My husband and I stayed at ZEL Mallorca in mid-May for a wedding outside of Palma, knowing it would mean a 20-minute Uber to the venue and 30 to 40 minutes to other events. That is no small tradeoff when you are in formal clothes at midnight.
But the setting, large room and hotel amenities made the extra distance worth it. And we weren’t the only ones who thought so. We were traveling with two of our three adult kids who stayed at a hotel closer to the wedding venue. Once they saw ZEL, though, they ended up spending most of the trip with us.
Highlights
- No traditional reception desk
- Beachfront location in Palmanova
- Sea-view rooms with balconies
- Strong fitness and wellness programming
- Two pools: a social pool plus a quieter wellness-area pool
- Beso Beach restaurant, a collaboration from Formentera
- Local and Mediterranean brand pop-ups throughout the lobby
- About 20 minutes by car from Palma
Editor’s Note: This writer was hosted.
What Stands Out at ZEL Mallorca
Collaboration is the theme at ZEL, and it shapes almost everything about the property. Even the name fits the experience: ZEL means “sky” in Catalan, and much of the hotel is designed around an open-air concept, with dining and gathering spaces opening to wide views of the Mediterranean.
ZEL Mallorca is a partnership between Meliá Hotels International and tennis star Rafael Nadal, both with deep Mallorca roots, and that collaborative mindset carries through the wellness programming, merchandise, food and even our check-in process.
Check-In Without a Reception Desk
There is no traditional front desk at ZEL Mallorca. Hosts met us when we arrived, seated us at a large family-style table and handled check-in on an iPad while introducing us to the property. Every host we dealt with at the entry was eager to greet us and help and it never felt like they were angling for a tip, just genuine hospitality.
Online check-in is also available.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Complete online check-in before you land if you want to walk straight to your room instead of sitting through introductions.
Collaborations Begin in the Lobby
Merchandise, pop-ups and products from other brands and local Mallorca makers are woven into the space. Guests can stop for specialty coffee, shop for unique clothes and art and pick up souvenirs that are not generic.
The lobby also turned into an unplanned reunion spot for our group. Our 28-year-old daughter ran into a group of her friends who were all staying at ZEL for their own trip. They ended up catching up on the patio, sipping cocktails and mocktails, overlooking the Med.
ZEL Premier Room Mediterranean View
Our ZEL Premier Room with a Mediterranean view runs about $400 to $550 a night in high season and the space, airy feel and views justify the price. The room had a king bed, a built-in couch and chaise, plus a balcony overlooking the pool and Mediterranean. Even after we unpacked and left things out, it never felt crowded. The balcony was a big part of the appeal. We had coffee there in the morning and came back in the evening to watch the sunset.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Breakfast is included in all room reservations and it is a 100% recommend: delicious spread with plenty of options overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Wellness Is Front and Center
ZEL puts wellness front and center so my only excuse for not working out was that we had so many wedding events to attend! The gym and studio are on the main floor just past the lobby, with large windows and natural light, so movement becomes part of the hotel experience.
I liked the mix of physical and creative programming. For a group, it means people can split off for an hour and meet back at the pool. During our stay, classes included:
- Meditation and therapeutic journaling
- Clay and botanical sculpture
- Gym Boost
- HIIT
- Barre
The flow from class to recovery is built into the layout. Right past the fitness area is the ZEL spa zone:
- Jacuzzi
- Sauna
- Steam room
- Cold plunge
Two Pools, Two Different Experiences
The main infinity pool runs alongside the beach and has music and a social atmosphere throughout the day. It was lively during our stay, and we still found chairs. There were a couple of kids splashing around, but it never felt chaotic.
The pool closer to the wellness area is a little more hidden. It offers a quieter, less crowded experience (it was empty whenever I passed by).
- Main pool: music and more energy
- Wellness-area pool: a quieter place to relax
Beso Beach Restaurant
Beso Beach is another ZEL collab. The restaurant originated in Formentera and brings Mediterranean and Basque influences to ZEL Mallorca. The open-air restaurant overlooks the pool and beach, and the appetizers and cocktails were the biggest hits for our group. Our favorite dishes were the croquetas and the olives and bread with spritzes.
For dinner, we ordered the lobster paella for two, as paella in Mallorca was an obvious call. It ended up requiring too much effort for little reward. The rice had the crispy socarrat I like, but the lobster arrived whole in the shell and cracking it at the table was genuine work.
The lunch menu had more paella choices, which I would have liked to try. It would have been nice to have more than one paella option for dinner.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Dinner gets crowded. If your schedule allows, try lunch instead. The menu looked fantastic.
Breakfast Was a Highlight
Breakfast was substantial and worth lingering over. Every time we went to the buffet, intending to eat quickly, we ended up hanging out and enjoying the variety and the view.
Standouts included:
- Fresh seasonal fruit — changed daily
- Several varieties of bread — my favorite, with olive oil
- Pastries and local specialties — huge selection
- Eggs and omelets — made to order
- Hot breakfast dishes — British, American and Mallorcan options
SheBuysTravel Tip: If your stay includes a Saturday or Sunday, don’t skip brunch. There’s a DJ. During summer months, there is a DJ every afternoon.
Is Staying Outside Palma Worth It?
We didn’t have much time to explore the island because our schedule was packed with wedding events, so the hotel became a bigger part of our Mallorca experience than we expected. Luckily, we had the beach, pools, wellness classes, Beso Beach and plenty of places to hang out without having to go anywhere else. And Palmanova was easy to walk around for coffee, a drink or a stroll along the water.
For our wedding trip, some rides ran 30 to 40 minutes, and our Ubers were never more than about €40. We looked into renting a car instead, but parking at ZEL runs €30 a day, there are no reservations and the lot can sell out, though there is a nearby lot as a backup and the hotel says more parking is on the way. Between that and knowing we would be out late with wine at dinner, Uber was the easier and safer call.
Who ZEL Mallorca Is Best For
The overall vibe is relaxed luxury with a beachy, upbeat atmosphere. It’s a great fit if you want energy. DJ sessions and special Sunday brunch events liven up the area even more. ZEL works especially well for:
- Friend groups who want beach, wellness and nightlife in one place
- Multi-generational families traveling together, like ours
- Travelers who want an energetic, beachy atmosphere rather than a quiet retreat
- Travelers who want wellness options without building the whole trip around them
Details for Visiting ZEL Mallorca
- Location: Palmanova Beach, Mallorca
- Best for: friend groups, multi-generational families and adult travelers who want beach plus wellness and dining
- Distance from Palma: about 20 minutes by car in typical conditions
- Rates: ZEL Premier Room with Mediterranean view runs $400 to $550/night in high season
- Check-out: noon
- Gym: open 24 hours
- Wellness: classes, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and cold plunge
- Pools: main social pool plus quieter wellness-area pool
- Restaurant: Beso Beach; reservations recommended
- Check-in: online check-in available; no traditional front desk
- Parking: 30 euros/day, no reservations, can sell out; a nearby lot is available
Frequently Asked Questions About ZEL Mallorca
Yes. The beachfront setting, wellness program, two pool environments and Beso Beach make it easy for a group to spend time together while still having different options during the day.
ZEL Mallorca is in Palmanova, west of Palma. Our rides ran roughly 20 minutes to the Palma area.
YES. Double yes. Our balcony overlooking the pool and Mediterranean became one of our favorite parts of the stay.
Classes included meditation and therapeutic journaling, clay and botanical sculpture, Gym Boost, HIIT and barre.
Beso Beach operates at ZEL Mallorca as one of the hotel’s major collaborations. The restaurant brand originated in Formentera and combines Mediterranean and Basque influences.
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