My Favorite Hotels in Mallorca
In 2021, I moved to Mallorca for its astonishing beauty. It has an elegance that brings peace to my heart and calms my senses in ways that no other place has done. It must be the soaring peaks of the Tramuntana imposing their majesty over the wild flower covered farmlands and vast stretches of white-sand beaches. It could also be the quiet villages with their culturally unique festivals. Or maybe the 262 calas and coves are what called me to move from the metropolis of Buenos Aires to the smallest municipality of Mallorca.
I feel extremely privileged to have these peaks and bays as my playground. The hikes are the most rewarding experience, whether you’re trekking through a valley down cliffs to a secluded beach or through the intricate tunnels of a cathedral-like cave, walking in Mallorca is probably my number one hobby. Speaking of cathedrals, let’s not forget about Palma’s distinct elegance as a coastal Spanish city. In Palma, the light hits different. Something happens to the rays of that Mediterranean sun so as to fall softly on the palaces and winding streets of the Jewish quarter.
It’s important to understand the distinction between town and port in Mallorca, as they tend to have the same names but are located quite far apart. The town of Soller, for instance, is quite out there and overcrowded at times. Its port is a few minutes away, hugging a Monaco-like bay with shimmering light hitting the soft waves. The town of Alcudia will remind you of Rabat’s Kasbah des Ouadayas or Essaouira, yet its port is a completely different experience with hundreds of yachts and ferries pulling into the dock. You’ll have better luck at Port de Pollença for those famous summer evenings on the water, when the sun is slowly setting, welcoming a gentle and much-awaited breeze. The twinkling lights and night market completes the picture and makes it, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful ports in the Mediterranean.
If you’re planning a trip to Mallorca, be prepared to sift through dozens of perfect hotels. It’s overwhelming as it’s a big island and they truly nailed the hotel industry here. They’ve had years–decades actually. to perfect their options and make your life even harder when deciding where to stay. But you’re in luck, I’m here to help.
Son Net, Mallorca
First, know your island.
Here are the main areas of the island (with my advice on where to stay and where to avoid even a drive by):
Palma de Mallorca: INCLUDE. The capital city, do stay here if you’re interested in adding a dash of history, walkable city life, gourmet dining, shopping, and art to your trip.
Serra de Tramuntana: INCLUDE. A mountain range on the northwest coast, ideal for hiking and exploring picturesque villages like Valldemossa and Deià. Top tip: book a sunset hike with a guide!
Northeast Coast: INCLUDE. Includes popular towns like Alcúdia and Pollença, known for their beautiful beaches and family-friendly atmosphere. This is where you find the long stretches of white sand beaches.
Southeast Coast: AVOID. Features calas and beach towns such as Cala d'Or and Porto Cristo. Nothing to write home about unless it’s your second time in Mallorca and want to see its B-side. Again, beautiful, but not worth crossing the island for if it’s your first time visiting.
Southwest Coast: AVOID. One word: MAGALUF. Includes upscale areas like Portals Nous where you’ll spend all your pocket money on overpriced ice-cream and gawk at the millionaire yachts while wild tourists get rowdy at the, yet again, overpriced cocktail bar nearby.
Central Plain (Es Pla): INCLUDE. People don’t realize that Mallorca is an agricultural island and Es Pla is its heartland dotted with charming rural villages and traditional markets. Stop by villages like Montuiri, Consell, Santa Maria, Biniali, Arta, and Pina.
East Coast: INCLUDE (if time allows). Known for its rugged coastline and scenic bays, including the area around Cala Millor and Cala Ratjada.
Southwest Coast: AVOID UNLESS IT’S SON NET. Includes upscale areas like Portals Nous where you’ll spend all your pocket money on overpriced ice-cream and gawk at the millionaire yachts while wild tourists get rowdy at the, yet again, overpriced cocktail bar nearby.
CAN AULI, POLLENCA | Northeast coast ($$)
Why stay here? In the heart of Pollença's old town sits Can Aulí, a 17th century mansion turned adults only boutique hotel, restored by IT Mallorca. Thick stone walls, sisal rugs, and understated linens carry the traditional bones of the building, while the interiors lean modern with plenty of contemporary art throughout. The retreat is for guests who want the charm of a historic Mallorcan town without giving up a proper pool, spa, and courtyard restaurant to come home to at the end of the day.
My favorite thing about this stay? Can Aulí gives you the luxury of its location. There is no other hotel on the island that puts you this close to the base of the Serra de Tramuntana while still keeping you a five minute walk from the main square. The design does a lot of the work too, muted tones, thick stone arches, and a walled garden that makes the whole place feel calm the second you step off the street. I would push this as your second stay after a couple nights in Palma.
Possible downside? Pollença gets crowded on Sundays for its famous Sunday Market. When you see the market, you'll understand why. 100% worth the crowds, just have your lunch reservation set or get out of town after exploring the stalls.
Can Cera, Palma ($$) | Palma de Mallorca
Why stay here? Behind an unassuming door in Old Palma sits Can Cera, a 17th century palace turned adults only hotel that plays part luxury house, part members club. Antiques, floor length curtains, and locally made ceramic and textile art fill the rooms, and the courtyard, with its fountain and palm trees, is the kind of space that makes you forget you are a five minute walk from the Cathedral. The spa has a private sauna and hot tub, and the rooftop terrace looks out over Palma's old city rooftops.
My favorite thing about this stay? Can Cera gives you the luxury of its location without giving up the intimacy of a private house. Every corner has a design detail worth noticing, a chair, a lamp, a piece of ironwork, curated rather than decorated. This is the stay for guests who want to be in the middle of Palma's history without sacrificing privacy or comfort, and I would push this as your first stay before heading out to explore the rest of the island.
Possible downside? The hotel sits on a narrow street in the old town, so there is no on site parking and the surrounding lanes can get loud on weekend nights when the bars nearby fill up. Ask for a room facing the courtyard rather than the street if quiet matters to you.
Finca Serena, LlucMajor ($$$) | Central PLain
Why stay here? In the middle of the island, on the Pla de Mallorca near Montuïri, sits Finca Serena, a former farmhouse turned adults only hotel spread across a hundred acres of olive groves, vineyards, and lavender fields. The old stone structure has been preserved and paired with contemporary interiors, beamed ceilings, arched doorways, and whitewashed walls set against soothing grays and unfinished wood. The Jacaranda restaurant leans on the estate's own produce, and the wellness area, with its heated indoor pool, sauna, and hammam, gives you a reason to stay put for the day.
My favorite thing about this stay? Finca Serena will give you the luxury of its location. There is no other hotel on the island that puts you in the middle of Mallorca's central plateau the way this one does, far from the beach resorts and the nightlife of Palma, but still just a twenty minute drive from the capital. The interior design is also one of the reasons I would push this option as your second stay after a couple nights in Palma.
Possible downside? The hotel closes for the season from September through March, so it only fits into a spring or summer itinerary. It is also adults only, so this is not the stop for a family trip, and being inland means no sea view from your room, just olive trees and hills.
Son Net, Puigpunyent ($$$$) | Southwest Coast
Why stay here? Set on a small hill above the village of Puigpunyent, at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains, Grand Hotel Son Net is a 17th century estate dating back to 1672. The original courtyard, chapel, and spring fed well are all still intact, restored by interior designer Lorenzo Castillo alongside a genuinely notable art collection, with works by Chagall, Warhol, Hockney, and Frank Stella scattered through the property. The spa leans into that same sense of retreat, with a heated saltwater pool, Turkish bath, and Japanese onsen, and the restaurant, Mar & Duix, pulls ingredients straight from the hotel's own garden.
My favorite thing about this stay? Son Net gives you the luxury of its location. Puigpunyent is one of the few Mallorcan villages that has stayed genuinely untouched by tourism, and the hotel sits right above it with views over olive groves, a private vineyard, and the Galatzó mountain, all while being a fifteen minute drive from Palma. The art alone makes this a stay worth building a full day around, not just a place to sleep.
Possible downside? This is a car dependent stay. Puigpunyent itself is quiet and residential, so without a rental car you are fairly isolated from restaurants and beaches, and the drive down from Palma airport takes closer to forty minutes than the thirty advertised once you hit any traffic.
Predi Son Jaumell, Capdepera ($$$) | Northeast Coast
Why stay here? Predi Son Jaumell sits inland just outside Capdepera, on an estate shaded by centuries old holm oaks, almond, and carob trees. The 24 suites are spread across the property, and the kitchen at Bistro Llavors pulls straight from the hotel's own vineyard and orchard. There is a heated pool and solarium, a small spa program under the name Balneum, and enough garden to genuinely lose track of time in, all while sitting minutes from the coves along Mallorca's northeast coast.
My favorite thing about this stay? Son Jaumell gives you the luxury of its location. You get the quiet of a countryside estate and the beaches of Cala Mesquida, Cala Gat, Cala Rotja, and Cala Agulla all within a short drive, so you are never choosing between the two. The medieval town of Capdepera, castle included, is close enough for an easy afternoon without ever feeling like you left the property's calm behind.
Possible downside? This is a rural, spread out property, so you will want a car to make the most of the nearby coves and the town. It also leans heavily into the wellness and disconnect experience, yoga, art therapy, forest bathing guides, so if you want a livelier hotel with nightlife on site, this is not that.
Es Raco d'Arta, Arta ($$) | Central PLain
Why stay here? On the edge of the Parc Natural de la Península de Llevant, near the town of Artà, Es Racó d'Artà sits on nearly 200 hectares of vineyards, olive groves, and untouched hillside, designed by Mallorcan architect Toni Esteva, the same architect behind Six Senses Vana in India. The estate holds a farmhouse plus close to two dozen outlying casas and casitas, all built with the same minimalist, sustainable hand, solar power, a geothermal system, and produce grown on site. This is a wellness driven stay, with daily yoga and meditation, a spa with hammam and hot spring bath, and workshops that range from Mallorcan basket weaving to breathwork.
My favorite thing about this stay? Es Racó d'Artà gives you the luxury of its location. The estate backs directly onto a nature park, so the sense of remoteness is real, not staged, and the views over olive groves toward the medieval town of Artà are some of the best on the island at sunrise and sunset. I would pair this stay with a slower part of your itinerary, this is not a hotel you rush through.
Possible downside? This is a genuinely remote property, over an hour's drive from Palma and about ten minutes from the nearest beach, so a rental car is essential. It leans hard into wellness and disconnection, golf carts instead of cars on site, no dedicated kids activities, so it suits a couple's retreat far better than a family trip or a home base for exploring the whole island.
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