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Port Adriano, Mallorca

Luxury marina close to Santa Ponsa

featured in Towns & villages Updated

Port Adriano is a luxury marina perched on the southwestern coastline of Mallorca. Designed by French architect Philippe Starck, it opened in 2012 and currently stands as one of the most modern marinas in the Mediterranean.

The port, unlike most others in Mallorca, is not so much a town or resort, but a modern commercial centre and marina. Its design caters for yachts up to 100m in length which means it is one of few marinas around the island that can accommodate some of the largest yachts in the world. It should come as no surprise that the transformation of the port was designed with money in mind! It’s taken a few years to fill but the quayside now hosts more than 50 high-end restaurantsbars and designer boutiques to satisfy the needs its yachting clientele.

Other than the modern design and ability to cater for the larger superyachts, its extensive calendar of events is what makes this port stand out from the crowd. From food festivals, Christmas fairs and concerts through to the busy summer schedule of sunset yoga, evening parades and more, there always seems to be something going on in Port Adriano. Day to day, there’s a decent selection of watersports on offer, including jet ski, paddle surf, diving and kayaking, in addition to the option of sailing or booking a yacht charter.

History & Culture in Santa Ponsa

Port Adriano is located just below the cliffs of the small neighbourhood of El Toro, an area in the municipality of Calvià. A decade ago, Port Adriano was a small harbour but investors saw potential in the beauty spot and injected £90 million into its revamp, led by famous architect Philippe Starck. By 2012, it had been transformed into a contemporary harbour with all the bells and whistles one might expect from a superyacht marina. There’s a pleasant contrast between the old part of the marina, which remains near the port's entrance, with its more traditional Mallorcan style buildings and the ultra-modern enterprise on the other side. Port Adriano is Mallorca’s rising star and will continue to grow over the coming years, with many forecasting it to rival the neighbouring Puerto Portals.

Beaches in Santa Ponsa

There’s a small, sheltered sandy beach over on the north side of the port which enjoys calm shallow water year round. There are no sun loungers which means it feels less touristy than some of the other beaches along this stretch of coastline in the summer months.

Events in Santa Ponsa

Port Adriano hosts an impressive lineup of events throughout the year, from food festivals and Christmas fairs to large-scale music events. During the summer, the events schedule is ramped up with concerts, sailing regattas, and 'fun parades' taking place. These parades have become a bit of a staple attraction for the port, drawing both tourists and locals alike. The street performances, comprising of dance, comedy and circus acts, are particularly popular in the balmy summer evenings. They take place in the evenings during July and August from Tuesday to Sunday and are free of charge to watch. We would recommend taking a seat at one of the fine restaurants and bars to enjoy dinner or drinks whilst soaking up the live entertainment.

Things to do in Santa Ponsa

Yacht charter
There are a few yacht charter companies to choose from in Port Adriano with both sailing and motor yachts of various sizes on the menu. These can be chartered for varying lengths of time, from a half day through to weeks or even months if you so wish.  

Watersports
For the thrill seekers, jet skiing and flyboarding could be of interest, or perhaps deep sea diving, snorkelling, sailing, paddle boarding or kayaking might tempt you.   

For children
When it comes to keeping the little ones happy, it is without a doubt the summer evening entertainment that puts a smile on their faces. In the daytime, however, a trip to the beach or the watersports centre will usually win them over! The park found at the far eastern side of the port can also be a welcome distraction for younger children. 

Golf
Golf lovers might be keen to know that one of the best golf courses on the island, Santa Ponsa Golf Club, is just 5 minutes down the road from Port Adriano. In fact, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to golf courses in this area of the island. 

Shopping
The Philippe Starck side of the port is where most of the shops reside. You will find designer boutiques across both floors with a variety of world famous international brands on display. Blush, Nova Linea, Rosemarine and Rendezvous are just some of the luxury designer boutiques offering great swimwear, sophisticated dresses and more. When it comes to accessories, you will find the latest designer handbags and shoes in Port Adriano. Elegant jewellery and watches are sold in Relojeria Alemana, an authorized dealer of top international brands where it’s possible to both purchase and service watches.

A small El Corte Ingles food and drinks convenience store stands near the port entrance (next to Banco Popular, the port’s local bank), so you can pick up any last minute supplies you might need here. Whether it be champagne for a yacht charter, beers and some snacks for the beach or an ice cream for your stroll around the port, El Corte Ingles are at your service. 

Watersports enthusiasts should make a special visit to Nautiparts - a big name on the island where one can go to buy the latest watersports toys. Here you will find anything from jet skis, water skis, wakeboards and paddleboards through to smaller accessories like life jackets and snorkelling gear.

Dining in Santa Ponsa

Port Adriano has no shortage of restaurants to choose from, with a variety of cuisines at a wide range of prices. Think international favourites like Asian fusion, Italian and fresh seafood. 

Coast by East takes the crown for being the trendiest restaurant in the port. Described by many as ‘the place to be seen’ in Port Adriano, it serves up robata-style dishes, sushi, sashimi and Asian low-carb cuisine. This, of course, comes with a hefty price tag, so be prepared to loosen your purse strings for a trip here.

Bruno is a firm favourite serving a gourmet menu of international cuisine. You can’t miss its bright red branding and plush lounging area, an ideal setting to kick back and relax with a drink either before or after dinner. Crew Bar, as suggested by its name, is a more down-to-earth bar and restaurant where you will find a mixture of clientele: local port workers enjoying a 'menu del dia' for lunch, yachties drinking after work and boat owners enjoying a no-frills dinner in the evening. These are just a few to name but all the restaurants are of an impeccable standard, so you won’t be disappointed wherever you go.

Nightlife in Santa Ponsa

There are a couple of bars dotted around the port with most restaurants providing a bar area too. The most notable is Sansibar Wine & Restaurant, the ports designated wine bar with a chill-out lounge vibe. To indulge in some late night dancing, Uppereast is the place to visit. It’s the only nightclub in the port.

Hotels in Santa Ponsa

Being in quite a secluded area, there is just one hotel within close proximity to the port. The luxury five-star Pure Salt Port Adriano Hotel overlooks the port, commanding some of the best views over the harbour. Having been recently renovated, the hotel swanks all the latest mods and cons the 21st-century jet-setter might expect from a top rated hotel. Its Adriana Restaurant is well worth a visit for a first-class gastronomic journey; if oysters are your thing then a trip to the Oyster Bar should be on your to-do list on a trip to the port.

Otherwise, you will need to travel 5 minutes down the road to the neighbouring resort of Santa Ponça where you will find an endless choice of hotels, villas and apartment rentals.

How to get to Santa Ponsa

By car
Port Adriano is just over 30 minutes from the airport and around a 20-minute drive from the centre of Palma. Just take exit 14 off the Ma-1 motorway which covers the south-west of Mallorca. From here, carry on along Cami Cala Figuera for 10 minutes before reaching a roundabout with a big A sign indicating Port Adriano. An added bonus is that parking is free in the port and there is an underground car park, which means you can keep your wheels out of the sun in the peak of summer. 

Public transport
Port Adriano is well linked across the south-west of the island thanks to two bus routes passing by. The TIB bus number 104 is the one to catch, it travels from Palma through to Peguera via Cala Major, Bendinat, Portals Nous, Palma Nova and Santa Ponça in both directions. Hop off the bus at the El Toro bus stop and the port is a 5-minute walk from here.

Location

Map of the surrounding area