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Art Hotel Palma Review

An elegant hotel bursting with character, right in the heart of bustling Palma

Author Emily Butcher, Mallorca Editor Updated

Hidden on a narrow pedestrian side street, so unimposing you might just miss it, Art Hotel is a true gem offering a calm retreat in the heart of Palma’s busy streets. Originally a 19th-century palace and former antiques and fine art gallery, this very unique hotel sits in the winding streets of the city’s old quarter and has been transformed with great care and artistic taste by owner Pepe Rubio.

We chose to stay at Art Hotel for the last night of a long weekend celebrating my partner’s birthday. Having spent a few days in the north of the island, we headed back to Palma on a sunny Sunday afternoon to enjoy the city buzz for our final evening before returning home to normality.

Art Hotel Palma Review exterior

Knowing our way around, we were lucky enough to find a roadside parking spot close by at Plaça de l’Olivar (free on Sundays!) but, as these are few and far between in the Old Town, the hotel has reserved spaces in a secure underground car park just around the corner. We parked up and strolled through Carrer Sant Miguel, past the church of the same name and then down through the cobbled streets of the old antique dealer’s quarter, still filled with galleries and Antigüedades (antique shops) before arriving at the bottom of the La Rambla boulevard where the Art Hotel stands.

Art Hotel Palma Review lobby

On arrival, we enjoyed a warm welcome and a friendly chat with Noemi at reception, who offered us a glass of rosé cava and gold-dusted almonds in the lounge before taking our bags to our room - what a great start! Here, or in the quaint courtyard, you can enjoy an evening drink from their reasonably-priced bar service, whilst perusing their selection of magazines and planning the next day’s cultural or retail activities. On her return, Noemi announced that we had been upgraded from the Deluxe Room that we had booked to a Junior Suite – a lovely surprise!

Art Hotel Palma Review lounge room

After a quick freshen up, we took a tour of the hotel to get a feel for the place and explore more of its unique character. Our Suite was located on the second floor of four and, with only 13 rooms in total, there is a real sense of peace and privacy throughout - you almost feel like you’re staying in Pepe Rubio’s private residence. The entire place is tastefully decorated with antique furniture and artwork adorning the walls, appealing as much to the artistically-naïve as to the art aficionados who do form a significant part of the hotel’s clientele. On each floor, we found new treasures, in particular, we loved the cosy and elegant feel of the library which occupies the first floor.

Art Hotel Palma Review double bedroom

We then went back to our suite to relax before heading out to dinner and took the opportunity to really settle in. It was beautifully decorated, as you’d expect, with fine art and antique pieces but also fitted to an extremely high standard with modern comforts - such as a Nespresso coffee machine, a smart TV with international satellite channels and a huge waterfall shower with body jets, to name a few.

Art Hotel Palma Review

We also found a personal welcome note, a bowl of fresh fruit and mineral water left for us - another lovely touch which is all part of the service for direct clients. We were tempted to tuck straight into the treats of the gourmet minibar and spend the evening lounging around in the luxury bathrobes provided but we tore ourselves away to head out and sample Palma by night.

Art Hotel Palma Review dining room

For dining, the hotel usually recommends their neighbouring sister restaurant Mari-Lin Café Lounge, which shares the same fine art concept and serves a large variety of both local and international cuisine in a unique setting. Unfortunately, the restaurant is closed on Sundays, as is not unusual for eateries in Spain, but that didn’t stop us enviously eying up the reasonably-priced menu left in our suite. We weren’t put out for long though, as the hotel staff were quick to recommend a lovely choice of bars and restaurants all conveniently located just a few minutes walk from the hotel, around Carrer Unió and Passeig des Born. They also pointed out some of the landmarks and spots of cultural interest that we would pass on our way, including the theatre which we found right on the hotel’s doorstep.

Art Hotel Palma Review terrace

We returned from a lovely dinner at Ombu, at the bottom of Passeig des Born - who offer an amazing concept of tapas with a twist - to our room where we settled in for the night in our incredibly comfy queen-sized bed. In the morning, despite our 05:00 departure, we were met with the same cheery reception that we had become accustomed to during our stay, this time from Miguel. We had already twice been offered a special early breakfast, which we politely declined, remembering the coffee machine and ample fresh fruit which had been left for us in our room. Nonetheless, the sentiment certainly left us feeling well-looked-after. A full continental breakfast (with egg options cooked to order!) is usually served in buffet style and can be enjoyed with a complimentary newspaper in the cosy dining room or charming courtyard.

Art Hotel Palma Review lounge room

Art Hotel really exudes a sense of charm and culture inside and out, from its unique and well-thought-out interior design to its impressive location in the heart of Palma’s old town. Sr Rubio has managed to seamlessly combine his passion for fine art with modern, high-quality facilities and the personal touches and quality of service you expect from the finest hotels.

Art Hotel Palma Review double bedroom

One of the major merits to the establishment and a testament to the impressive top 5 ranking on Trip Advisor amongst Palma hotels - no mean feat given the multitude of boutique hotels in the island’s capital - are the staff, who really could not have been more helpful and welcoming. No request was too much trouble and no matter what time of day or night, we were always greeted by a smiling face and a friendly chat as we passed the 24hr reception. That outstanding service is the lasting impression we’ll take away from our stay at Art Hotel, along with a desire to return and stay for longer!

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