Luxury hotels & Michelin dining along the route:

It took my husband and me long, very long, until our first visit to Mallorca. And this is not without reason. The biggest Balearic Island has been known to be an overtouristed destination for decades (see my post). Until recently, this place was not on our bucket list. And if there had not been the pandemic, I doubt we would have thought about coming to Mallorca. Well, never say never! Finally, we did it. And while it certainly is no big love for me, I do not rule out to return. This destination has much to offer, not only in terms of the “3S” (sun sea sand) and sights, but also when it comes to staying and dining in style in Mallorca. There is quite a number of excellent luxury hotels and Michelin restaurants on this island, from which we visited quite a few.

Before going into details about the hotels we stayed and the restaurants we dined, here is the itinerary of our trip.

Mallorca 15-day road trip itinerary

Find here my Google Map of our journey.

1. Es Capdellà (southwest)

Flying into the Palma de Mallorca airport, we saved the Balearic Islands’ capital for the end of our trip. We drove along Palma’s waterfront to catch at first glimpse at its famous cathedral,

before continuing to the island’s southwest. Here we lodged inland at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was an ideal base to explore the southern part of this impressive mountain range with lots of beautiful landscapes,

picturesque villages

and stunning walks.

Our hotel for the first five nights was near Es Capdellà, a pleasant village in the pre-Tramuntana mountains.

2. Pollença (north)

For our second stay we headed north, and this to Pollença.

It is considered as the cultural capital of the north. Apart from featuring a beautiful old town, it also has nice surroundings.

Our hotel was in the town’s outskirt, where we spent four nights. The days were filled with activities (often hikes) in the northern part of the Tramuntana mountains

and on the Cap Formentor,

Mallorca’s most northern tip. And we also checked out the lovely seaside towns in the area.

3. Canyamel (northeast)

For four more nights, we were in Canyamel. This is a small, quiet resort on the far northeast coast of Mallorca.

From here we explored the island’s eastern part, which is partly hilly but not really mountainous and sometimes also quite flat. You find here not only old towns worth seeing

but also a considerable number of walking options.

As we had opted for a beachside hotel, we also enjoyed some of our time just being by the sea.

4. Palma de Mallorca (southwest)

Our last stop was – as announced – Mallorca’s capital of Palma.

I strongly advice not to skip this city because it is a truly atmospheric place! For our two last nights in Mallorca, we had chosen a hotel at the edge of the upper town,

which was a great location. Not only this oldest part of Palma has a great ancient feel, but you can easily reach all the important spots in town.

Staying & dining in style in Mallorca

As alway when traveling, my husband and I make sure that we choose hotels and restaurants that allow staying and dining in style. But we do this always with an eye for value for money, we do not want to pay exorbitant prices. I think that we managed quite well in Mallorca in this respect, maybe with one exception. And this were the restaurants at our first hotel, which I found price wise a bit over the top.

Find in the following a few brief remarks to all the luxury hotels and the fine dining restaurants we visited in Mallorca. Details about the individual establishments will follow in the time to come on this blog (southwest around Es Capdellà, north around Pollença, northeast around Canyamel, Palma de Mallorca).

1. Es Capdellà (Hotel Castell Son Claret etc)

Hotel Castell Son Claret & Restaurants Sa Clastra/Olivera plus two local restaurants

This was definitely the most upscale hotel of our Mallorca trip! The former 19th century castle

is exclusive, chic, and the superb staff pampers you all day long. And the privately owned property, one of the biggest estates on the island, is unbelievably beautiful. As to lodging, there are lots of options in different building, and rooms are timelessly elegant.

The inland location at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains is very idyllic yet only half an hour by car from Palma. Allow about the same time for reaching the most important sights in the southern part of the mentioned mountain range. The two restaurants – one of them Michelin listed – are very good yet at the higher end of the price scale.

Furthermore, we dined at two local eateries around Port d’Andratx, which offered well-made food, reasonably priced.

2. Pollença (Hotel Son Brull etc)

Hotel Son Brull & Restaurants 365/Bistro plus one local restaurant

The former 18th century monastery

is also situated inland, and this in the foothills of the northern Tramuntana mountains. The stunning ancient town of Pollença is a few minutes away by car. The Son Brull is a luxury boutique hotel, owned by a Mallorcan family. The vibe here is relaxed, staff is friendly and discrete. Rooms are well-appointed in a modern style,

and there are different categories to choose from. The hotel is a great base to explore the scenic surroundings. Both dining-spots onsite – one of them Michelin listed – are excellent and fairly priced.

You can reach the hotel in a bit more than half an hour from Palma.

We also had dinner at a casual Michelin listed venue in Port de Pollenca, which was great.

3. Canyamel (Hotel Can Simoneta etc)

Hotel Can Simoneta & Restaurants Can Simoneta/Sa Pleta by Marc Fosh plus one local restaurant

As the two other hotels mentioned before, it is family owned and a historic place. The latter is at least true for the oldest of the three country houses, the 140 years old guardhouse. The hotel sits high atop cliffs with superb views of the bay of Canyamel in Mallorca’s quiet northeast.

The atmosphere here in this high-end adult-only lodging is tranquil and serene. Staff is attentive and efficient. The premises are kept in a contemporary style, all white and puristic.

From Can Simoneta you can easily discover the island’s east. Coming from Palma, you need a bit less than one hour to get to the hotel. We enjoyed here tasty dinners, and this at “our” hotel as well as at the adjoining sister property (both Michelin listed).

And note, dear gourmets, you find Mallorca’s best rated Michelin establishment in the immediate neighborhood! This is the Michelin two-star Voro at the Cap Vermell Grand Hotel. Of course, my husband and I made the trip to this temple of gastronomy, and we were delighted with our experience!

4. Palma de Mallorca (Hotel Es Princep etc)

Hotel Es Príncep & Restaurant Zaranda plus one local restaurant

Also this hotel is family owned and has a historical reference. It was built on the ruins of Palma’s tanners’ quarter.

If you have dinner at the accommodation’s signature restaurant Zaranda (one-star Michelin), you can look down through a glass floor on the finds of a former tannery from the 13th century. As to this dining-spot, it is one of the top foodie heavens on the island, helmed by Michelin two-star chef Fernando Pérez Arellano. We had a fabulous meal here where we changed locations twice.

In addition, there are lots of other upscale dining options outside the hotel. One more Michelin one-star restaurant was on our agenda.

The Es Príncep is a jewel in terms of lodging too.

The newly opened luxury hotel (2018) is at the edge of the capital’s historic old town, just along the old city walls. It is ideally located for exploring Palma’s numerous sights. And the airport is only ten minutes by car away. Many of the rooms, furnished in typical Mallorca style, have sea views. And the roof top terrace is one of the biggest in town. The vibe here is casual and unstuffy, staff is attentive without being intrusive.

Looking back and forward

While my last post was about Mallorca’s well known overtourism and the ways out of it, the current one is an overview about the 15th-day trip my husband and I took here in early spring 2022.

As my husband and I love staying and dining in style, we had chosen hotels and restaurants in Mallorca to suit our preference. We started with a luxury accommodation near the southern Tramuntana mountains, followed by another one not far from the northern part of this mountain range (both inland). Then we were ready for sea vibes, and this at a five-star establishment on the island’s rugged coast in the northeast. The last stop brought us to Palma – a worthwhile stand-alone destination – , where we lodged at a new high-end hotel in the capital’s historic old town. And throughout our Mallorcan journey, we made sure to dine at the island’s best (Michelin) restaurants whenever possible.

Next on my blog, you will find details about all four stops we did in Mallorca, and this regarding staying and dining. I begin with the southwest (Es Capdellà), continue with the north (Pollença), come to Canyamel (northeast) and end with Palma (capital).

Date of visit: April 2022

Pin it for later

The post Mallorca/Spain in style, a 15-day road trip itinerary first appeared on Swiss Traveler