Albacora

There's something irresistible about a sea front hotel; maybe it is the fact that you can glimpse the rolling sea in all its elements by just parting the curtains or stepping onto the terrace, or probably because you are drawn to the tart ocean air that blows with such alacrity. The reasons are plenty and a visit to the Hotel Club S'Illot in Mallorca could reaffirm some of them and invent many others as a result of staying in this elegant and charming place.

Club S'Illot has fifty five rooms, fitted out with all the facilities that you would expect in a three star hotel, while the nearby golf courses are sure to bring in the enthusiasts. For the discerning gastronome, however, their restaurant Albacora is a splendid excuse to go there and the gourmet food does not fail to please.

This beautiful restaurant boasts of French inspired Mediterranean dishes, with touches of Asian as well as modern molecular cuisine. The blend of all these different tastes leaves a lasting impression. For starters, you could choose the octopus carpaccio with pig's trotters, vine tomatoes and parmesan or maybe the terrine of red tuna with confit of mango and black pepper doughnut.

If you have a fondness for soups and other warm appetisers, the watercress foam with a fresh goat's cheese sorbet or the lobster ravioli on a bed of broad beans with orange and black olives are right on target. For the main course, you could opt for the stuffed oxtail, black salsify and pine nut sauce or the fillet of John Dory with fennel bulb and a risotto of red beetroot. Fusion dishes such as chicken breast in red curry with basmati rice and green beans or the tuna tartare with cream of avocado are appealing and score points for novelty.

Don't skip dessert because some of their homemade creations are simply too good to pass up. Whether it is the delightful lemon crêpes with strawberry salad and chocolate ice cream; the more unusual Catalan cream with rosemary and honey with tonka beans or the intriguing suspension of fruits in sangria with an orange blossom sorbet. The wine list has a judicious selection of Spanish and other quality wines from Mallorca that will complement every aspect of your meal.

The Albacora, with its wonderfully muted red walls, low intimate lighting and clean sparkling white linens, is an oasis of comfort for the discerning guest who likes to eat in a calm and soothing ambience. On pleasant days, you could dine on the terrace that offers a picturesque view of the brilliant blue sea, the pristine white sands and beach enthusiasts out for a tan in the sun.