The best five-star hotels in Tenerife for a luxury break on the Island of Eternal Spring

Five-star doesn’t have to imply imposing facades and legions of starched-collar staff. When it comes to accommodation, both shiny-shoed finesse and barefoot seclusion sit in Tenerife’s lap of luxury. You can chill in sub-tropical gardens within the hills of the lush north, be spa-struck by the award-winning wellness facilities in Puerto de la Cruz, and loiter round private pools in the upper echelons of Costa Adeje hostelries in the sunny south. Here’s our pick of the best five-star hotels in Tenerife, from huge resorts to opulent boutique establishments in areas including Costa Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz.

This pink palace is distinctive for miles thanks to its Moorish style and the nearby Championship golf course. Facilities are extensive and there's plenty to do, with extensive spa and fitness facilities, seven pools, a beach, and two Michelin-starred restaurants. The south of Tenerife has a drier landscape and is more touristy than the north, but this is a peaceful spot far from any crowds – with swathes of lush gardens and plenty of tropical foliage around to admire. There are three categories of room but the standard rooms (Deluxe) are the largest in Tenerife and feel really spacious and comfortable, with very private balconies and big marble bathrooms.

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Modelled like a 19th-century Spanish colonial village, this is one of the top five-star resorts in Tenerife and said to represent an architectural landmark within Spanish territory. This nod to national pride is reflected in the room décor and several of the restaurant menus. For the active-minded there are tennis courts, five outdoor pools, a 24-hour gym, and organised activities aplenty, while junior guests have a kids' club, splash areas, and plenty of sandy stuff on the doorstep. Not all of the amenities involve expending energy though. There's a full-service spa, a star-gazing observatory, and scenic paths through beautiful mature gardens. Service is top-notch.

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One of the loveliest five-star hotels in Costa Adeje. Unless you were born into palatial surroundings, you can’t fail to be impressed by the level of luxury in the Royal Garden’s villas, each with private pools and scenic views. As it should be in these opulent cocoons of serenity, you’re very much left to your own devices by the staff apart from chocolate deliveries at nightly turndowns, and efficient, friendly interactions in the restaurant. In addition to the private swimming areas, a communal infinity pool flows in front of the palm-shaded reception area and laps at a beach shack-style bar. There’s also a sultry spa, plus a gym and a squash court for those unable to succumb to complete inertia.

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Aptly located opposite the delightful Botanical Gardens, this refuge of gentility is set in a residential area one mile above a black sand beach on the Puerto de la Cruz coastline. There’s a definite feel of Monte Carlo in-it’s-heyday: fat cigars are still smoked around the pool, black swans swim in a beautiful, tree-shaded garden pond, an exotic spa has a touch of the James Bond, and deep carpets line both hallways and bedrooms. Amid the western finery, you’ll find exotic hints of the owners’ close relationship with the Thai royal family lining the corridors and marbled lobby. The service is charmingly old-fashioned too, starring white-coated waiters and sharp-suited reception staff.

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Facing the greenery of the García Sanabria city park on the north-eastern edge of Santa Cruz, this is a much more cosmopolitan hotel. But that doesn’t mean to say the usual holiday needs can’t be satisfied; palm-studded Las Teresitas beach is just a five-mile ride by complimentary shuttle, and the superbly photogenic Adán Martín Auditorium is two miles away on the oceanfront. The stiff, formal fa?ade and polished marble lobby of the Grand Hotel Mencey hide a softer heart of garden lawns, trickling stone fountains, and quaint wooden balconies. Exceptional dining adds the proverbial cherry on top, and there’s an outdoor pool, gym, spa, casino and paddle courts.

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This colossal, oceanfront resort combines refined looks with a family-friendly personality. Painted in neutral colours and comprising a veritable village of five-storey buildings and towers, the resort has an air of Andalucian elegance combined with a touch of Moorish mystery. The showpiece is an enormous saltwater infinity pool, spanning almost the entire 400 metres of the resort’s frontage. Gardens guarded by tall sentinels of palms prettify the areas and dilute any sense of crowding during high season. Relaxation is the main focus, but for those with the energy, a full spectrum of daily activities for adults is provided, while a dedicated kids’ club occupies the juniors.

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Rising like a sleek ocean liner at the back of La Caleta fishing village, this family-loving property lies four minutes on foot from the black sand La Enramada Beach, and a 10-minute walk from Los Lagos golf course. While the exterior is minimalist, the hotel’s heart is anything but. Concrete and glass walkways deliver you into a cavernous, three-storey lobby carved into volcanic rock, illuminated by mood lighting and projected images. As first impressions go, it’s pretty impressive. The contemporary quarters come with fully equipped kitchens, plus living rooms, and monster terraces with ocean views, many with private pools and sundecks.

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There's only a clutch of luxury hotels with near perfect settings on Tenerife, and this is one of them. The palatial all-suite venue for adults overlooks one of the finest beaches in the south. Neat, manicured gardens vie for attention with a beautiful Arabesque pool that laps at the terraces of columned restaurants, and it’s a 20-minute oceanfront stroll to the waterfront restaurants of La Caleta fishing village. There's no subtle sign of luxury here, it's in your face at every turn, with starched linen, columned arches and Moorish towers. An exclusive VIP rooftop area contains a separate pool and spacious terraces dotted with Balinese-style beds.

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Pretty alcoves, quiet lounges and Hispanic splendour abound in this boutique, adults-only spa hotel. Its main buildings are centred around a large, open courtyard, while swimming pools, terraces and sub-tropical gardens run down the hillside overlooking the ocean. Its elegant blend of history and contemporary design in a remote, dramatic setting provides a haven of luxury for those seeking to explore the calmer side of Tenerife. Quality, space and comfort are the main elements of the rooms; the 'Level' rooms offer access to private terraces, superior sun loungers and drinks on tap. Other highlights include a Championship golf course and a funky bar set in a church.

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This cluster of whitewashed apartments, perched in a sleepy residential area high on the slopes of Tenerife’s most verdant area, is cloaked in exotic greenery overlooking the ocean and – along with two outdoor pools and a sauna – provides sun, solitude and sub-tropical surroundings. With botanical barriers and nothing but a barely audible whisper of wind through palm leaves, you feel like you’re home alone. An ocean-view sauna tucked away in the corner of a garden can be booked for private use at no charge, plus there are two outdoor pools with surrounding sundecks.

Contributions by Rachel Cranshaw

Five-star doesn’t have to imply imposing facades and legions of starched-collar staff. When it comes to accommodation, both shiny-shoed finesse and barefoot seclusion sit in Tenerife’s lap of luxury. You can chill in sub-tropical gardens within the hills of the lush north, be spa-struck by the award-winning wellness facilities in Puerto de la Cruz, and loiter round private pools in the upper echelons of Costa Adeje hostelries in the sunny south. Here’s our pick of the best five-star hotels in Tenerife, from huge resorts to opulent boutique establishments.