The ten Balearic hotels to check into for an idyllic island break

Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay
Ibiza

Nobu’s trajectory from exclusive New York restaurant to international hospitality group has been exciting to observe. Remarkably for an expansion of this scale, the brand has managed to maintain its exclusivity and high quality, successfully transferring both from its restaurants to its hotels. This is no more evident than in the launch of Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay on Cala Talamanca, which opened in 2018. Here, the Nobu signature aesthetic has been splashed with a touch of the Mediterranean, by way of handcrafted ceramics, natural wood and woven textures, without ever losing site of the chic, clean Japanese aesthetic that won Nobu fans when the first restaurant launched in New York 25 years ago. Beyond the guestrooms, the stars of the show are no doubt the hotel’s four restaurants, which range from an eponymous eatery offering Nobu’s signature Japanese fusion cuisine, to Chambao, which specialises in freshly caught seafood and Balearic dishes.

Cami ses Feixes 52, T +34 971 19 2222, www.nobuhotelibizabay.com, rates from: €630

Hacienda Na Xamena
Ibiza

Merging classic Ibizan white-washed aesthetics, a coastal location and views of the Mediterranean Sea from a cliff-side position in Port de Sant Miguel, Hacienda Na Xamena presents the idyllic reality of a Balearic getaway. With interiors designed by Alvar Lipszyc and Play | Offside, the Ibiza-style country estate is home to 77 rooms and suites, each styled with a mixture of rustic and contemporary furnishings, light and breezy palettes and paintings by both local and international artists. Elsewhere two restaurants – including the Mediterranean-flavoured Edén Restaurant by Fran López – offer simple, organic cuisine, while three freshwater swimming pools present ample opportunity for both post- and pre-prandial recreation.

Na Xamena s/n, T +34 971 33 4500, www.haciendanaxamena-ibiza.com, rates from: €370

ME Hotel
Ibiza

Rooftop pools are the norm in this corner of Spain, but that in no way minimises the impact of ME Hotel’s spectacular infinity number, which stretches into uninterrupted views of the Mediterranean Sea beyond. Located near the Santa Eulalia marina and a short walk from S'Argamassa Beach the hotel is a sophisticated blend of Ibiza’s renowned boho charm, luxury accommodation and a touch of international glamour, thanks to the well-travelled crowd the hotel attracts. Guestrooms epitomise this elegant amalgamation with a serene medley of pale tones, clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the sea or neighbouring Nikki Beach. A similar calming vibe can be enjoyed at the Codage Paris Spa on the hotel’s terrace, offering a litany of restorative treatments against the backdrop of the sea. It’s all undone at the hotel’s food and drink outlets, led by Radio Rootop Bar, which sees Michelin-starred chef Ángel León craft a series of avant-garde sea-influenced dishes this summer.

Urbanización S'Argamassa 153, T 34 971 330 051, www.melia.com, rates from: €350

Nakar Hotel
Palma de Mallorca

A 1950s building has been coaxed back to its former glory, thanks to local Palma hotelier Toni Ramis and architect Magi Marqués, who together have transformed the Pension Nacar building on one of the city’s liveliest streets into the 57-room Nakar Hotel. Along with designer Marga Rotger’s touches – contemporary accents of pale oak, stone, black lacquered iron, glass and copper – a rationalist design aesthetic pervades. The result is a harmonious marriage of neutral colours, soothing lighting and simple planes, which together create the calm atmosphere that is Nakar’s signature. This commitment to relaxation is punctuated by the presence of a subterranean spa, where bamboo details, a shadowy palette and a heated pool, steam bath and sauna, offer holistic rejuvenation. Elsewhere, a 9th floor rooftop sundeck and infinity pool offer views and beats; a more subdued mood can be found at CUIT Bar and Restaurant, which serves local cuisine from chef Miquel Calent.

Avenida Jaime III 21, T +34 971 720 223, www.nakarhotel.com, rates from: €105

Hotel Cort
Palma de Mallorca

The centre of Palma’s Old Town sets the stage for Hotel Cort, a wholly modern and serene bolthole of 16 rooms designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violán. Located in a building that was formerly a bank, the hotel is also host to a slew of original features, such as detailed stone mouldings, sandstone balconies and fireplaces. Bathrooms dressed in tones of blue and ultramarine nod to the locale’s proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, while a harmonious mix of textures that range from wood and leather, to linen and marble lend a homely feel to the property. Lined with a mixture of patterned floor tiles and giant hanging chandeliers, a sprawling ground floor terrace serves an all day Mediterranean menu alongside a raw bar, while a sun terrace carves a neat and serene retreat in this increasingly bustling city.

Plaça De Cort 11, T +34 971 213 300, www.hotelcort.com, rates from: €168

Sant Francesc Hotel Singular
Palma de Mallorca

Combining an historic 1880 manor house, a prime location on Plaza San Francicso, and contemporary design, Sant Francesc Hotel Singular serves as a stylish base camp from which to experience Palma. Originally built as the residence of the Alomar family – a wealthy clan who owned a number of Caribbean plantations – the 42-room hotel is carved from a thoroughly renovated neoclassical structure where original details such as frescoes, beams and coffered ceilings abound. Working closely with the building’s current owners, the Soldevila Ferrer family, architect Tolo Cursach, interior decorator Maria Jose Cabré and landscape designer Ana Esteve have successfully merged features such as a Baroque façade with present-day designs from Antonio Citterio, Jaime Hayon and Paola Navone. The Quadrat restaurant, led by chef Alfonso Lilo, serves Med-inspired dishes, while a rooftop pool and terrace is ideally placed for soaking up the sun with cooling cocktails and breathtaking views of the Mallorcan capital.

Plaza Sant Francesc 5, T +34 971 495 131, www.hotelsantfrancesc.com, rates from: €285

La Granja
Sant Mateu

An innovative concept, where 10 hectares of farmland meets hospitality, forms the base of La Granja, an 11-suite members-only retreat based in the hamlet of Buscastell. A heady mix of prickly pear orchards, pine groves, and fig and lemon trees, the sprawling estate is the only backdrop one can envisage framing this 200-year old farmhouse and guesthouse, also home to layered views of ocean and greenery. Designed by Armin Fischer of Dreimeta, La Granja blends timber beamed ceilings and arched walls, while hammered iron doorknobs, weaved baskets doubling as lanterns, and generous swathes of stone, rough linen and slate combine to produce a soothing palette and relaxed aesthetic. The hideaway’s kitchen, hosted by chef José Catrimán, makes full use of the farm’s haul of produce to create a slow food menu designed to supplement La Granja’s yoga and meditation workshop programs, as well as a mescal hour and daily DJ-sets by the outdoor pool.

Carretera Forada a Sant Mateu KM 1, T +34 615 406 588, www.lagranjaibiza.com

Sir Joan Hotel
Ibiza

The launch of Sir Joan on the Balearic island of Ibiza has cemented the Dutch Sir Hotels group’s formidable expansion in Europe in recent years. As the first beachside retreat for the group, the 38-room hotel mirrors Ibiza’s compelling duality as both an exclusive luxury destination and a hedonistic party island. In addition to views over the Old Town and the marina, the hotel – a series of stacked shimmering, cubes – is shaped by architecture and interiors conceived by founder Liran Wizman and Tel Aviv-based studio Baranowitz + Kronenberg. Together they have created a chilled out retreat where interiors include polished stainless steel wall panels, maritime rope detailing and an abundance of white marble. An in-house restaurant, Izakaya, serving a Peruvian-Japanese menu of fresh sushi and sashimi or robata-grilled meats is a refreshing alternative to the usual local tapas offerings.

Passeig de Joan Carles I 1, T + 34 871 18 2525, www.sirhotels.com/joan, rates from: €144

Paradiso Art Hotel
Ibiza

A riot of colour, art and energy on Ibiza’s San Antonio Bay, Paradiso Art Hotel is a new hotel making a splash on the island. Here, 60 artists have collaborated on Art Paradiso, an in-house cultural programme that sees a rolling roster of contemporary art shaping each guest’s stay. Alongside a library with access to specialist art tomes, and a gallery with seasonally changing contemporary exhibitions are a number of art-themed parties and weekend micro residencies with artists. Guestrooms are no less lively, doused in bold palettes of pale pastels, accompanied by neon accents and colourful mosaic tile flooring. Marshall speakers and Smeg fridges in each accommodation add a 1770s touch, augmented by original art following the same theme. The fun is continued at the poolside Flamingo parties, which combine retro attire, brunch and cocktails, followed by Boogie Nights, a playful tribute night that just about sums up this bouyant bolthole.

Calle de la Ruda 5, T +34 971 39 3268, www.concepthotelgroup.es, rates from: €350

Purohotel Palma
Palma de Mallorca

Historic properties converted into contemporary hotels barely make a rumble on that basis alone in Palma, such is their ubiquity. However, an extensive refurbishment by OHLAB of an 18th-century palace, has set the city’s Purohotel a pace ahead of the rest. Embracing the property’s irregular configuration, unique layout and quirks, OHLAB has created a series of rooms that are, while uniform in decor, completely bespoke and tailored to their own proportions. The unifying thread throughout is an earthy aesthetic that is the sum of natural materials such as oak wood, raffia and wicker, leather, linen, cotton, and bespoke fabric designed by OHLAB and made on local looms. Organically sculpted white tubs are a tangible symbol of the hotel’s bridging of a cool, lounge atmosphere with its rustic edges, also seen at OPIO, the hotel’s clubby DJ-hosted bar. An urbane spa – offering massage and treatments alongside yoga and meditation – takes this fusion to the next level.

Calle Montenegro 10, T +34 971 425 450, www.purohotel.com, rates from: €120