The postcard-perfect Spanish island of Mallorca has everything the modern traveler needs. From its aquamarine waters, powder-sand beaches and striking mountain scenery to its medieval villages and the cosmopolitan vibe of its lively capital, Palma, Mallorca is a Mediterranean fantasy come true.
Mallorca is a Mediterranean fantasy come true.
Why Mallorca?
Mallorca has something for everyone. A sustainability trailblazer, Mallorca is famous for its organic agriculture and outstanding farm-to-table dining. While beach bums will be happy whiling away their days on one of Mallorca’s 208 beaches, gourmands will want to visit the island’s organic olive groves, wineries and citrus farms. For lovers of the great outdoors, the Tramuntana mountain range offers some excellent hiking, climbing, canyoning and mountain biking, while history buffs and city slickers will be kept busy from morning to night exploring the many wonders of Palma, voted the “best city in the world to live” by British newspaper The Financial Times in 2017.
Lovers of the great outdoors with be enamored with Mallorca.
When to go
As people plan their post-pandemic travel, many are looking to skip the crowds. The Global Travel Trends Report from American Express Travel indicates that space and privacy are becoming a top priority for luxury travelers, with 80% of survey respondents indicating that they are willing to travel to destinations during the offseason to avoid the crush. And while Mallorca can get crowded in the high season—and especially in July and August—it is gloriously laid back for large parts of the year. May, June and September are ideal for enjoying the great weather without sharing it with hordes of tourists.
The jaw-dropping multi-storey rooftop at El Llorenç is the talk of the town.
Where to stay
Mallorca has more fabulous boutique hotels than you can shake a turndown service at. El Llorenç Parc de la Mar is an oasis of calm, situated in a blissfully serene square on the edge of the historic Calatrava neighborhood, with its narrow, winding alleyways and sun-kissed squares. It boasts a timeless design, blending an Arabic-inspired aesthetic with contemporary features, a Michelin-starred restaurant by local star chef Santi Taura, a dreamy spa, and a jaw-dropping split-level rooftop that is the talk of the town, with its infinity pool, cocktail bar and bottle-green parasols. If a secluded countryside retreat is more up your alley, Mallorca promises to tickle you pink. From the uber-romantic Finca Serena, to the rural-chic Mirabó De Valldemossa, not to mention the brand-new, ultra-exclusive Can Ferrereta, the options are almost endless.
Local Michelin-starred chef Santi Taura is cooking up a storm at DINS Santi Taura restaurant in ... [+]
Where to eat
Mallorca is teeming with trendy urban eateries and secret farm-to-table restaurants. In the tiny town of Caimari, slow food pioneer Maria Solivellas runs Ca Na Toneta. The seasonal flavors of Mallorca are ever present in her produce-led tasting menus based on ingredients sourced from the chef’s family farm and a hand-picked selection of island-based producers, from farmers to fishermen and winemakers. Meanwhile, in Palma, Michelin-starred chef Adrián Quetglas is “democratizing” fine dining, bringing his unique brand of haute cuisine to a wider audience. His five-course lunchtime tasting menu is priced at only $42 and features showstoppers like poultry paté with fermented mushrooms, chestnuts and blackcurrant oil, or Atlantic trout with sweet seaweed rice of seaweed and coconut green curry.
Creamy rice with Mallorcan red prawn at DINS Santi Taura in El Llorenç Parc de la Mar Hotel.
While in Palma, don’t miss the mind-blowingly creative tapas and cocktail pairings at trendy Vandal (think eel and foie gras nigiri paired with a Japanese-style Old Fashioned), the salt-baked sea bass overlooking the old fishing port at Pesquero or the mouthwatering brunch at The Merchants, served on a leafy patio surrounded by 18th-century architecture and tropical plants.
