Mallorca is the middle child of the Balearic Islands, positioned perfectly between Ibiza and Menorca, and honestly, its location says everything you need to know about it. It’s calmer than its party sibling Ibiza, but bigger and with more of a scene than Menorca. It’s the island for people who want a little of everything: great food, beautiful swimmable beaches, and a dose of adventure. The island is also small enough that you can actually cover most of it in ten days. This isn’t a one-note trip; you’ll eat cliffside seafood one day and lounge at a beach club the next, and neither will feel like a compromise.
Where to Stay
Hotel: Grand Hotel Son Net
Location: Puigpunyent, Balearic Islands, Spain
Grand Hotel Son Net is a 17th-century manor at the foot of the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains, only 15 minutes from Palma. The property was restored under the same family behind Finca Cortesín. Think antique fireplaces, a private Malvasia vineyard, and Mallorcan haute cuisine from chef Sergi Olmedo. This is the classic, elegant version of the island.
Hotel: Hotel Corazón
Location: Sóller, Balearic Islands, Spain
The opposite end of the spectrum Hotel Corazón is a 15-room finca between Deià and Sóller run by a photographer and an artist. With a 1970s retro-meets-Mexican-hacienda vibe the property includes an outdoor pool, and a farm-to-table restaurant. No TVs, plenty of art, and a concierge who’ll point you to a hidden sea cave. Book Corazón if you want Mallorca to feel a little more wild.
Hotel: Belmond La Residencia
Location: Deià, Illes Balears, Spain
Two 16th-century manor houses, Belmond La Residencia, is folded into 30 acres of olive and citrus groves above Deià. This is Mallorca’s most storied address. Once owned by Richard Branson and long favored by royals and artists alike. Rooms are dressed in local antiques and original art, the sculpture garden is one of the largest of its kind in Europe, and El Olivo, the hotel’s restaurant, is set inside a 17th-century olive press. There’s a shuttle down to Cala Deià if you don’t feel like walking, though the ancient stone path through the groves is half the point.
Where to Dine/ Drink
Restaurant: Patiki Beach
Location: Soller, Mallorca
A barefoot “chiringuito” or beach bar in Soller, Patiki Beach is all wicker chairs and views of the surrounding mountains. Book ahead for a long lunch and enjoy the farm-to-table menu that changes with each season. People come back for the burrata and the local prawns.
Restaurant: Ca’s Patró March
Location: Cala Deià, Mallorca
Perched on the rocks with tables diving into turquoise water. Reservations at Ca’s Patró March are challenging to land, so ask your concierge to pull some strings, or go with a little extra time on your hands and tan, while waiting on the cove’s pristine beach. It’s also cash-only, but the fresh-caught fish and the setting make it worth the hassle. Hot tip: park in Deià and walk down to enjoy a hike along the way.
Restaurant: Bar La Sang
Location: Palma, Mallorca
Reopened this summer under a new address, Bar La Sang is Mallorca’s original natural wine bar, a Palma institution reimagined. The Lundgren family runs an intimate room, pairing tostadas of burrata and anchovies with a wine list that reads like a love letter to small-production Spanish and Catalan winemakers. Understated, well-edited, and exactly the kind of place locals don’t love sharing.
What to Do
Grand Folies
Location: Port d’Andratx, Illes Balears, Spain
Grand Folies is a 25-plus-year-old cliffside beach club over Cala Llamp, with a saltwater pool, a VIP terrace carved into the rock, and a menu that features Mediterranean, Peruvian, and Thai cuisines. Spend your day at Grand Folies diving off rocks and ordering sangria. Book ahead or arrive by water taxi straight from your boat.
Es Calo del Moro
Es Calo del Moro is the postcard cove of southern Mallorca: forty meters of pale sand between limestone cliffs, the water clear enough to look retouched. There are no amenities here, just the cliffs, the cove, and its quieter neighbor, Cala S’Almunia, connected by a short cliffside path worth the detour. Getting down requires a steep, rocky descent (and the climb back up in the midday sun is no joke). So come early, wear real shoes, and treat the effort as part of the reward; this is one of the last untouched corners of the island, and it shows.
Boat Day + Sa Foradada
Rent a boat from Port de Sóller, cruise the northwest coast, and anchor below Sa Foradada, a family-run cliffside shack that’s been serving wood-fired paella since 1972. Climb the rustic stairs up from the jetty, order the paella, and eat it looking out at the rock formation the restaurant is named for. Reservations are required.
Other Articles You’ll Like
The Best (And Most Scenic) Restaurants in Mallorca
The Best Beach Clubs for Summer
Menorca, The Spanish Island to Know
FAQs
Q: Do I need a reservation at Grand Folies?
A: Yes, book in advance to secure a chair for the day.
Q: Do I need a car to get around Mallorca?
A: Yes, a rental car is essential. Many of the best spots are down winding mountain roads with no public transit access.
Q: When’s the best time to visit Mallorca?
A: Late May through June or September into early October. You get the swimmable water and beach club season without peak-August crowds.
