Oleum, Puigpunyent

Romantic dining in Puigpunyent

2018, Nov 26th

The 5-star Gran Hotel Son Net is at the heart of a 17th-century country estate. This stunning hilltop mansion looks over the village of Puigpunyent and is backed by the rugged Serra de Tramuntana mountains. The hotel is a haven of rural tranquillity but is around only 15 minutes’ drive from Palma. And you don’t have to be staying in the hotel to have dinner in Oleum, its gourmet restaurant.

Oleum is so named because the dining space used to be the old tafona, or olive press; parts of the old press are still incorporated into the décor. The restaurant has attractively lit exposed-stone walls, a variety of tables and seating – including deep-red velvet banquettes, opulent curtains, and what must surely be Mallorca’s largest wall mirror. It’s idyllic for a romantic dinner and, in my opinion, Oleum comes into its own during the autumn and winter months, when it feels warm and cosy – despite the size of the space. You can start with a drink in the stylish bar or Chimney Salon, where a fire is lit during cold weather.

 
Executive chef Cristian Coll worked in Australia before returning to Mallorca to work at the hotel and his seasonal Mediterranean/Mallorcan cuisine has a few small touches from the Asia Pacific region. Eat à la carte or the tasting menu, which costs 70 €, with an optional wine pairing available. Check out both menus on the hotel’s website.

 
The interesting wine list includes labels from the New World as well as Europe; Mallorcan examples include Son Net’s own-label wines, produced from grapes grown on the estate.

 
This winter, Gran Hotel Son Net is offering a wine-tasting and wine-paired dinner every Friday evening, featuring wines from a different Mallorcan bodega each week. The event includes a wine tasting with the winemaker, followed by a four-course dinner with matched wines for 49 €; bookings should be made in advance.

Jan Edwards

Photos: Son Net / Jan Edwards