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We all know about Tenerife’s ‘Brit Abroad’ rep, but if you’ve been recently (and you know the right spots), you’ll know as well as we do that there’s a whole side of this beautiful island that’s diverse and innovative, with a proper local spirit – and there’s another side of it that’s complete and utter luxury.
On this side, the island is rows upon rows of sprawling luxury hotels, almost exclusively all-inclusive-style resorts. Choosing from these many, many options can be a bit of a minefield, but if you’re the kind of person (like me) who travels mainly to eat, eat and eat some more, I’ll make it easy for you. I stayed at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach, the adults-only wing of Royal Hideaway Corales Resort, and it holds the most Michelin stars of any hotel in Spain. Need I say more?
What’s the vibe at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach?
The first thing to get out of the way is that Royal Hideaway Corales Beach is not on the beach (nor does it have direct access to it, although it is very near Playa de Enramada). Instead, you’ll notice that Royal Hideaway looks like a cruise ship – and that’s the idea (it was designed by Tenerife architect Leonardo Omar). So there’s a general theme to the whole thing: the fact that every room has a view of the ocean, and that it’s got multiple luxury restaurants to choose from feel a bit like you’ve docked in Tenerife on a luxury cruise ship.
What are the rooms like at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach?
To explain the set up, Corales Beach (where I stayed) is the adults-only hotel as part of Royal Hideaway Corales Resort. There are three hotel wings, all connected – the adults only Beach, the family-friendly (and more pricey) Suites, and typically the most expensive and exclusive option, the Villas. Across all three properties, there are just under 500 rooms, which is tons – but the hotels are enourmous, and spread out, with spacious terraces and suites, meaning each of the hotels feel much more quiet and secluded than your typical 500-room resort complex.
Royal Hideaway Corales Beach
At Corales Beach, there are 121 rooms in total, ranging from the most basic (the Deluxe Suites) to the more luxurious (the Duplex Villas, which come with their own pool). I stayed in one of the mighty-beautiful Junior Suites, which looked out over beautiful old buildings, beaches and sea. The toilet and shower were in their own separate rooms, but the bath was in the open-plan bathroom, tucked away in a little alcove, which I rather liked as you can bath with the sunrise coming in in the mornings. The air-con was great - but you need it here in Tenerife. As soon as you open the huge bay windows, you can feel that glorious hot blast of Tenerife sun (I visited in September, and basked in 30-degree heat for the entire weekend). A glass of champagne out on the terrace here is something very special, and you’re sheltered from your neighbours by frosted glass.
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites
Though I didn’t stay at the Suites, I did get a bit of a look-around, and I’d be remiss not to mention their most exclusive offering: the Penthouse Suites, with multiple rooms, full kitchens and enormous balconies with private loungers and pools. If you’re splashing out on one of these, you might as well splash out on their Chef in Room Experience, where one of the hotel’s – and even teach you how to make the Canary Islands’s specialty mojo rojo, an intensely smokey, garlicky red pepper dip with vinegar and and paprika, served with salted, wrinkled potatoes. I’ve made it twice since – but it hasn’t tasted anywhere near as good using my pitiful ingredients.
What are the restaurants like at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach?
As is the magic of this hotel, we’d better get into the food. As is its Michelin tagline, the vibe here is most definitely high-end – but even its more casual options (like its buffet dining) are high quality. The resort’s crowning jewel is El Rincón de Juan Carlos, which is a pretty big name on the island, holding two Michelin stars since 2023 – but Royal Hideaway Corales Beach (and the wider Corales Resort complex) is home to seven excellent restaurants including the buffet, plus two pool bars. Guests at Beach can go to any of them – it’s part of the appeal of staying here.
The hotel’s restaurants span countries and continents, and all of it is meticulously considered, from the enormous buffet breakfast to the various fine dining menus.
Here is the full list:
- El Rincón de Juan Carlos (two Michelin stars) – one of the most well-known restaurants in Tenerife
- San Hô (one Michelin star) – A fusion of Asian and South American cuisine - but not how you’d expect it
- Il Bocconcino (one Michelin star) – a delightful Italian fine dining restaurant on the terrace
- Starfish – a more affordable (but really excellent) seafood grill with both a la carte and tasting menus
- La Trattoria by Il Bocconcino – Il Bocconcino’s casual option for pizza, pasta and the likes
- The Nao Atlantic buffet – for breakfast and all-day dining
The final two are your dining options at the hotel’s two bars: Maresía and NAO.
It is clear they have worked extremely hard to achieve their Michelin tagline – chefs feel completely committed to the brand and vision, and the entire staff team is razor-sharp on service. It does mean most of the food (especially at the hotel’s top restaurants) is, well, Michelin-esque – small, foaming, sculpted and ultimately, quite a lot about showing off. But if Michelin-starred dining is your thing, this hotel is your dream come true.
Plenty of guests seem to try out multiple, but if you’ve only got the budget for one, by far my most stand-out meal was at San Hô, where I got to try a €150 tasting menu that takes you on a journey through Asia and South America – it was, essentially, hours upon hours of exquisite little plates, like sailing through wild, culinary seas, often pickled, cured or fermented. For the quality and creativity of the menu, it was exceptionally good value (especially as we ended up sitting there for four or five hours).
What are the facilities like at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach?
There are two heated saltwater pools to choose from – the large pool on the ground floor by the buffet, and the pool on the rooftop by the cocktail bar. I headed up to the rooftop pool early each day (pre 9am), and often found I was almost the only person there – a real treat in peak Tenerife season (September), when the hotel was certainly at at least high capacity. There’s also the groundfloor spa, which I appreciated had an outdoor pool and loungers, so as not to miss a moment of that Tenerife sunshine.
What is there to do at Royal Hideaway Corales Beach?
If you’re not looking to spend the majority of your holiday eating, eating and eating some more, you might want to look elsewhere – Royal Hideaway Corales Beach is all about the food (and plenty of relaxation). You choose Royal Hideaway Corales Beach for its adults-only vibe, centred around its pools, the rooftop bar, the many restaurants – and a whole lot of relaxation.
There’s not even a whole lot happening in the rest of Tenerife – just the ‘strip’ (which many of us avoid) and a number of beaches, some spectacular and some not-so-spectacular. I would definitely recommend booking a walking tour to learn about the island’s rather fascinating history, and there are stargazing walks you can book too. The one thing you absolutely should factor in are spending a full day out at one of the local vineyards near the hotel – staff can arrange your excursion.
We spent a day at Altos de Trevejos, a secluded little spot completely surrounded by nature (which is a welcome break from the very built up resort area). It’s family-run, with some fantastic wines on offer and a proper local food menu – potaje de berros (watercress stew) with blobs of soft, mild goats cheese, atún en adobo (a saucy, meaty marinated tuna dish), and of course, lots more mojo roco and potatoes. On an island that can feel overly catered to tourists, this winery felt like a proper local experience – a definite highlight of my time in Tenerife.
DETAILS
Address: Avenida Virgen de Guadalupe, Playa La Enramada, 21, 38679, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Price: Starting from around €290 per night
Closest transport: A 22-minute drive from Tenerife Airport (or two buses – about an hour’s journey on public transport)