Just north of the throngs of beach-goers and sun-seekers on Tenerife’s southwestern coast, this striking clifftop hotel has been a go-to for blissed-out poolside luxury with a side of golf and high-end dining since 2005. Its signature salmon-coloured buildings and palatial Moroccan-style architecture make it one of the most recognisable properties in the Ritz-Carlton portfolio – and rightly so, as this place is stop-you-in-your-tracks gorgeous. Upping the ante is brand-new high-end accommodation option The Retreat, an exclusive ‘hotel-within-a-hotel’ where guests are granted total privacy, ultra-personalised service and no-holds-barred access to the hotel’s best bits.
Why stay at Ritz-Carlton Abama?
This is a Ritz hotel, so you can expect unadulterated luxury. You’ll see kids doggy-paddling under bridges in the Lagoon Pool and parents ordering their third glass of champers. In the lobby, you’ll see golfers gearing up for a day at the on-site 18-hole championship course. Who knows, you might even see a celebrity. I’ll admit, being none of the above, I was expecting to feel a little out of place – but there’s more than enough room here to be in your own bubble, and the staff really do go out of their way to make you feel welcome.
I’ve mentioned how good-looking it is, but it bears repeating. The hotel is whimsical in its beauty, with bridges looping over a koi-filled central lake, pink staircases twisting out of buildings, and gangly palm trees shooting high into the sky. Families are well catered for with pools aplenty and the largest ‘Ritz Kids’ club in Europe, while adults sans kiddos can find some proper peace and quiet in the newly opened, utterly tranquil Retreat. There’s golf (so much golf). There’s Michelin-starred dining. There’s a private beach. Ritz-Carlton Abama is, in short, the cream of the crop when it comes to Tenerife hotels – and well worth splurging on.
What are the rooms like at Ritz-Carlton Abama?
You’ve got a few options, depending on how flush you’re feeling. There’s The Citadel, aka the main resort building, where airy suites and deluxe rooms will overlook a pool, a plant-filled courtyard or the shimmering Atlantic. Bigger groups (or just full-on ballers) can book a spacious penthouse with a private pool. The newly opened Retreat consists of four rows of private ‘casitas’, organised by lanes that meader through the eucalyptus trees and subtropical plants of the resort’s sloping lower gardens. We stayed here in an adults-only strip of suites, in a clean, bright room finished with rust-hued furnishings, hanging bulbs and a sizeable his-and-hers bathroom. Sliding glass doors lead out to a long, winding pool to spend long, languid days. There are many stylish touches to celebrate here; my personal highlight was the beautifully designed hotel magazine, full of interesting deep-dives into Tenerife’s art, culture and food.
What are the best restaurants at Ritz-Carlton Abama?
This place has a lot to show off about, but its myriad of exceptional dining options are by far its greatest draw. Akira Back, the only hotel in Spain from its namesake Michelin-awarded chef, is the show-stopper. A dedicated driver will pick you up from reception and take you to this moody underground restaurant for its 13-course Japanese menu, which features impeccably presented small plates of sashimi, red king prawn, beef cheek and more. El Mirador is an ocean-facing restaurant with Canarian specialties including paella, though my favourite spot was poolside Basque restaurant Txoko, where we gorged on soft brioche lobster rolls, balearic coca bread and an oozing Basque cheesecake of my wildest dreams. Breakfast in ‘the club’, reserved for Retreat guests, is a classy affair, with low jazz playing, heaters, and views over the Atlantic.
What is the service like at Ritz-Carlton Abama?
A high staff-to-guest ratio means you’ll be wanting for absolutely nothing; there are around 1,000 employees waiting hand and foot across the resort. The people who work here are exceptionally helpful, but not cloyingly so; we found we were mostly left to it, which was nice. At The Retreat, staff are around to lay out your towel by the pool and deliver complimentary bites and bubbles, but there’s also a help-yourself bar. The Retreat is also served by a speedy concierge service, with golf carts to take you up to reception. And should you want to book a trip to nearby Teide National Park, or a spa treatment, or, well, anything, reception staff will jump to it without hesitation.
What are the pool and facilities like at Ritz-Carlton Abama?
There are seven freshwater pools, from the large Lagoon Pool to the tucked-away Persian Garden Pool, plus an 18-hole golf course, a tennis academy, shops, a state-of-the-art gym and an enormous spa with several treatment rooms and a wellness circuit. Steps or a very fun funicular take you down to a small beach, which is half open to the public and half covered in Abama-owned sunbeds, with a little bar for snacks and refreshments (you can help yourself to ice-cold water).
What’s the area like around Ritz-Carlton Abama?
Just south of the mighty Los Gigantes cliffs, and a short drive north to the black sand beaches of Costa Adeje and La Caleta, Ritz-Carlton Abama occupies prime real estate on the island’s southwestern coast. Your nearest hub for a bit of local life is the fishing town of Playa San Juan, but given the hotel is absolutely massive – and surrounded by absolutely massive golf courses – you’re not able to simply stroll out into the heart of the action. To get here, it’s a zig-zag drive through banana trees with nothing before you but the ocean and the cloud-shrouded island of La Gomera on the horizon. Make no mistake, the hotel is the destination.
Why you should book a stay at Ritz-Carlton Abama
Private and secluded, with world-class service and more than enough food, sunshine and activities to keep everyone happy, everything about this hotel is flawless. Which is why, as you’d expect, it’s on the pricier side. But if you’re saving up for a dream holiday – particularly if you’re after toasty temperatures during the winter months – this place is worth it. From that pinch-me view of La Gomera down to the palm-studded subtropical gardens descending to the ocean and courtyards of sunset-coloured croton plants, this is a hotel of pure fantasy. You won’t regret the knock to your wallet.
DETAILS
Address: Calle María Zambrano 2, Carretera General, TF-47, Km 9, 38687, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Price per night: Fluctuates depending on season; standard rooms average at around €323 per night
Closest transport: Tenerife South airport is a half-hour drive
Book now: Via Booking.com