If your choice of a hotel is determined by the number of official stars it has, you’ll have plenty of places to choose from in Mallorca: the island now has some 65-and-counting 5-star hotels. If that sounds bewildering, you may wish to check out the Michelin Guide’s new distinction for outstanding hotels: the Michelin Key. It’s the hotel equivalent of the Michelin Star for restaurants and was launched on April 29, 2024. What is the […]
The coastal village of Colònia de Sant Pere has some of the best views for eating and drinking out in Mallorca – in my opinion. From one of the several, seafront restaurants, you have views across the Bay of Alcúdia to the northern end of the Serra de Tramuntana – the UNESCO World Heritage Site mountain range. Sunset here is glorious. But there are times when I’d sacrifice the view for a visit to Can […]
For our first wedding anniversary after moving to Mallorca in 2004 – and several subsequent anniversaries – we spent a night away at the romantic Hotel Valldemossa. The hotel – originally two 19th-century stone houses – has gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and countryside as well as La Cartuja, the Royal Charterhouse. The Polish composer Chopin famously spent a mid-19th century winter in the former monastery with his lover, the writer George Sand (real name […]
One of Mallorca’s best-known traditional bakeries began life in the market town of Campos in the south of Mallorca. Pastisseries Pomar was founded in 1902 in the market town and the original premises are still in Carrer de Plaça. Today the business is run by the fourth and fifth generations of the family that founded it and has three premises in Campos and one in Palma (in Carrer Manacor, almost adjacent to the junction with […]
Our favourite place to eat lunch with our toes buried in the sand is open for the 2024 season. Ponderosa Beach is today a very different business from that started by the current owners’ grandparents back in the ’50s to offer refreshments to people spending time on Playa de Muro’s gorgeous beach. We first discovered the contemporary Ponderosa Beach – an establishment serving surprisingly good and interesting food and drinks – back in 2014 and have […]
La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel – which features several times in my novel Daughter of Deià – re-opens today for the 2024 season. The iconic village hotel celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and has plenty of interesting activities and developments lined up. Art This has long been a hotel for lovers of art and, for the third consecutive year, Belmond continues its collaboration with the international art gallery Galleria Continua. As part of the art […]
Looking for authentic Italian food in Mallorca’s capital, Palma? Then do as the King of Spain and Hollywood ‘royalty’, Morgan Freeman, have done and head for Sandro Restaurante. Sandro Restaurante is named after Sandro Putignano, previously the maître d’ at the former Puerto Portals restaurant Tristán, which had two Michelin stars back in the day. Sandro left Tristán after twelve years to open his eponymous restaurant in May 2014. Offering authentic Italian cucina, this natural-light-filled, high-ceilinged […]
Although Mallorca has a coastline of around 550 kilometres, there are not as many restaurants dedicated mainly to seafood as you’d think. Seafood is, of course, found on many eatery menus but if you’re looking for a renowned restaurant where the culinary focus is on fish and shellfish, I’d recommend Ca n’Eduardo in Palma. This restaurant is one of the oldest in Palma, having been in business for 80 years; it’s recognised in Palma’s Emblematic […]
If you’ve eaten in London at the Spanish restaurants Fino and Barrafina, I think you’ll enjoy El Camino in Palma. The owner of this smart tapas restaurant in Mallorca’s capital is Eddie Hart, one of the brothers behind those successful London restaurants. Eddie spent many childhood and teenage summer holidays at his family’s second home here on the island. Who can blame him for moving from London to the slower-paced life of beautiful Mallorca? It […]
The Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel is set on the verdant, hillside area of Mallorca known as Son Vida. It overlooks the island’s capital and the Bay of Palma beyond and has been described as the Beverley Hills of Mallorca because of its allure for the wealthy. Here’s where you’ll find architect-designed villas with sumptuous gardens, all enjoying breathtaking views and privacy. The owners of these properties have fairly easy access to a highway all […]
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