality and post-sun hydration to microcirculatory activity.

Despite there being plenty to keep you occupied on the property, one of the best things Zafiro Palace Andratx does is make it easy to explore beyond the resort grounds. Beyond the local beach that’s within walking distance, there are several small coves and local towns in Andratx that are accessible via bike or electric scooter, both of which you can borrow from the resort.

Photo: Zafiro Hotels

On the day Lily and I were meant to do the llaüt experience, which ends up being a highlight for many guests, we pivoted to an afternoon spent scootering around Andratx on Laura’s suggestion. This ended up being one of our highlights: navigating through nearby towns and beach hopping, complete with a stop at the Beach Club Gran Folies overlooking Cala Llamp.

What to do for adults: Beeline for the adults-only Oasis pool, which remains surprisingly quiet throughout the day. There’s also an adults-only indoor pool at the spa. If golf is your thing, you can also book a tee time at Golf de Andratx, an 18-hole course that’s technically separate from the hotel but sits directly adjacent to it.

What to do for families: Take advantage of the shaded baby pool, game areas, playground, and kids’ club.

Getting to Zafiro Palace Andratx

Photo: Zafiro Hotels

Zafiro Palace Andratx is located about 20 minutes from Mallorca’s airport. The drive takes a little over 30 minutes. The resort can help arrange a transfer from the airport and may offer one at no cost, depending on your booking.