Chef Rafa Zafra celebrates his first season (22/23) after joining the culinary lineup at La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel, Mallorca, at its open-air restaurant, La Piscina. The successful collaboration has become a guest favourite and now opens its doors to non-residents for dinner.
Set between the Tramuntana Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, this intimate hotel mesmerizes residents with rooms overlooking hillside forests, the old town of Deià and the Mediterranean coastline. Guests can enjoy exquisite dining at La Residencia with the elegance of acclaimed El Olivo or the relaxed culinary offering at Café Miró and from this season, the outdoor dining delights of Chef Rafa at restaurant La Piscina. All the dining venues are nestled in the tranquil surroundings of the property, which includes over 800 works by local artists.
Restaurante La Piscina is adjacent to the main swimming pool, with stunning views over Deià, one of Mallorca’s most idyllic 13th-century villages. Chef Rafa delivers a creative and technical approach to his cooking. He celebrates the abundance of local produce at its seasonal peak from both the land and the sea, offering dishes that taste of the Mediterranean. He creates innovative yet familiar recipes while grilling over charcoal, infusing a variety of fish, shellfish, meats, and vegetables with deep smoky flavours for al fresco dining.
The restaurant has been a firm favorite for lunch with hotel guests, and now the experience is available to non-residents as well, from 7:30 until 10:30 PM, Friday through Tuesday.
Menu items such as Wagyu steak tartare, fried scorpionfish, and grilled crayfish are popular, along with one of Chef Rafa’s signature dishes, prawn carpaccio with caramelised onions. The menu breathes a distinct summer feeling, featuring an inventive vegan selection, including marinated aubergines with a Cala-diabla emulsion. The Catalan-style toasted pineapple is a must-try; it’s one of the most popular desserts and not to be missed. Chef Ivan Acquista, a long time senior member of Chef Rafa’s brigade, now permanently leads the kitchen under Chef Rafa’s creative guidance.
The restaurant features a modern yet sophisticated cocktail bar serving classic and signature cocktails as well as a refreshing juice menu. The curated wine and cava selection hosts more than 550 labels of local and international wines that sit alongside vintage champagnes, serving Moët & Chandon vintages by the glass. In addition, a fun ice cream station is set up to the side of the restaurant, which is accessible to guests, especially children and sunbathers, enjoying the pool area.
Chef Rafa states, “La Residencia is an exceptional hotel in the picturesque village of Deià. My wish has come true in the form of a collaboration with the property. I am thrilled to provide authentic cuisine, centred around produce from this magical place, at La Piscina, the hotel’s most relaxed restaurant. “
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