Where?
Skirting the edge of the old town of Palma, Calatrava Mediterranean Sea House is a calming oasis set back from the sea front but affords heavenly sea views from its rooftop bar and restaurant. It’s a mere skip from the walls of the dramatic Cathedral and the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, and you can easily meander your way through the winding, narrow ancient streets into the heart of the old town which gives away more secrets every time you enter.
Mallorca might be a high summer destination for many, but Palma makes an ideal off-season weekend jaunt. It’s only twenty minutes from the airport, and just over two hours from London. You can sneak off on Friday and be sipping a caña before bedtime. If you are short on time, staying near the sea gives you the best of both city life alongside the calming lapping of the Med in the bay of Palma as you sleep. With 16 rooms, and adults only, Calatrava has the feel of a private residence with the all perks of a luxury hotel.
Style
Part of the It Mallorca group of boutique hotels, Calatrava follows its aesthetic principles which melds clean, modern design with a local twist. Rooms are painted in a rich, warm terracotta, with Scandi style minimal furniture offering a comfortable but uncluttered experience. Furniture is by Carl Hansen, Vincent Van Duysen and Living Divani; with striking lighting elements by Lumine, Santa Cole and Oluce.
The hotel walls are hung with elegant black and white photography of the island by Mallorca-based artists Jose Taltavull and Xim Izquierdo. Make sure to book a sea view room to take advantage of the prime setting.
Food & Drink
Do take to the rooftop for breakfast. There’s a tempting spread of classics alongside Mallorcan essentials — pan con tomate, chorizo, and fresh fruits and juices. There are gluten free options, and non dairy milk, alongside a la carte cooked organic eggs.
Dinner can also be taken up here, which is a rich culinary experience. You can choose nibble on the excellent cheese and cold meats selection — the cured manchego and Iberian ham are mouth-melting; or order its warm dishes, the Iberian pork secret with potato and truffle parmentier is quite life changing. You can also enjoy these treats in its sister property Can Cera, which is less than a ten minute walk away, and well worth a nose.
You enter by an almost secret door into a cavernous space, complete with opulent staircase and locally spun basket-woven artworks. The bar upstairs is an excellent, cosy private spot for a martini (which are quite deliciously deadly), while you can happily dine in the hall downstairs at its few tables for a very intimate dinner experience. Perfect for a little holiday romance.
Facilities
In the stone arches of the basement there’s a small spa room where you can book treatments from Japanese massage (including a pregnancy massage option) to facial cupping, as well as full body treatments and manicure/pedicures. Alongside this you can book a private one-on-one yoga session or time with a personal trainer. Then make sure to relax in the jacuzzi and Finnish sauna.
Details
Rooms start from €220 (low season) and from €400 (high season). calatravahotel.com
