Mas Salagros, high up in the woods just a half an hour from Barcelona, is the perfect spot for those looking for a more relaxing visit to the Catalan capital, or just a weekend break of luxurious rest and relaxation. Tucked away in a stunning nature reserve, Mas Salagros is the ultimate eco sanctuary, where you will wake up to the sound of singing birds, surrounded by views of Parc de la Serralada Litoral with clean and fresh air to fill your lungs.

The hotel is spread across a complex of buildings. The reception is located in the 15th-century masia, where an original engraved stone shows the building's origins dating back to 1820. This building retains it's classic country house feel, while the remaining buildings within the complex are more contemporary, having been designed to maximise the eco potential of the property.

EcoResort

Sustainability is at the heart of everything at Mas Salagros. It was designed and built with a commitment to energy efficiency and waste management in mind. For example, buildings were designed to face south to make the most of the sunlight.

This design utilises green roofs on top of rooms to insulate the building, maintaining a stable temperature and absorbing CO2 while also helping with the environment's biodiversity.

The Mas Salagros farm grows a lot of the organic produce that is served throughout its restaurants. Lettuce, tomatoes, courgette, aubergine were all being grown during my stay. Workshops are offered in the farm which is a fantastic way to teach children (and adults!) about planting and harvesting food fresh from the garden.

The Tesla 'Destination Charging’ allows guests to charge their cars while they are at the hotel. There are two charging points for compatible electric cars, making this an ideal spot to enjoy the Catalan countryside from in your more environmentally friendly electric car.

Rooms

The 60 rooms at Mas Salagros are spread across different buildings throughout the vibrant green landscaped gardens. All rooms have either a terrace or a garden and look out to the pool and woods beyond. Inside, stripped wooden floors, pale walls and recycled furniture give a boho feel.

Our Garden Suite was ideally located just steps away from the pool. It combined a separate sleeping and living area and opened out to our own small garden complete with loungers and a small porch table, making it feel like a little home away from home.

Rooms are decorated with restored, sustainable materials. Beds are handmade, while bedsheets, duvets, robes and towels are all made with organic materials. The bedhead to our bed was a recycled screen and side tables took inspiration from local floor tiling.

The mini bar is included in the room, filled with organic takes on popular favourites. Meanwhile the designer kettle will come in helpful to enjoy a tea in your garden when waking up to the cooler morning air.

The spacious bathroom had both a plunge bath tub and separate walk-in shower. Natural bathroom amenities were supplied by L’Occitane and will hopefully soon come in more eco, reusable containers.

Dining

Dining at Mas Salagros is a slow food affair, using km0 produce, much of which is grown in the Mas Salagros farm and gardens. Menus are therefore constantly changing, using the freshest seasonal produce to create memorable Mediterranean cuisine and unique dining experiences.

Restaurant 1497

Restaurant 1497 has been named from the date that the first documents have recorded the Can Salagros farmhouse. It offers a 100% organic tasting menu with a selection of seasonal dishes, along with some of the best certified-organic wines.

The design builds on the idea of being in nature with natural woods and wild flower decoration. Windows are well positioned to maximise views as the sun sets into the mountains ahead.

Giving prior notice, the chef created a truly standout vegan tasting menu with local wine pairing, that was one of the highlight moments of my stay at Mas Salagros. Starting with a single patata brava, strawberry gazpacho, red quinoa salad, tofu with tomatoes and olives, green spinach vegetable risotto and finishing off with a mandarin sorbet and a carrot cake with raspberry coulis. The whole menu was perfectly creative and complimenting in flavours throughout.

Make sure to start your evening enjoying a cocktail on the terrace as the sun sets that offers some of the best views to the Parc de la Serralda Litoral.

Cibus

Cibus, with an outdoor terrace, is the place to enjoy a long lazy lunch. The menu of tapas and small dishes uses organic seasonal ingredients and offers a more relaxed space to dine, particularly for families with small children.

Cibus is also the space where breakfast is served each morning. Much of the produce comes straight from the resorts gardens. Fresh fruits, organic juices, fresh bread, cereals and desserts - a great start to the day enjoyed on Cibus’ terrace.

Gastro Wine Bar

The Gastro Wine Bar serves some of the best organic wines in the area, and driving through the surrounding countryside, you will soon see that there are a lot of them. Accompanied by a selection of tapas, the Gastro Wine Bar is the place to get a real taste for how good Catalan wines are. Barrels have been set up on the outside terrace to create a separate space from which to enjoy a taste of local life.

Spa

AIRE Ancient Baths Vallmoranes

The spa at Mas Salagros is within the AIRE Ancient Baths, a space dedicated to relax both body and mind. With international locations in Spain, the U.S. and openings soon coming to London and Scandinavia, the bath experience at AIRE has come to be highly regarded for its modern take on ancient Roman bathhouses.

Baths are kept at different temperatures from the caladrium where temperatures are up to forty degrees celsius to the frigidarium ice bath where temperatures get as low as sixteen degrees, thought to reactivate blood circulation with a reinvigorating effect. My favourite was the floatarium that is packed with salt to help you stay afloat and achieve ultimate relaxation.

Treatments are available after your bathhouse experience, with a list of massages to suit every need. The menu is packed full of a variety of experiences including a ‘Vegan Experience’ involving an exfoliation followed by a relaxing massage, using all vegan products.

Activities

There are two pools that are perfect for a lounging afternoon cooling off from the warm sun. One pool, more tucked away, is for adults only while the main pool can be enjoyed by families.

A small gym is available for guests looking to work out during their stay. Although I can highly recommend getting outside and enjoying the natural setting instead.

The local area has everything from award-wining golf courses, hiking, natural springs and breathtaking coves and beaches that can all be easily explored from your base at Mas Salagros. This is a property that is leading the way with in sustainable tourism while maintaining it’s luxury status throughout, the perfect escape from bustling Barcelona