A Weekend In Mallorca, Part 1

Having never been to Mallorca before I was excited about a weekend of exploring the beautiful island. Leaving dreary and rainy Geneva behind the quick and easy flight was over in no time. As you come into land at Palma airport you get the most spectacular view of the island, with Palma resting on the sea’s edge and the wonderful Tramuntana mountains looming in the background it is definitely worth having a peak out of the plane’s window.

Once through the chaos that is the airport a short 15 minute drive and we were in the centre of Palma ready to explore the lovely city. First stop was to check in to our hotel located in the old town of Palma de Mallorca. Walking down the cobbled street with the beautiful traditional Mallorcan buildings on either side you can barely spot the Can Cera boutique hotel tucked away in these historical buildings.

Entering through large wooden doors that are open wide throughout the day - letting the outside and inside of the hotel merge into one - you walk straight into a beautiful cobbled courtyard with tables laid for the restaurant, artwork made from plants, a lovely traditional staircase and a light airy space – needless to say I was already very excited to be staying here.

With our bags ushered away by the extremely friendly staff we were welcomed with a drink of our choice, before being shown to our Junior Suite. The hotel manager, Susana, was kind enough to give us a quick tour of the hotel with its own private spa (which you can even hire for an hour of personal use) and gourmet restaurant. We were told about the building the hotel is in and explained that it dates back to 1232. With excellent restorations done throughout the years the high ceilings, traditional furnishings and rich decorations make you feel like you truly are experiencing Palma history at its best.

Our junior suite was hidden behind a secret door, which has been blended into the wall, making your mind wonder what happened in this lovely building all those years ago and what the secret room was for. The room itself was simply beautiful: with a huge king-size bed, private conservatory terrace, wonderful bathroom and a light, luxurious décor I could have just stayed there all weekend.

After settling in to our room we decided to head to Portixol to catch the last of the day’s rays and watch the sun go down. Sitting just outside the city walls this lovely little port rests on the beach front, with a golden sandy beach and a host of bars and restaurants that boast views out over the Mediterranean ocean, perfect for a cocktail at sunset. We soaked up the last hour of September sun before sitting on one of the bars terraces, watching the waves roll in as the sun dipped down over the horizon.

Freshening up and enjoying our lovely suite we headed out to get some dinner. Having never been to Palma before I let my guide choose our dinner destination. Strolling through Mallorca we enjoyed the Spanish evening atmosphere floating out onto the streets with busy restaurants and bars with tables laid out on the pavements. We walked towards the trendy Santa Catalina district in west Palma - about 15 minutes walk from the centre of the city. Heading down Carrer de la Fabrica the street is lined with fantastic restaurants each one with tables laid out onto the pavement. The bustling sounds of laughter and chatter and the laid back relaxed atmosphere it is easy to see why this is part of Palma is becoming more and more popular.

With so much choice it was hard to know where to go; being my first night in Palma traditional Spanish tapas was definitely on my mind. On advice of my guide we tucked ourselves into a table at Hemingway. A lovely tapas restaurant, combining modern and traditional with a menu of fresh Mediterranean dishes, delicious cocktails and local wines.

Wandering back to the hotel with full tummies we were excited to jump into our comfy bed in our suite and dream about exploring the city tomorrow.

Find out how Jo's weekend in Mallorca continued in Part 2.