Sir Richard Branson's Newest Resort, Son Bunyola, Is Now Open

"I found Son Bunyola to be a spectacular, recently opened (June 2023) addition to Virgin Limited Edition: a restored, 1,300-acre historic estate in Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana that Branson first bought in 1994, sold in 2002, and repurchased in 2015 to realize his vision. Because the mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the team worked within strict preservation rules, shrinking the original plan to 26 unique rooms housed in the main finca, the Tafona building (with its historic olive press), and an annex; Rialto Living designed each space to feel like a guest in someone’s fantastic home. The property centers on a dramatic 92-foot infinity-edge swimming pool with a separate hot tub and sweeping Mediterranean views, and offers a handful of low-key activities (morning yoga, bikes and mountain-bike rentals, weekly history walks, billiards and ping-pong, tennis and pickleball), easy access to a pebble-strewn beach with paddleboarding, and a two-room spa built into the former kitchen and oven. The food program emphasizes local sourcing (about 75 percent Mallorcan ingredients) with on-property crops and beehives moving the operation toward true farm-to-fork and even estate-grown malvasia wine in the coming years; some amenities and additions (boutique, more animals, lawn for events) were still being finished during my visit. The overall effect is intentionally hospitable and home-like — a restored historic finca that feels like staying at Richard Branson’s Mallorcan home." - Jennifer Bradley Franklin Jennifer Bradley Franklin Jennifer Bradley Franklin is an Atlanta-based multi-platform journalist and author, specializing in travel, food, interior design, and other lifestyle topics. In addition to Travel + Leisure, her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines