As a perennially popular destination attracting millions of visitors every year, most of Mallorca’s hotels are functional, seventies-era properties built to absorb the package holiday hordes. Away from the resorts, however, the Balearic isle has also long been a magnet for a more sophisticated traveller demanding somewhere a little more upmarket. From converted monasteries to restored 15th-century castles, we’ve picked ten of the very best of the island’s seriously upscale properties, where luxury comes as standard and prices can reach eye-watering.
One of the best known and certainly most luxurious hotels on the island, the Belmont La Residencia also features a superlatively picturesque setting among scented citrus and olive groves nestled in the foothills of the Tramuntana mountain range. Candlelit fine dining, an award-winning spa, and two gorgeous outdoor pools are just some of the hotel’s highlights, while for ultimate indulgence a deluxe villa boasts a plunge pool with views over the Mediterranean. Art lovers will also be wowed by the unique art collection, featuring no less than 33 original Joan Miró paintings.
Set in the quieter side of Palma’s richly historic old town, the Hotel Sant Francesc oozes effortless style from its beautiful period-chic reception to its gorgeous rooftop terrace overlooking the eponymous church. Most of the original neoclassical features of this 19th-century mansion have been meticulously restored, but with a light contemporary touch that makes for achingly eye-pleasing results. But it’s not all aesthetics, with an outstanding fine dining restaurant, high-tech in-room amenities, and a rooftop swimming pool with poolside sushi bar that puts the icing on one very luxurious cake.
Housed in a restored 18th-century Jesuit monastery, the Son Brull Hotel and Spa expertly combines charming historic architecture with some gorgeous 21st-century design. The rural setting is also pretty special nestled among vineyards, lavender and lemon orchards in the foothills of the Tramontana sierra. A luxury teakwood spa is a highlight and, largely sourced from products grown on the surrounding farmland, the on-site dining is outstanding. As five-star rustic retreats go, they don’t get much better than this.
The family-run Fontsanta Hotel can boast a genuinely unique selling point – a thermal spring that feeds its spa, the only one of its kind in the Balearics and rich in minerals. The rest of this 19th-century former country house is also pretty special, with delicious high-end dining, beautifully minimalist guest rooms, and the peace and serenity that come from a totally child-free property.
What first distinguishes the five-star Castell Son Claret is the fact it occupies a castle with roots as far back as the 15th century. The setting is also genuinely stunning, amongst hundreds of acres of beautiful parkland and well-tended gardens in the Tramuntana foothills. An infinity pool provides panoramic vistas of the gorgeous surrounds, while dining has been confirmed as world-class with a Michelin star.
Perched on a hill overlooking the picturesque valley of Puigpunyent, this former 17th-century country estate also scores high on stunning surrounds. A 30-metre pool lined with canopied cabanas makes the most of these scenic vistas, while palatial guest rooms feature charming period features such as exposed beams and stone arches. Art fans will find works by the likes of Chagall, Hockney and Andy Warhol gracing the walls. There’s also a choice of two restaurants serving outstanding Mallorcan-inspired dishes and wine produced from the hotel’s own vineyards – alternatively a treehouse is available for private dinner parties.
At just 24 suites this boutique property fits into the small-but-perfectly-formed category of luxury hotels. Interiors are exquisitely tasteful, seamlessly integrating chic minimalist styling into the four-centuries-old stone finca. A swimming pool is surrounded by canopied Bali-beds and the restaurant is presided over by a Michelin-starred chef. A WhatsApp concierge is also on call around the clock to help organise anything from hiking to horse riding around the picturesque countryside surrounds.
Built on a cliff overlooking the sweeping bay of Port Soller, the views from this Mallorcan outpost of the luxury Jumeirah chain are some of the island’s finest. Unlike many high-end hotels, this one is super family-friendly, with kids’ club and separate family pool. The likes of a clifftop hydrotherapy pool, a deluxe spa, and infinity-edge swimming pool also distinguish this seriously upscale property, with three restaurants and two bars completing the impressive package.
A landmark hotel since the fifties – when it was a famed haunt of the old-school jet set – the Hospes Maricel Mallorca still channels plenty of palatial glamour. The property comprises a centuries-old neo-classical mansion and swish contemporary additions, plus terrace and an infinity pool directly overlooking the sea. A gorgeous spa offers an indoor-outdoor pool, hammam, Jacuzzi and sauna, while most of the 51 rooms and suites offer superb sea views – some even from private plunge pools.
Set a stone’s throw from the super-yachts of the swanky Port Portals marina, the St Regis Mardavall is well placed to attract the millionaires (and the odd billionaire) who frequent this stretch of Mallorca’s south coast. What it might lack in style, it makes up for in spades with facilities, offering such standout features as one of Europe’s biggest spas, boasting an indoor-outdoor pool, Egyptian brine bath, and range of traditional Chinese treatments. Fine dining comes in the form of a Michelin-starred restaurant while a butler service gives the service a genuinely five-star feel.
