There's more to Mallorca than cheap holiday resorts if you head inland, where an enticing array of wine and food destinations await. Sue Style takes us on a tour of the island’s best-kept secrets in her Mallorca travel guide.
Mallorca travel guide: Where to stay, eat, shop and relax
Mallorca hotels
Finca Es Castell & Hotel Son Ametler
Twin havens of peace in the Serra de Tramuntana, owned and run by James and Paula Hiscock, with every comfort and relaxed attention. The only noise is birdsong and the tinny tinkling of sheep bells grazing beneath olive trees. fincaescastell.com; hotelsonametler.com
Cap Rocat, Palma de Mallorca
Classy 25-room hotel in a Moorish-inspired former military fortress dominating a point south of Palma with pools, spa, gourmet restaurant and Sea Club perched above the water. caprocat.com
Reads Hotel, Santa Maria del Camí
Country house hotel with 15 suites and eight rooms set in extensive garden with outdoor and indoor pools and spa. Blues Brasserie does modern Mallorcan food in summer by the pool and in winter in the former oil-press room. readshotel.com
Can Alomar, Palma
Newly opened 16-room boutique hotel in a stylishly restored 19th-century palace in the heart of Palma’s old town. Japanese- Peruvian fusion food in terrace restaurant overlooking the elegant Passeig del Born. boutiquehotelcanalomar.com
Mallorca restaurants
Es Molí d’Es Torrent
German-owned and -run restored windmill in Santa María del Camí with shaded, walled patio and local food taken up a notch. molidestorrent.de
Es Guix
Take a dip in the restaurant’s pool before tucking into typical Mallorcan food (kid, lamb, rice dishes) in simple surroundings, on a mountain road near Lluc monastery. esguix.com
Es 4 Vents
Classic cooking (‘food that reconnects you with your childhood’, say the locals) in Algaida – sopes and frito, chargrilled or braised lamb, kid, fish and shellfish. mytable.com/r47527933/en
Miceli
Fresh, seasonal, locally grounded food served in the dining room of chef Marga Coll’s family home. miceli.es
Santi Taura
Santi Taura’s diminutive restaurant in Lloseta is billed as the best on the island – plan ahead, as weekend tables are booked up months in advance. Tasting menu (€33 without wine), culinary fireworks guaranteed. restaurantsantitaura.com
13% (Trece Por Ciento)
Catch up on top Mallorcan (and other) wines at this shoebox-sized wine and tapas bar in Palma’s old town. 13porciento.com
Mallorca resturants shops & sights
Cellers Artesans d’ Europa
Wide selection of Mallorcan (and other) wines, many of which can be shipped overseas. Email: cellersartesans@gmail.com; Tel: +34 61 725 1820
Wine Express
Daily tours through the vineyards of Santa María del Camí by train, starting at Macía Batle. mallorcawinetours.com/
Oli Caimari, Caimari
Extra-virgin olive oils, vinegars, dried fruits. aceites-olicaimari.com
Thursday market, Inca
Stock up on small, intensely flavoured ramallet tomatoes, green almonds, fresh apricots and figs – and leather goods.
Santuario de Lluc
Monastery and basilica of Lluc, which houses the shrine of La Moreneta, the Virgin of Lluc and patron saint of Mallorca, and a magnet for pilgrims since the 13th century. lluc.net
