The restaurant world equivalent of the Oscars (Academy Awards) are the Michelin stars, and last night was when the new stars for the 2026 edition of the Guía Michelin were announced. The gala event was held in the SOHRLIN Cultural Centre in Malaga – which was hosting this prestigious annual event for the first time. Among the 700 attendees was the Hollywood actor, Antonio Banderas, who was born and still lives in the Andalusian city. After […]
Here are three more rural hotels in Mallorca with restaurants that I recommend. Jacaranda This is the restaurant of the 5-star Finca Serena, the appropriately named rural hotel near Montuïri, in the heart of Mallorca. The estate covers some 40 hectares that are home to vineyards, more than 800 olive trees, and fresh-produce plots, but also plenty of space for walking, jogging (if you’re so inclined), and soaking up the peace and beauty of the […]
One of the best things about being on holiday (or even only a day off) is the freedom to do what you want when you want. But if that means preferring to eat a good meal at four, five, or even six o’clock (to make the most of the day’s beach/shopping/exploring time), you need to know about a great restaurant that’s open all day. Oh, and 365 days a year. May I suggest Negre in […]
Mallorca’s 2025 season has begun for La Residencia, a Belmond Hotel, in the mountain village of Deià. Although the hotel is closed in the winter months, plenty goes on behind the closed gates to ensure that the 5-star hotel continues to meet the increasing demands of its discerning – and well-travelled – guests. Art, wellness, cuisine, and sustainability have all been under the microscope and further enhanced during Deià’s quietest months. Art The hotel’s ‘Artists […]
Mallorca’s weather has been a little ‘off’ recently (at least in the northeast of the island, where I live), but wildflowers are appearing in fields and verges, with the promise of better weather to come as we approach the official start of spring. Seasonal restaurants and hotels are starting to re-open and, if you’re a Mallorca resident, you may find some special hotel deals for residents during this early part of the season. One hotel […]
It’s known as lightning fish, dolphinfish, mahi mahi, and the local name, llampuga. Call it what you will, this seasonal, migratory fish is so named locally because its arrival in the seas around Mallorca coincides with the end-of-summer thunderstorms. Llamp is the Catalan word for lightning. This white fish is delicious grilled or fried simply in olive oil with garlic and red peppers, but creative home cooks and professional chefs can find plenty of ways […]
Where did the summer go? It’s hard to believe that September is already here, and the meteorological autumn has begun. I refuse to say goodbye to summer until the astronomical autumn begins on the 23rd of this month. I say this even though a heavy storm is raging over a large part of Mallorca this afternoon, making everything look – and sound – positively autumnal. With a few weeks of astronomical summer left, there’s still […]
Mallorca has plenty of Italian eateries for those who, like me, enjoy the flavours of Italy. Italian restaurants are also usually a good option for vegetarians, of whom there are a few among my family and friends, so it’s helpful to know some good places. If you’re looking for a taste of la dolce vita in the northeast part of Mallorca – the area known as the Llevant – here are three I’d recommend. El […]
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 […]
For the third year running, we spent our wedding anniversary (coinciding with Valentine’s Day) at Mallorca’s hideaway, rural 5-star hotel, Finca Can Beneït. This was our fourth visit in total to this beautiful property in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Serra de Tramuntana, and each time we’ve found enhancements to the guest experience. The Arrival The first enhancement we noticed this year was the installation of a gate at the entrance to the finca. […]
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