Five stars doesn’t have to mean flashy facades and legions of staff with starched collars. When it comes to luxury hotels in Tenerife, both the sophistication of shiny shoes and barefoot seclusion sit in the lap of the country. You can cool off in subtropical gardens in the rolling hills in the lush north, enjoy award-winning wellness facilities in Puerto de la Cruz, and lounge around private pools in the upper tiers of Costa Adeje lodges in the sunny south. . Here’s our pick of the best five-star hotels in Tenerife, from huge resorts to swanky boutique establishments in areas like Costa Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz.
How do we examine
Every hotel on this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are often hosted free of charge. They stay at least one night, test at least one meal, and try other experiences the hotel has to offer.
The best five-star hotels in Tenerife at a glance
Perched on a hill overlooking golf courses and the ocean, this 50-villa hotel combines Greco design, luxurious lodge décor, and elegant Riviera vibes. Add swimming terraces, private pools or shared lagoons and impeccable attention to detail; You’ll see why this property is among the best on the island. This is not a hotel where you can run from one facility to another. Just like the environment, choice is reserved. The rooftop infinity pool offers stunning views of the mountains and coastline to the south. Below this is the main pool area and restaurants, as well as a rooftop bar with glass fire pits at its tables. There is also a gym, a spa offering massages and beauty treatments, as well as a steam room, water beds and a Romanesque thalassotherapy pool.
This pink palace is miles apart thanks to its Moorish style and adjacent Championship golf course. Facilities are extensive and there is plenty to do, with extensive spa and fitness facilities, as well as four pools, a beach and a tennis academy. The resort also has at least eight restaurants, including one with two Michelin stars. The south of Tenerife has a drier landscape and is more touristy than the north, but it’s a peaceful place away from the crowds, full of lush gardens and plenty of tropical foliage to admire. The standard rooms are among the largest in Tenerife and are truly spacious and comfortable, with very private balconies and large marble bathrooms.
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Modeled after a 19th-century Spanish colonial village, it is said to be one of the best five-star resorts on Tenerife and represents an architectural landmark in the Spanish territory. Nods to national pride are reflected in room decorations and many restaurant menus. For the active-minded there are tennis courts, five outdoor pools, a 24-hour gym and plenty of organized activities, while for younger guests there’s a kids’ club, splash pads and plenty of sandy areas on the doorstep. However, not all possibilities require energy expenditure. There’s a full-service spa, a stargazing observatory, and scenic pathways through beautiful, mature gardens. The service is first class.
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One of the most beautiful five-star hotels in Costa Adeje. Unless you were born in a magnificent environment, it is impossible not to be impressed by the level of luxury of Royal Garden’s villas, each with a private pool and natural view. As it should be in these opulent cocoons of tranquility, you are left to your own devices by the staff, save for nightly chocolate deliveries at turndown and efficient, friendly interactions in the restaurant. In addition to private swimming areas, there is a communal infinity pool and tours at the beach hut-style bar that runs past the palm tree-shaded reception area. There’s also a fiery spa, gym and squash court for those who can’t succumb to complete inertia.
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Conveniently located opposite the delightful Botanical Gardens, this courtesy retreat is located in a residential area 1 mile above the black sand beach along the Puerto de la Cruz coastline. There’s a definite feeling that Monte Carlo is in its heyday: dry Martinis are sipped around the pool, black swans swim in a beautiful, tree-shaded garden pool, an exotic spa has a touch of James Bond, and deep carpets line both corridors and bedrooms. Amidst Western elegance, in the corridors and marble lobby you’ll find exotic hints of the owners’ close relationship with the Thai royal family. The service is also charmingly old-fashioned, with waiters in white aprons and smartly dressed reception staff.
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Overlooking the greenery of García Sanabria city park on the northeastern tip of Santa Cruz, this is a much more cosmopolitan hotel. However, this does not mean that normal holiday needs cannot be met; palm-fringed Las Teresitas beach is just five miles away via free shuttle, and the spectacularly photogenic Adán Martín Auditorium is two miles oceanfront. Grand Hotel Mencey’s harsh, formal façade and polished marble lobby hide a softer heart of garden lawns, trickling stone fountains and quaint wooden balconies. Exceptional dining options add the proverbial cherry, and there’s an outdoor swimming pool, gym, spa, casino and paddle courts.
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Gran Meliá Palacio Isora is a quiet, adult-oriented residential area within the hotel’s magnificent oceanfront gardens. Expect exclusive dining, a poolside concierge and 24-hour butler service, as well as an outdoor bar with sunset views offering unparalleled service and complimentary drinks and canapés. With super-deep mattresses on two-metre-wide beds, heavy mahogany furnishings and colorful soft furnishings patterned with rich metallic threads, the 90 Red Level rooms are ostentatious without being ostentatious. Luxurious bathrooms feature Clarins toiletries and square-head rain showers. Most rooms have balconies with garden or resort views, but for a few pounds more you can get direct ocean views and terrace jacuzzis.
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Rising like a sleek ocean liner behind the fishing village of La Caleta, this family-friendly resort is a four-minute walk from black-sand La Enramada Beach and a 10-minute walk from Los Lagos golf course. Although the exterior is minimalist, the heart of the hotel is anything but. Concrete and glass walkways lead you to a cavernous, three-story lobby carved into volcanic rock, illuminated by ambient lighting and projected images. As first impressions go, it’s pretty impressive. Contemporary rooms feature fully equipped kitchens, living rooms and huge ocean-view terraces, many with private pools and sundecks. The two-Michelin-starred restaurant adds the proverbial cherry.
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There are only a handful of luxury hotels in Tenerife with near-perfect settings, and this is one of them. This magnificent adult all-suite venue overlooks one of the most beautiful beaches in the south. Neat, manicured gardens vie for attention with a beautiful Arabesque pool stretching across the colonnaded restaurant terraces, and the seaside restaurants of the fishing village of La Caleta are a 20-minute oceanfront walk away. There is not the slightest hint of luxury here; You come across it at every turn with its starched linen, columned arches and Moorish towers. It includes a private VIP rooftop area, a separate pool and expansive terraces dotted with Balinese-style beds.
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Beautiful alcoves, quiet lounges and Spanish grandeur abound at this adults-only boutique spa hotel. Its main buildings are centered around a large, open courtyard, and swimming pools, terraces and subtropical gardens extend down the hillside overlooking the ocean. An elegant blend of history and contemporary design in a remote, dramatic setting provides a luxurious retreat for those looking to explore the quieter side of Tenerife. Quality, spaciousness and comfort are the main elements of the rooms; ‘Level’ rooms offer access to private terraces, superior sun loungers and draft drinks. Other attractions include the Championship golf course and a quirky pub in the church.
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Located in a quiet residential area on the outskirts of Tenerife’s lushest region, this group of whitewashed apartments is covered in exotic greenery overlooking the ocean and provides sun, solitude and a subtropical setting, along with two outdoor swimming pools and a sauna. . With nothing but the barely audible whisper of wind through botanical barriers and palm fronds, you feel like you’re home alone. Located in the corner of the garden, the ocean-view sauna can be reserved for private use free of charge; There are also two outdoor pools with sun terraces around them.
Housed in an ocean liner-like building, this adults-only hotel features contemporary suites with huge ocean-view terraces. It also has acclaimed dining venues, a variety of bars, and extremely friendly staff. The 121 spacious Junior suites feature innovative styling and open-plan bathrooms with freestanding bathtubs. Large terraces can easily host small cocktail meetings. The beds are party-size, too, and the floor-to-ceiling ocean views in each suite exaggerate the feeling of space (though upper floors give you more water views).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a two-night stay in a five-star hotel in Tenerife long enough?
Flight time from England to Tenerife is approximately 4 hours 30 minutes. When you add the transfer time at both ends, you may think that a two-night stay in Tenerife is too short.
What can I expect from a five-star hotel in Tenerife?
Five-star hotels in Tenerife offer guests luxurious accommodation with sophisticated décor, a wide range of amenities, exceptional food and impeccable service. Rooms are luxurious, have superior beds and must include slippers and bathrobes.
Contributed by Rachel Cranshaw