Menorca is a low-key Balearic beauty compared to sister islands Ibiza and Mallorca. Tourism came late to this rural island of farming communities, so you can still find rolling countryside speckled with whitewashed villages as well as hidden beach spots tucked into pine-tree-backed coastline. But in recent years Menorca has stepped into the spotlight with a slew of new hotels, from converted townhouses to rustic finca stays, a buzzing art scene spearheaded by the Hauser & Wirth gallery, and chefs celebrating the island’s abundant produce, all wrapped up in a Unesco Biosphere Reserve. Here are some of the best hotels in Menorca.
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1. Amagatay, Alaior
££ | POOL | Best for bohemian style
Set among the olive groves and pines just outside the city of Mahon, time seems to slow down at this 19th-century farmhouse, lovingly restored into a hotel with just 20 rooms and suites. The honeyed stone of the main house and the crisp whitewashed outbuildings contrast with splashes of soft ochre and olive green and curtains of raw linen. Landscaped gardens unfurl towards the expansive infinity pool with countryside views, and the kitchen garden and nearby farms supply produce for dishes designed by well-known chef Juanjo López Bedmar, served beneath vines adorned with glittering fairy lights.
2. Can Alberti, Mahon
£ | Best for a cultural stay
With its handsome pastel-pink façade and windows framed by gleaming black shutters, this elegant townhouse was once a palatial private home set back from the meandering harbour of Mahon. It was built in 1740 by the Alberti family and interiors have retained full historic charm, with 14 individually designed rooms, flagstone floors, beamed ceilings and antique accessories. Arched corridors, the wrought-iron staircase area and the relaxed lounge are dotted with artworks lent to the hotel for different exhibitions. The sun-dappled terrace is ideal for breakfast alfresco and the modest rooftop offers views across the city and harbour.
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3. Vestige Son Vell, Ciutadella
££ | POOL | Best for unbridled luxury
At the end of a long driveway carving its way through fields outside Ciutadella, the blush stone and palladian-style façade of Son Vell is positively cinematic. The 18th-century manor house is picture-perfect at every turn, all muted hues, hidden terraces under grand arches and glittering chandeliers set against rustic stone. With just 34 rooms, staff know your name, two restaurants serve Menorcan specialities and there is even a restored pool overlooked by a megalithic talayot. The 500-acre estate includes landscaped gardens, an organic vegetable garden, and olive and citrus groves leading down to the coast, where you can relax in quiet coves or join up with the Cami de Cavalls bridleway which encircles the island.
4. Torralbenc, Cala en Porter
££ | POOL | Best for wine lovers
Menorca’s first luxury boutique hotel, Torralbenc, still represents the high watermark of “finca chic” on the island. Revived from ruins, the 19th-century farmstead is all honey-hued local stone and whitewashed walls splashed with hot-pink bougainvillea. It’s pleasure enough to just wander around the rosemary-scented gardens and gaze over the surrounding vineyards down to the coast a couple of miles away. Understated rooms have comfort where it counts, with soaking tubs and top-quality bedding. A push-button drink service means uninterrupted poolside lounging; the estate’s own wine is remarkably good too.
5. Melia Cala Galdana, Cala Galdana
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£ | POOL | Best for families
Presiding over the white sand and dreamy turquoise waters of Cala Galdana, this gleaming beachfront edifice stands tall among Menorca’s top places to stay. Besides a spectacular setting, the hotel offers a raft of features that cater to everyone from multi-generational families getting reacquainted to romancing couples. The Melia brand’s signature The Level upgrade offers exclusive perks, but it’s the swoon-worthy sea views that still steal the show every time, whether they’re seen from the comfort of your room, one of its restaurant terraces, or the swish adult-only infinity pool.
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6. Santa Ponsa Fontenille, Alaior
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for wellness
This rural hotel is one half of a pair of sister properties located a short drive apart in the rolling, brushy landscape that stretches between the resorts of Son Bou and Cala en Porter. The once-aristocratic country house marries Spanish colonial and Moorish styles of architecture with breezy Mediterranean touches. Enchanting Arabian gardens are lined with waterways, tall stone walls and numerous native and exotic specimens. Factor in plenty of time for the superlative spa: it’s set inside 18th-century cisterns with everything from a covered lap pool to massage treatments with essential oils extracted from the estate’s own produce.
7. Torre Vella Fontenille, Alaior
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for rustic finca fans
Sibling to the equally upscale Santa Ponsa Fontenille nearby, the Torre Vella pushes the boho rustic-luxe aesthetic that bit further. Local stone and cool whitewashed walls provide the backdrop for an artful combination of driftwood, woven fronds and local handicrafts. It gets its name from the 14th-century tower, which stands watch over 500 acres of semi-tamed grounds, perfect for idle meandering. An emphasis on wellness alfresco means massages under ancient oaks and yoga sessions among the olive trees. What’s more, guests have access to the sister hotel’s incredible spa.
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8. Alcaufar Vell Hotel Rural, Alcaufar
££ | POOL | Best for history
Behind its stately neoclassical façade — an 18th-century addition — the bones of this stately rustic hotel once belonged to a Moorish fortress. Its ancient origins are still on display in the form of arrow-slit windows and crumbling stone arches, while one elegant salon has been preserved with museum-like pieces. Rooms are spread between the main building and former stables, all set within pleasantly unmanicured grounds. A swimming pool is tucked away in a secluded part of the gardens, but most guests spend the day exploring the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside and coastal trails a couple of miles’ walk away.
9. Biniarroca Rural Hotel, Sant Lluis
£ | POOL | Best for couples seeking serenity
It took several years to transform an old Menorcan farmhouse into the Biniarroca Rural Hotel, and the result is a retreat that feels as blissfully serene as any on the island. Brimming with native Menorcan flora and dotted with classical statues, peaceful nooks and sun-dappled hammocks, the hotel’s gardens are a highlight. Two pools means plenty of water to cool off in, with one offering poolside drinks and homemade cakes. A restaurant serves excellent Mediterranean-Menorcan cuisine too, or jump in a car and you’re in Mahon’s historic centre in ten minutes.
10. Jardi de Ses Bruixes, Mahon
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£ | SPA | POOL | Best for a city break
Set on an otherwise ordinary residential street in Mahon’s historic heart, this beautifully reimagined townhouse hotel really raised the bar when it opened in 2014. The couple behind the hotel kept all the best bits — patterned tiling, sash windows and exposed beams — while adding chic, art-led interiors and some seriously upscale facilities. Downstairs is a dreamily atmospheric subterranean spa, while a rooftop terrace features a spa tub and 360-degree views. Calming guest rooms have a wood-burning stove for winter snugness, and a café serves patio breakfasts and brunches by day. It all adds up to one of Menorca’s finest boutique hotels.
11. Sant Joan de Binissaida, Es Castell
££ | POOL | Best for agrotourism
If you’re looking for an upscale agrotourism hotel with an emphasis on the “agro”, this repurposed Menorcan farmstead is the place. The main building is a restored 18th-century farmhouse, though the estate has roots trailing back to Moorish times. Guests can enjoy a wonderful breakfast of mostly homemade produce on the long veranda, overlooking vegetable gardens and sheep grazing among olive trees. The restaurant of haute-meets-traditional Menorcan cuisine is good enough to attract locals too. Footpaths connect to the Cami de Cavalls, making it popular with walkers, plus there’s a good-size outdoor pool if you just fancy drinks and sun loungers.
12. Hotel Hevresac, Mahon
£ | Best for sustainability
This hip, home-style hotel occupies an 18th-century townhouse in the heart of the Menorcan capital. It once belonged to an eminent chronicler of the city’s maritime activities whose spirit is still reflected in an ample library of local art and history. It also features a wonderfully eclectic mix of vintage curios, dizzying patterned tiling and abstract artwork that add to a colourful, cosmopolitan vibe. Sustainability is taken seriously here, with eco-friendly amenities and an emphasis on green energy. There’s no formal check-in or reception, but the knowledgeable owner is always just a WhatsApp message away for arranging anything from taxis to wine tastings.
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13. Artiem Audax, Cala Galdana
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for spa
The only rival to the mighty Melia in terms of views over Cala Galdana’s pristine bay is this adult-only hotel, positioned next to the resort’s quaint marina. It has arguably the best spa facilities on the island, with a huge thermal spa circuit plus all the usual saunas, hammams and massage menus. Top guest rooms also feature hot tubs with vistas over the cove. Crowning it all is a tiered rooftop terrace with elevated panoramas, two pools, and — best of all for some — no children.
14. Menorca Experimental, Alaior
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for art
With a more artistic take on “finca chic”, this former farmstead channels Menorca’s bohemian spirit through gorgeously savvy interior design inspired by the holy trinity of Spanish painters — Picasso, Dalí and Miró. The extensively restored 19th-century country estate is centred on a swish central swimming pool with Bali beds aplenty for daytime lounging. Activities alternate between wellness and art-based, with classes from Pilates to painting. Food and drink puts homegrown and local produce front and centre, which even extends to the must-try signature cocktails.
15. Faustino Gran, Ciutadella
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for luxury
As one of only a handful of five-star hotels on the island, Faustino Gran has certainly carved out a reputation as one of Menorca’s finest. It’s housed in an immaculately restored 16th-century palace located in the heart of Ciutadella old town. Service is white-glove all the way, and the restaurant’s island-led cuisine is suitably moreish. Its luxury-level credentials are also evident in the plush guest rooms, with quality finishes and high-end amenities. There’s a treat in the basement too, where an ancient grotto has been repurposed as an underground spa.
16. Bordoy Casa Ladico, Mahon
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for value
With sophisticated yet understated interiors, Bordoy Casa Ladico is one of those boutique hotels where every corner seems to have been arranged just so. It occupies a former stately residence dating from the 18th century — not uncommon in the historic centre of Mahon. Rooms are individually styled with shared touches such as plush fabrics, retro furnishings and soothing colour schemes. Guests can start the day with breakfast based on island produce before setting out to explore the Menorcan capital on their doorstep. Alternatively, there’s a sunny garden with pool or a spa suite in which to relax.
17. Insotel Punta Prima Prestige Suites & Spa, Punta Prima
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for families
What this five-star resort hotel might lack in personality, it more than makes up for in holiday-friendly facilities and high-end features. It’s positioned on the far southeastern tip of Menorca, with superb sea vistas and the small seaside town of Punta Prima a short stroll away. Most guests will choose to stay within the hotel’s luxurious confines, however, happily horizontal by one of its several swimming pools. Parents can drop the little ones off at the kids’ club for some me time in the spa.
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18. Villa Le Blanc Gran Melia, Santo Tomas
££ | SPA | POOL | Best for honeymooners
Previously the Sol Beach House, the Melia chain gave the former incarnation a five-star makeover and relaunched it as this slice of luxury-level loveliness. Most of the rooms overlook the long infinity-ledge pool, with its vintage beach-club vibe and snooze-ready Bali beds, while the full-service spa has treatments by Parisian beauty brand Anne Semonin. A prime position on low cliffs between two powder-sand beaches makes for a dreamy setting for sunsets too.
19. Suites del Lago, Cala’n Bosch
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for peace-seeking couples
Suites del Lago is the adult-only enclave of the Lago Resort, set in the Cala’n Bosch area in the southwest corner of Menorca. It’s a compact, five-star resort where mares stone, rattan weave and whitewashed walls chicly mirror the island’s rural scenery. The pool is a firm highlight, with its beach-style entry at one end, and massage jets and a swim-up bar at the other. Sunbeds and beanbag-style loungers also provide plenty of spots to flop. Splurge on one of the rooms with a hot tub terrace and marina views.
Take me there
Inspired to visit Menorca but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Tui and Jet2 Holidays.
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Additional reporting by Sarah Gordon
