L'Avenida

Press Reviews

The Guardian, December 2009
"Located in Soller, L'Avenida has eight stunning bedrooms, all shot-silk drapes and jet chandeliers."

Fodor's
"This boutique hotel was a stately private home, built in 1910 by Joan Rubio, a disciple of Gaudí, for a wealthy local merchant. The transformation retains some of the original Moderniste features - frescoed ceilings, a marble staircase with wrought-iron railing - but from there it goes ultramodern, with white rugs and black furniture, animal-print fabrics, designer lamps, and jet chandeliers. The house blends its own herbal toiletries. Pros: Peaceful poolside terrace, quiet surroundings. Cons: Lounge decor is over the top, not especially family-friendly."

Conde Nast Traveler (US) Hot Hotel List 2008
"Occupying one of the elegant mansions built along Sóller's pretty plane tree–shaded Gran Via by citrus tycoons in the late nineteenth century, the eight-room L'Avenida has the vibe of a swanky house party. The central white-marble staircase and mahogany railing are part of the original Art Nouveau design by Joan Rubio, a student of Gaudí, as are the pine doors and certain other decorative flourishes. And while new British owners Tania and Paul Slijper have given this place an edgy Rat Pack look—with black chandeliers, tufted leather headboards, dark oak parquet, contemporary art, and bold lighting fixtures—L'Avenida has a palpable old-world charm. Rooms are exceptionally spacious, with high ceilings and large windows; most still have the original moldings. Comforts include Egyptian cotton sheets, CD/DVD players, and AC, and in-room spa treatments are available. The pool in the garden is lined with sun loungers upholstered in fuchsia canvas. With buckets of style and a friendly staff, L'Avenida makes Sóller very much part of the new generation of design hotels."

The Telegraph, September 2008
"This flamboyantly restored merchant’s town house is in a busy street near the centre of the picturesque town of Soller, on the island’s north-west coast, around 40 minutes’ drive from Palma... Originally built by a pupil of Gaudí, L’Avenida has been lavishly transformed into an eight-bedroom boutique hotel. The sort of place interior designers might go on honeymoon... The hotel has its own chic bistro, but the great treat is to take the seven-minute tram ride down to the port, which is lined with restaurants and bars."

Conde Nast Traveller (UK) Hot Hotel List 2008
"L'Avenida is an art nouveau mansion five minutes' walk from Sóller's Plaça Constitució, the finest town square in Mallorca... The stunning decor is a kind of two-tone postmodern baroque: lampshades like silky black peignoirs, fluffy cream rugs, elegant chairs upholstered in zebra-print, chandeliers that look as if they were sculpted from jet and ice. All these eclectic details sit very happily alongside original features such as the flowery, wrought-iron balustrade and, at the top of the staircase, a plaster bas-relief portrait of the original owner's wife. The effect is exquisite, and the small scale (there are only eight rooms) means that this intimate boutique hotel is also very friendly... Downstairs there is a cosy bodega, well stocked with cigars and Mallorcan wines, as well as a smart restaurant and, unusual for Sóller, a terrace with a sunny little pool. L'Avenida Hotel is by far the most sophisticated place in this great town."

Travel + Leisure, Australia, January 2008
"Why here, why now? L'Avenida, a tiny colonial mansion, opened in the old town of Sóller in March. The hotel is surrounded by orange groves and has just eight rooms, all fitted out in a drop-dead-chic palette of browns and whites. Also worth a look is Orient-Express Hotel's latest contribution to luxury getaways at La Residencia at Deia, called simply The Villa."

Elle Deco, June 2007
"With its grand architecture and sexy decor, L'Avenida Hotel is Mallorca's hot new place to stay."

The Times, June 2007
"This hip hideaway is a 100-year-old modernist mansion set among the citrus groves of Soller. Opened in March, it has been freshly squeezed into the 21st century: the original frescoes and sweeping marble staircase have been fairydusted back to their best, while the eight bedrooms smoulder with contemporary sexiness. That means extravagant Cole and Son wallpapers, Bonacina chairs, black-marble chandeliers and Philippe Starck bathrooms – all with jaw-dropping views onto the Tramuntana mountains. Forget oranges, this is one for the BlackBerry set."

The Observer, May 2007
"The hotel, which opened in March, is the personal project of Tania and Paul Slijper, who fell in love with the house and set about filling it with plush sofas, modernist feathered lampshades, sumptuous cream rugs, and jet and glass chandeliers. In spite of the very 21st-century revamp, it still has the feel of a private home, helped by the fact that it has retained some of the flourishes of the previous owners. The face of a previous lady of the house is worked into one of the ceiling frescoes, and the marble staircase and elegant glass doors leading from reception to the bar are original."

Travel + Leisure, May 2007
"The newly opened L’Avenida Hotel, in the quiet village of Soller, is ratcheting up the style quotient in this mountain town on the northwest coast of Mallorca. Housed in a 19th-century mansion, the first floor of the eight-room hotel has a dramatic mix of zebra-patterned chairs and splashes of purple. Upstairs, rooms are decorated in soothing shades of chocolate brown and slate blue, with canopy beds and pedestal tubs. While the beaches are a 10-minute drive away, the hotel’s lovely pool will make you want to stay all day."

The Guardian, February 2007
"The transformation of Mallorca from bucket and spade beach resort to fashionable hotspot for grown-up trendies continues apace. Next week (March 1) sees the opening of L'Avenida (avenida-hotel.com), a boutique hotel crafted out of a Modernist mansion in Soller, the island's west-coast mecca for Boden-wearing families. The nine-room hotel has all the hallmarks of designer pads the world over - Philippe Starck bathrooms, retro chandeliers, animal-print furniture - set against original frescoes and marble. Excursions include yacht trips, helicopter tours and tennis lessons. Yoga courses can be arranged at a nearby retreat."

House & Garden, January 2007
"Hotel L'Avenida in Mallorca opens in March. This restored aristocratic mansion house, now an exclusive boutique hotel set in the charming town of Soller, combines high-tech amenities with old-world charm. Enjoy breathtaking mountain views, the tropical garden with a secluded pool, and the chic bistro serving modern Mediterranean food. Hugged by mountains and orange groves, Soller is among Mallorca’s most attractive towns — and in March it gets a stylish new hotel, the eight-room L’Avenida."

The Observer, January 2007
"Mallorca's recent elevation to hip travel destination will reach new heights in March with the opening of its latest boutique hotel, L'Avenida. Set in Soller on the west coast, L'Avenida is a 100-year-old mansion with just eight rooms, most with mountain views. The nearest beach is five minutes away."

The Times, January 2007
"This hip hideaway is a 100-year-old modernist mansion set among the citrus groves of Soller. Opened in March, it has been freshly squeezed into the 21st century: the original frescoes and sweeping marble staircase have been fairydusted back to their best, while the eight bedrooms smoulder with contemporary sexiness. That means extravagant Cole and Son wallpapers, Bonacina chairs, black-marble chandeliers and Philippe Starck bathrooms – all with jaw-dropping views onto the Tramuntana mountains. Forget oranges, this is one for the BlackBerry set."

The Sunday Times, January 2007
"Hugged by mountains and orange groves, Soller is among Mallorca’s most attractive towns — and in March it gets a stylish new hotel, the eight-room L’Avenida with a large pool, a sun deck and private gardens."

Guest Reviews

Reviews are only from people who have stayed there and booked through i-escape.

• “I had a lovely stay at L'Avenida.
  But I think that it should be noted that future booker should ensure that they do not stay in room # 1, which is the ground floor at street level, so no view, extremely noisy. I stayed on the 3rd floor with moutains view and it was beautiful.
  The staff was very pleasant and helpful. One thing that I found surprising it that in the bathroom there were no shampoo/conditioner only shower gel, which for a boutique hotel is never the case.
  I would go back there and would recommend this hotel, providing that I was able to choose the room.
  The hotel had a list of restaurants to recommend and all the restaurants listed that I've tried were great. I think that dinner at Casa d'Xorc is a must.
  This is a wonderful area for hiking.”
  Morella, United Kingdom (21.07.11)

• “The pool area was very attractive and a real sun-trap. My only complaint was that some of the guests who stayed while we were there had an annoying habit of reserving sun loungers and then going out for most of the day! Perhaps the owners could monitor this and gently deal with the worst offenders!
  The Junior Suite was spacious and attractively decorated, but for 300 euros a night, it would have been nice to have a bath too. The shower was a good one, but with so much room, I would really have appreciated a free-standing tub. Tea and coffee facilities would have been nice as well - we had to keep ordering from room service (and paying!).
  Breakfast was very good (although I share the view of other guests who were not happy at having to pay extra for eggs etc). Sandwiches etc by the pool and tapas in the evening were all delicious but a little over-priced as you would expect.
  Service generally was good, but a special mention must go to Laura, who looked after us so well, with her perfect English, her knowledge of the area, and her lovely manner. She is a real asset to L'Avenida.”
  Lindsay, United Kingdom (18.09.10)

• “There is a wonderful Michelin-starred restaurant in the nearby village of Deia, Es Raco des Teix, which is well worth a visit. Also fun is the train from Soller to Palma.”
  Maria, United Kingdom (29.07.10)