The best hotels in Menorca
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Until quite recently, looking for sophistication on Menorca was somewhat thankless. Mallorca, next door and five times the size was the place for glamour and celebrity, while Ibiza, of course, was where the party crowd went. In recent years, there's been a notable shift toward this unsung island hideout. The ahead-of-its-time commitment to conservation – UNESCO declared it a biosphere reserve in 1993, its natural farm-to-table affinity, the sensible shunning of motorways and suburban build-up, and its actually-still-secret beaches, have started to gain the attention of discerning travellers. Traditional fincas have been given new life and colourful personalities by some of the world's coolest hoteliers and designers, bringing fresh energy and attention to the island. Here we round up the best hotels in Menorca to know about.
hotelSon Vell
Featured on our 2024 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
In any setting or landscape, Vestige Son Vell would stand out – an imposing 18th-century Italianate villa made of stone the colour of clotted cream, and surrounded by olive and fig trees, holm oaks, chestnuts, palms, and luxuriant formal gardens. In its actual setting and landscape, amid the gently undulating agricultural fields at the western edge of Menorca, it stands out all the more. It’s probably safe to say that none of the island’s other farmhouses, charming as they are, possess this kind of dreamy, exotic elegance. The pale lusciousness of the exterior provides the basis of the design scheme throughout the 33 bedrooms – six in the main house, 27 in five single-story bungalows – and is complemented by neutral-tone textiles, limewashed timber beams, and well-judged metallic accents. The views from the villa’s upper stories are wonderful, across treetops and gardens to the ruggedly dramatic coastline, which – if the temptation to relax by the pool or feast in one of the superb restaurants can be overcome – cries out to be explored on foot or on horseback. Son Vell was the first hotel to open under the family-owned Vestige brand; half a dozen more hotels and private rental properties, all occupying buildings of historical or architectural significance in various parts of Spain, are due to follow in short order. If Son Vell is anything to go by, the arrival of Vestige is nothing but good news, marking the beginning of an extremely interesting period for the Spanish hotel scene. Steve King
Karel BalashotelExperimental Menorca
Nestled by the sea on the serene south of the island, this 19th-century finca was reimagined as a rural artist's retreat by Experimental Group and their long-time collaborator Dorothee Meilichzon. The result is a winning combination of traditional agriturismo charm and modern French flair, and they've been booked (often literally every day in summer) and busy ever since. Expect those Insta-worthy headboards that Experimental properties are known for, this time in bold geometric shapes that almost double as an art piece on the wall. Some rooms are located in the main house, originally a chapel, and come with stand-alone tubs and terraces, while others are dotted throughout the 30-hectare estate, which also comprises a swimming pool, vegetable garden, vineyards and an observation deck where yoga classes can take place overlooking the Balearic Sea. At the spa, there's also the option for aerial yoga, and the hotel hosts a number of yoga retreats throughout the year.
Chef Alex Larea heads up the glossy terracotta-red kitchen, where he takes an authentic approach to Spanish cuisine that’s more fresh than fried. Produce from the vegetable garden takes pride of place on the vibrantly printed plates. Whatever the meal, always start with the Pan con tomate – simply the most beautiful tomatoes on toast you’ll ever have – and end with the traditional Menorca pudding Torrija con helado de canela – a delicate French toast meets bread and butter pudding hybrid. With its cocktail bar heritage, the hotel’s drinks offering is naturally stellar, serving up Experimental signatures like the rum-based Old Cuban on the terrace or by the pool. Lauren Burvill
Daniel SchaeferCristine Bedfor Guest Houses Mahón
Featured on our 2022 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
The personal project of Cristina Lozano and Daniel Entrecanales (and designed by Lorenzo Castillo), Cristine Bedfor is an unclassifiable guesthouse in the city center of Mahón, the capital of Menorca. The 21 rooms eschew typical Mediterranean decor of blues and whites—instead, you’ll find walls covered with intense greens and mustards, a profusion of fabrics and floral prints, and furniture bought from antiques dealers on the island. The patio pool is small and secluded, one of those that compensate for the minutes without the sea but do not replace it: This is Menorca, after all. Nobody here would trade the sea for anything. David Moralejo
Ana LuiTorralbenc
Leave it to Spanish hotel supremo Pablo Carrington to open Menorca’s countryside must-stay (he also owns best-in-class hotels Cap Rocat on Mallorca and Gecko Beach on Formentera). A collection of whitewashed farmhouse buildings with dry-stone walls and tumbling bougainvillaea, Torralbenc has a modern, muted look, a turquoise slice of a swimming pool, and a restaurant that’s worth booking into even if you’re not staying – don’t miss the tender, charcoal-grilled octopus with romanesco sauce. By Kate Maxwell
Michel FiguetAlcaufar Vell
Of all the south-eastern retreats, the one that hits the balance between style, comfort and country charm most successfully is Alcaufar Vell. Centred on a handsome and impressive big house, this 21-room hotel has a rambling, aristocratic feel to it. The palm- and almond-shaded gardens are lovely, the bedrooms mostly large and light-filled. The three rooms and five suites added in 2007, in the former stables, are especially attractive, with more contemporary country-style decor and small patio gardens. And the hotel's Ses Cotxeries restaurant is gearing up to become one of the island's top gourmet destinations. By Lee Marshall
Ana LuiCugo Gran
The island’s only turbo-smart agriturismo, this 11-bedroom private villa with a 26-metre swimming pool, kitchen garden, vineyard and endless corners for eating, drinking and snoozing offers all the on-tap staff attention of a high-end hotel. Bedrooms are soothing shades of taupe and there’s a large sitting room upstairs with views across citrus and olive groves to the sea. Available exclusively for week-long stays only from mid-June to mid-September (from about £65,000 per week), it operates as a bed-and-breakfast in spring and autumn. By Kate Maxwell
Ana LuiUnique Properties
Menorca may not yet compete with Ibiza and Mallorca in the villa stakes, but Unique Properties & Events has keys to the best houses available. Just a few minutes’ drive from white-sand Cala Macarella, the seven-bedroom, antique-stuffed, indigo-shuttered Finca Almanya (pictured above) is delightful, and comes with a cook who makes fabulous Mediterranean suppers. Finca Saladeta has more modern interiors – bold prints, contemporary art, cactus sculptures and African figurines – plus a striking oblong of a swimming pool. By Kate Maxwell
Michel FiguetHotel Rural Sant Patrici Ca Na Xini
This eight-room retreat opened in 2008 in the grounds of Hort Sant Patrici, one of the island's largest dairy farms. Just north of the inland town of Ferreries – and thus well placed for exploring some of Menorca's deserted northern beaches – the hotel looks like a traditional estate house from the outside, surrounded by a five-hectare garden and sculpture park; the interior, however, is a cool, white-and-cream designer refuge, with the only splash of colour coming from the warm beech floors in the bedrooms. The effect is soothing rather than cold, especially with welcoming touches such as the well-stocked honesty bar in the lounge, the breakfast of organic farm produce and the à la carte picnics the staff will pack in cooler-bags for you to take to the beach. By Lee Marshall
Casa Alberti
Menorca's two main towns, Maó and Ciutadella, are still on a hotel learning curve. In Maó, the only place that really catches the town's air of faded grandeur is Casa Albertí. The personable owner, Daniel Crespo, has turned a house dating from 1740 into a characterful, six-room boutique hotel. It has a magnificent staircase that leads to all the rooms and ends in a panoramic roof terrace. The mix of family heirlooms and contemporary fittings doesn't always work, but the location, right in the middle of the old town, couldn't be better; and Crespo is a great source of insider island information and tips. By Lee Marshall
Biniarroca
In the south-east – handy for Maó and the southern beaches – is one of the original rural hotels, Biniarroca. Run by two English women (a painter and a former fashion designer), it is still a bijou charmer, with its colonnaded swimming pool, verdant gardens and warren of bedrooms, each a unique assemblage of antiques, sunny floral fabrics and artworks. By Lee Marshall
Faustino Gran Relais & Chateaux
The loveliest place to stay in Ciutadella, this bolthole has the run of a sprawling 16th-century merchant’s palace in the city’s historic centre. Paris-based owner Laurent Morel-Ruymen has overseen a contemporary reimagining of the space: the 24 bedrooms are crisp and pared-back, there’s a little spa and steaming hammam down in vaults, and a saltwater swimming pool in the garden, as well as sculptures by local artist Pedro Rodriguez. And in its restaurant, Fuego, the Argentine chef is doing great things with locally sourced beef and pork. New this year is a beach club further up the coast.