"The vastness of the property—bought by Richard Branson in 1987 and now owned by Belmond—is stealth-like, a warren of centuries-old buildings hidden among the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana. Despite the 71 bedrooms (including six bright new suites), an art gallery, two artists’ studios, four restaurants, two outdoor pools, tennis courts, a kids’ club, and mountain trails, there is a pervading sense of space and wonderful privacy. All rooms have terraces looking out to the green-shuttered, ochre town and glittering sea, and some have their own plunge pool—ideal in this sun-trap of a valley. Inside, they are big and cool with splashes of citrus shades, marshmallow-soft beds, and safes concealed behind works of art (the hotel has more than 800, of which 33 are original Mirós). The brilliant bistro sends out tapas of jamón ibérico and chorizo cooked in cider—or there’s candlelit El Olivo, where the tasting menu is a hearty and lengthy love letter to Mallorcan gastronomy: freshly caught prawns baked on a bed of salt for just three minutes, suckling pig with a sage and sobrasada sauce, and Sóller-orange ice cream. Each day there’s a soul-brightening boat trip along the coast, where you can play David Attenborough spotting Eleonora’s falcons and snorkel among schools of silvery fish. But the most popular pastime here is taking in that dreamy view." - Roxy Kavousi-Walker, Stephanie Rafanelli
