Think Mallorca and you would be forgiven for conjuring up images of packed beaches and lobster-red Brits. But with resorts like Port de Soller and Puigpunyent getting the luxe treatment, Mallorca is being touted by travel insiders as one of the coolest island destinations for 2009.
A plethora of quirky, luxury hotels are springing up. L’Avenida, a tiny modernist mansion in the picturesque village of Soller is one such example. With a focus on a modern-vintage interior design, it attracts a cool crowd of urbanites looking for a shot of hipness in the charming village. With only eight rooms (at £155 a night), it has a vibrant, boutique feel (+34 971 634 075, avenida-hotel.com).
Just a short tram ride away is Port de Soller, a pretty horseshoe shaped harbour with a tiny, sandy beach, and dotted with accolade-winning restaurants. Spain’s first ever seven-star hotel (from the Jumeirah group, which runs the iconic Burj al-Arab) is set to open here in 2009.
Meanwhile, the Aimia Hotel (from £146 per night) also in Port de Soller, has spectacular views inland across the Serra de Tramuntana (the longest mountain range in the Balearics), and out across the port. And its indulgent spa has a wide range of algae-based treatments (+34 971 631 200, aimiahotel.com).
Want a touch of romance? Then hide out in the Tramuntana mountains at the superb Gran Hotel Son Net, one of the first chic hotels to open on the island. Overlooking stunning Puigpunyent, it is housed in a historical finca that dates back to 1672. To celebrate its ten-year anniversary this month, guests can book rooms based on 1998 rates, from £155 a night (+34 971 147 000, steinhotels.com/sonnet).
For early evening drinks, visit the ultra-hip cocktail bar in the newly revamped Esplendido hotel and check out its op-art stained glass wall that dates back to 1954 (+34 971 631 850, esplendidohotel.com).
Es Faro Restaurant (+34 971 633 752, restaurantesfaro.com) is a fine fish eaterie located high up on the mountains, and is a popular choice for lunch, while the highly recommended Es Canyis is family-run and offers traditional Mallorcan cuisine (+34 971 631 406, escanyis.es).
Visiting this month? Then as well as spending your days on the island’s fantastic beaches (at Cala Tuent, Santa Ponca and Camp de Mar), look out for the Western Festival in Palma (18-21 September, from £16, mallorca-western-festival.com) and cheer on the cowboys. The Jam Art Fair is also worth a visit (19-23 September, from £6, +34 971 138 077, jamartmallorca.com). It aims to raise awareness about global and eco-issues through art and, in doing so, puts Mallorca firmly back on the map.
