Silken Saaj Maar Boutique Hotel & Spa

Puerto de La Cruz was one of the first places in the Canary Islands to welcome leisure travellers, and unlike the purpose-built holiday resorts in the south of Tenerife, the town has grown organically over time. Originally established in the 16th century as a port to export the region's agricultural produce, Puerto de La Cruz first became fashionable as a holiday destination towards the end of the 19th century. Today, it offers an appealing blend of authentic local life — best observed in the bustling squares of the picturesque Old Town — and facilities for holidaymakers, such as the extensive Lido Martianez seawater swimming pools and the Botanic Garden, which is the second-oldest in all of Spain. After a period of losing favour to the glitzy new upstarts in the south of the island, Puerto de La Cruz has been enjoying something of a revival in recent years, with an influx of investment to upgrade its offerings to meet the demands of 21st-century travellers.

A prime example of this is the Silken Saaj Maar, a striking new boutique hotel opening in autumn 2024 following the impressive top-to-bottom transformation of the former Hotel San Telmo. The Silken Saaj Maar occupies an enviable position on the pedestrian promenade in the very heart of Puerto de La Cruz, opposite the chapel of San Telmo and the small volcanic beach of the same name, and just a stone's throw from the Old Town in one direction and the Lido Martianez in the other. In order to capitalise on this prime location, the hotel has been designed to interact with the sea and the sky, from the subtly coloured reflective tiles that adorn the facade to the unusual water features visually linking the internal corridors with the ocean, and the panoramic double-storey windows of the main restaurant on the fifth floor. Owing to carefully chosen materials, such as the wood lining the reception area, textured wallpaper for feature walls and stones imported especially from India, the interiors are modern and contemporary but never bland.

The stylish guestrooms, whilst not huge, are comfortably furnished and equipped with all the latest technology. All have air-conditioning, TV, mini-fridges, safety-deposit boxes, free WiFi, and tea-and-coffee-making facilities. The modern bathrooms are partially open-plan; the washbasin/vanity unit forms part of the main room area, whilst the walk-in showers and WCs are separated for privacy. Comfort Rooms are located at the rear of the building and face an internal courtyard, so these are best suited to guests mainly seeking a comfortable base to sleep in between days spent exploring the town and the island, and who are happy to use the communal roof terrace to sit outside. For those wishing to make the most of the hotel's privileged location, we recommend the Deluxe Sea View Rooms (with lateral or frontal sea views), which have individual balconies on which to relax whilst gazing at the ocean and listening to the waves washing up against the rocky shore.

With just 69 rooms, the Silken Saaj Maar is small enough to offer a calm and personal ambience — which is further enhanced by its adults-only policy — yet large enough to boast a comprehensive range of facilities. For an additional fee, guests can enjoy the hotel's beautifully designed spa area in the basement, comprising a hydrotherapy pool with various massage jets and bubble beds, steam room, sauna, sensory showers and rest area. The hotel can also arrange a selection of massage treatments with professional practitioners, and there is a small complementary gym for those wishing to maintain their fitness routine whilst on holiday. Up on the 6th floor, the roof terrace incorporates a small outdoor pool crafted from stainless steel and surrounded by ample sun-loungers for those wishing to relax and enjoy the panoramic views. In the evenings, the rooftop bar, Hawa, transforms into the hotel's à-la-carte restaurant for gourmet dining with an emphasis on local and regional produce. An extensive buffet breakfast is served in the main restaurant, Udo, on the floor below, and for guests opting for the half-board option, dinner is also served buffet-style here. However, given the Silken Saaj Maar's central location and the wide range of local restaurants within easy walking distance, we would expect the majority of guests to opt for the bed-and-breakfast arrangement in order to have the flexibility to enjoy all that Puerto de La Cruz has to offer.