The most marvellous Mallorca hotels for Balearic bliss
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The most marvellous Mallorca hotels for Balearic bliss
When it comes to a classic beach holiday in Europe, you can't beat this beautiful Balearic isle and a browse of the best Mallorca hotels will show you why it's one of our favourites.
Tenerife and Gran Canaria are fine islands for Spanish sunshine, but if it's a Mediterranean beauty you're after, Mallorca, or Majorca (the popular spelling in English), is the isle worth considering.
Renowned for its beach resorts, sparklingly turquoise seas and hilltop villages, Spain's most popular island has a buzzing art scene, too. Spanish surrealist Joan Miró held his first solo exhibition in the island's oldest contemporary art gallery, Sala Pelaires, still open today. While a 15-minute drive from the city centre takes you to Cala Major and Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró, the artist's home and studio turned museum.
The capital Palma is dominated by Palma Cathedral – known by its Catalan name, Le Seu – a magnificent Moorish sandstone edifice overlooking the Bay of Mallorca. If you want to stay nearby, Can Cera is an adults-only boutique hotel in the heart of the gothic quarter.
Swerving the brash beach resorts of Palma Nova and Magaluf, you might wish to seek out the quieter resorts of Canyamel or Campos on the south coast, where you'll find stylish beachfront hotels and adults-only resorts like Fontsanta Hotel.
For a more rural stay, venture up to the mountains of Serra de Tramuntana to Deiá, a tiny, peach-hued village which has drawn artists, musicians and the Hollywood set for decades, and home to the La Residencia, one of the most exclusive hotels on the island.
Families prefer the pretty little town of Sóller, and its seaside neighbour, Port de Sóller whose soft, sandy beaches curve around a horseshoe bay. Many day visitors arrive by vintage train which runs along a narrow gauge track from Palma to Sóller.
From boutique hotels to sprawling resorts, here's our pick of the best Mallorca hotels. Whether you're after luxury, a couples' escape or a stay on the beach, we've got you covered.
Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa/Courtesy of the hotel - 2/11
1) Hotel Convent de la Missió, Palma
For a truly classic Mallorcan stay, check out the beautiful Hotel Convent de la Missió in Palma's atmospheric old town. Housed in a 17th-century former nunnery, its quiet location just off the Las Ramblas hides a rooftop terrace with an outdoor pool and views of the cathedral – perfect for cooling off in the midday sun. There's also a spa area with a sauna and jacuzzi.
The 27 rooms and suites are simple yet serene with pale wood furnishings and comfy beds, some have vaulted ceilings or a private roof terrace. Enjoy an aperitif in the Art Bar, before dinner at Marc Fosh, the hotel's widely acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant, both decorated with a wealth of local artwork.
Booking.com - 3/11
2) St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort, Portals Nous
An easy 15-minute drive from the cultural charms of Palma, St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort is a swish family resort on the beach is well placed for exploring every nook and cranny of this compact island. From the butler service for all rooms, the Michelin-starred Es Fum restaurant to the nighty sabering of the champagne in the bar, you simply can't beat the luxury experiences offered by the St. Regis brand.
One of the biggest draws to the Mardavall is the expansive spa Arabella – one of the largest in Europe – which offers no less than 60 transformative treatments. Add in the cabana-lined pools and the ocean view golf course and you're guaranteed to return home feeling like a different person.
Booking.com - 4/11
3) Belmond La Residencia, Deià
Ancient olive trees, peach-hued fincas and endless views rolling down to the sea, it's easy to see what attracted the English poet and novelist Robert Graves and his steady stream of artist friends to Deià, the gorgeous bohemian village in the heart of Serra de Tramuntana. More recently, it's become a hideout for the Hollywood set and the super-rich including Richard Branson, who loved La Residencia so much he bought it.
Now owned by Belmond, the exclusive boutique hotel is spread across a pair of honey-stoned manor houses. Guests can walk in the mountains with the resident donkeys, take an art class or simply relax in the luxe spa in the grounds. Lunch in Café Miró and enjoy dinner in El Olivo, which has a spectacular terrace overlooking the mountains and the sea.
Booking.com - 5/11
4) Can Cera, Palma
Hidden behind a giant oak door in the heart of Palma's gothic quarter, this adults-only boutique hotel housed in a 17th-century palace is packed with old-school charm. Centred around a leafy courtyard – perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail – Can Cera is just the spot for a chic weekend break in the island capital.
Quiet, airy rooms have a curated vibe with wooden shutters and muted tones, offering some rare tranquility from the city hustle. After a day of exploring Palma's arty delights, enjoy authentic Spanish tapas in the restaurant, which famously champions local producers. There's also a cosy spa which has a solarium and treatments, plus the usual sauna, whirlpool and hammam.
Booking.com - 6/11
5) Ca's Xorc Luxury Retreat, Sóller
For a more tranquil retreat, consider staying in one of Mallorca's many agriturismos. Tucked away in the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains, Sóller is one of the most prestigious destinations on the island. This restored 18th-century olive mill has been transformed into the beautiful adults-only Ca's Xorc Luxury Retreat and is bursting with authenticity from the hand-painted tiles and fireplaces to the original olive press in the restaurant.
The handful of rooms are beautifully decorated: think high ceilings, wooden shutters and beautifully tiled floors, and all have views over the Serra de Tramuntana. Both the restaurant and the infinity pool has spectacular views over the mountains and down to the sea.
Booking.com - 7/11
6) Fontsanta Hotel, Campos
Tucked away in the southeastern corner of Mallorca, the Salobrar de Campos nature reserve is home to a Roman thermal spring. Stay in this stunning adults-only spa hotel to enjoy its mineral-rich and health-boosting waters. Housed in the 19th-century farmhouse, Fontsanta Hotel's chic rooms overlook the Es Trenc salt plains or the wetlands of the reserve, which regularly attract flamingos.
The closest beach is Es Trenc, which is two kilometres away, but the spa makes full use of nature's hot springs, while an outdoor pool set in the lush gardens overlooks the reserve. Don't miss dinner in the restaurant, which serves well-executed, locally sourced Mediterranean dishes every night.
Booking.com - 8/11
7) Sant Jaume Design Hotel, Palma
If you fancy staying in Palma's historic quarter, this chic boutique hotel is slipped between the gothic Sant Jaume Church and Santa Magdalena covent. Moments from both the cathedral, the galleries and the shops on Paseo del Borne, Sant Jaume Design Hotel is well placed for a stylish weekend in the island capital.
Awash with local art and gently muted hues, rooms are surprisingly spacious and many have views over the honey-stoned streets and squares of Palma's old town. For a real treat, book a suite with a private terrace, a hot tub and views of the cathedral. There's also a rooftop spa area with a plunge pool and a sauna, while a hip little bar and cantina serves topnotch cocktails and local Mallorcan dishes.
Booking.com - 9/11
8) El Llorenç Parc de la Mar, Palma
With sweeping views over the Bay of Palma, this sprawling beachfront hotel is just the ticket for a sun-drenched week away – yet still within easy reach of the cultural delights, restaurants and art galleries of Palma. Perched on a Roman rampart overlooking the Parc de la Mar, a stay at El Llorenç Parc de la Mar is all about luxe living, from the infinity pool overlooking the Mediterranean to the Michelin-starred Dins restaurant, which combines classic with contemporary Mallorcan dishes.
As an adults-only hotel, it has a tranquil vibe, not least in the fancy subterranean spa, which has an indoor pool, sauna and steam rooms and numerous treatments on offer for the ultimate destress.
Booking.com - 10/11
9) Jumeirah Port Sóller Hotel & Spa, Sóller
Overlooking the beaches of Port Sóller and the rugged Tramuntana mountains, Jumeirah Port Sóller Hotel & Spa offers more than a touch of luxury to your next Mallorcan escape. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Sóller beach, it's a great place to relax with the whole family. While children can make full use of all the activities on offer in the kids' club, parents can enjoy the peace and quiet of the adults-only infinity pool overlooking the sea or a pampering in the spa.
Dine out on only the freshest seafood at the hotel's chichi Cap Roig Brasserie, gourmet Mallorcan dishes at Es Fanals or sample Japanese/Peruvian fusion and a cocktail or two at the Sunset Lounge, there's little reason to leave the resort.
Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa/Courtesy of the hotel - 11/11
10) Hotel Can Simoneta, Canyamel
Moments from the blonde sweep of Canyamel beach and no less than four golf courses, Hotel Can Simoneta is an upmarket adults-only retreat on the northeastern coast of Mallorca that offers a real escape from the hubbub of life. Spread across a clutch of century-old fincas, there are just 26 rooms, all pale woods, soft lighting and views over the Sierra de Lavante mountains. For a real treat, book one of the suites with a chill-out area, a hot tub or direct view of the sea.
Relax in the spa, read around the clifftop pool or wander down to the quiet beach via the hotel's private access. For dinner, venture over to Can Simoneta, the hotel's oh-so romantic fine dining restaurant which has a terrace overlooking the sea.
Booking.com
