Founded in 1997 by the Swiss-Argentine businessman Juan Ramón Theler and his wife, the German princess Loretta Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, descendant of Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck, it was for many years the Mallorcan refuge of the European jet set.

The iconic 24-room hotel, built on a 200-hectare estate dating back to the 17th century, and the only one on the island with a heliport, private golf course and vineyard, reopened its doors on March 2nd.

The Rotana Reserve, which has been taken over by a Singaporean family office, has a new interior design that highlights its historical legacy.

The well-known German chef Christian Denz, with experience in Michelin-starred restaurants such as the Hilton Hotel in Vienna, and a great connoisseur of local Mallorcan produce, returns to La Reserva Rotana, where he was in charge of its culinary offerings from 2011 to 2014.

The estate where La Reserva Rotana is located occupies an imposing hill and one of the most fertile valleys in the east of the island.

March 2025. In the extreme east of Mallorca, in a triangle formed by the municipalities of Manacor, Artá and Santa Margarita, the Mallorcan landscape emulates the Tuscan countryside. Large plots of land once belonging to the island's noble families, and still uninhabited today, offer their best version; merging beautiful Mediterranean hills full of pine, olive and holm oak forests, and winding bucolic roads, with fertile wheat fields and vineyards.

In the heart of this enclave, unknown to many, members of the European jet set, models and movie actors, elite athletes and wealthy businessmen met for many years in search of relaxation, discretion and privacy.

Specifically since 1997, when the Swiss-Argentine businessman Juan Ramon (Chacha) Theler and his wife, the German princess Loretta Zu sayn-Wittgenstein, descendant of Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck, decided to open the 5-star hotel La Reserva Rotana in the Mallorcan estate they had acquired in the 70s as a family residence.

Considered for many years as one of the best rural hotels in Spain, and one of the first agrotourisms in Mallorca, La Reserva Rotana became known internationally almost by chance. That same year, when reservations were still made by fax, the legendary German supplement Welt am Sonntag published, surprisingly, an article praising the goodness of this secluded place on the island. And, since then, it has become the "place to be" of the most exclusive Mallorca.

He was visited by Gunter Sachs, ex-husband of Brigitte Bardot; Ernesto de Hannover; motorcyclist Ángel Nieto; tennis players Boris Becker and Marin Cilic; model Elle Macpherson; German actors Veronica Ferres and Mario Adorf; singer Mónica Naranjo, Boris Izaguirre; businessman and former president of Real Madrid Ramón Mendoza and Broncano himself, among many others.

This is, and will be, the new Rotana Reserve:

After a few years in oblivion, after the death of its owner Juan Ramon Theler; and having recently passed into the hands of a family office in Singapore; La Reserva Rotana faces a new stage with the vocation to regain its stardom. The person responsible for achieving this ambitious goal is the renowned tourism entrepreneur and expert in luxury products Giovanni Merello.

According to Giovanni Merello, "La Reserva Rotana has everything to position itself as one of the best hotels with golf course and vineyards in the Mediterranean. Its potential to become a resort similar to the big names in this segment such as Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco or l'Albereta Relais & Chateau is immense. The estate has 200 hectares spread over an imposing hill, on the top of which the hotel is located, and a fertile valley at the foot, where the private 9-hole golf course is located and a high quality course, as well as splendid wheat fields and vineyards, which give the landscape an absolutely inspiring atmosphere".

For this season, he explains, "we have renovated the entire interior design of the 24 rooms and the noble areas. In this sense, we have modernized all the furniture, but we have preserved the key elements of the design of this emblematic 17th century Mallorcan possessió, such as the wooden beams, the exposed stone and sandstone walls, the terracotta tiled floors, the original arches and the white walls, as they were whitewashed at the time".

However, he says, "we have kept the aquamarine blue color of the Mallorcan shutters that once created a trend, reminiscent of some properties in Tuscany, a region whose landscape is very similar to that of this part of the island of Mallorca".

In terms of services, he adds, "we will once again promote gastronomy and its à la carte restaurant, which was once recommended by the Michelin Guide and became a product with a life of its own, with clients arriving by helicopter from their yachts just to enjoy its culinary proposal".

Finally, he concludes, "in this first phase, as the project contemplates more ambitious plans for the future, we will promote tailor-made experiences with gastronomic tastings, wine tastings and events in the vineyards, golf packages, craft workshops, bike and horse riding routes, and visits to the Tennis Academy and the Rafa Nadal Museum, with which we want to collaborate taking advantage of the fact that it is only a 15-minute drive from the hotel".

The rooms at La Reserva Rotana have maintained the traditional Mallorcan architecture.

Chef Christian Denz returns to La Reserva Rotana:

In terms of gastronomy, the 5-star hotel La Reserva Rotana (Mallorca) is looking to regain the success it once had, when its restaurant was known as one of the best in Mallorca, even attracting clients who flew in helicopters from their yachts just to taste its wonderful culinary creations.

Responsible for this was, from 2011 to 2014, the German chef based in Mallorca Christian Denz, who now returns to La Reserva Rotana with the aim of repositioning his restaurants at the top.

Chef Christian Denz has returned to La Reserva Rotana to run his two restaurants: Bistró Rotana and La Reserva Rotana restaurant.

Two restaurants with the same philosophy:

La Reserva Rotana has two restaurants, which are open to both hotel guests and external visitors: the Bistró Rotana, which offers lunch and dinner services in a vibrant, cosmopolitan setting overlooking the Mallorcan countryside; and La Reserva Rotana restaurant, where dining in a refined yet cozy atmosphere becomes an unforgettable gastronomic experience.

The former has a daily changing menu, offering a new experience every day, while the latter offers an exquisite a la carte menu or a carefully selected 5-course tasting menu.

Interior of La Reserva Rotana restaurant

Beyond the different scenarios that host each of these spaces, their philosophy is the same: to merge the art of simplicity and refinement, returning to the infallible "less is more".

In this return to the classics, Christian Denz draws his inspiration from French and Mediterranean culinary techniques, and gives the main ingredients a starring role, pampering them with seasonal vegetables and aromatic herbs picked from the estate's garden to enhance their flavor.

In this sense, as a convinced lover of seasonality, the chef also stands out for the importance he gives to vegetarian cuisine, which he takes great care to extract the best of the countryside according to the season.

High quality local product, with which he also allows himself to play and be more creative, using resources from Asian and South American cuisines, which add a touch of cosmopolitanism and handcrafted design to his dishes.

This harmonious contrast gives rise to delicacies such as "octopus carpaccio with red onion and lemon vinaigrette, herbs and sour cream"; the "lobster ravioli with seafood bisque, lime, kafir, baked leek and espelette bell pepper", the "grilled ribs with sweet and sour vegetables, crispy shallots and green beans" and the "lemon sabayon au gratin with raspberries and vanilla ice cream", among other succulent dishes.

The "Octopus Carpaccio with red onion and lemon vinaigrette, herbs and sour cream" is one of the star dishes of the new season.

Culinary art in the middle of nature:

For Christian Denz, a lover of the most authentic Mallorca for almost 20 years, the privileged natural environment that surrounds La Reserva Rotana is an additional ingredient. That is why he wanted to return to what was his home, and harmonize his creations with the wonderful landscape of the Mallorcan countryside that serves as a home for his art.

Views of the estate's vineyards and wheat fields from the terrace of the Bistró Rotana restaurant.

La Reserva Rotana Fact Sheet:

• Mallorcan estate of the XVII century, although it appears in chronicles of 1242.
• Renovated 5-star hotel.
• 24 rooms.
• A la carte restaurant.
• Bistro restaurant with terrace and barbecue.
• Club bar with fireplace.
• Wine cellar.
• Meeting room for 50 people and large outdoor areas for events.
• Heated outdoor swimming pool.
• 9-hole golf course, including a driving range.
• Gym with Technogym machines.
• Vita parcours (training center) outdoors in an area of the farm declared ANEI (Natural Area of Special Interest).
• Wellness center with sauna, treatment rooms and massage area in the garden.
• Vineyard of Carbernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes.
• Outdoor parking.
• Heliport with private license.
• 15 minutes drive from the Rafa Nadal Academy and Museum.
• 25 minutes drive from the almost virgin beach of Son Serra de Marina.

ONE OF THE BEST HOTELS WITH GOLF COURSE AND VINEYARDS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.