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As the sunlight reflected golden hues over the clearest azure waters, I found myself immersed in the sheer serenity that only the beautiful island of Mallorca could offer.
My 4-day exploration through this magnificent island redefined the meaning of both adventure and relaxation. Buckle up and join me on this action packed, adventure filled journey!
Day One: La Palma and Cap Rocat Hotel
Our trip commenced when we checked into our beautiful hotel, Sant Francesc Hotel Singular. Located immediately next to the Sant Francesc Cathedral, the hotel is sophisticated in its design, a one-of-a-kind hotel in Palmas Old Town. Originally a 19th century mansion. The hotel has been restored to showcase its original features, which includes exposed beams, stone floors, wooden coffered ceilings, frescoes and murals.
Our room wasn't quite ready when we arrived, so the hotel staff were kind enough to show us a place we could change out of our travel clothes, and they kept our luggage while we went off to explore the old town.
While exploring the charismatic streets of La Palma, where history and modernity converge, the allure of ancient Spanish architecture mingled with vibrant culture set the perfect tone for what would be an action and adventure packed 4-day trip!
Sant Francesc Hotel Singular is conveniently located a stone's throw from some of the must-visit areas in La Palma's old town. The hotel staff were kind enough to give us a map, with some areas we should visit. We were happy to discover that everything was within a 10-minute walk from our hotel.
La Palmas Old Town
For dinner, I had made reservations at the exclusive Cap Rocat Hotel, Located about a 25-minute drive from our hotel. We arrived with plenty of time to take aperitive on the terrace, while relaxing and soaking up the energy of the space. Cap Rocat is a magnificent hotel, though a little out-of-the-way for our liking. We were pleased to experience it for an evening but overall happy with our choice to stay in La Palma.
I had booked dinner at what was supposed to be the pop-up restaurant experience of the year, Saddle x Cap Rocat. Saddle is located in the center of the capital, Madrid. Saddle Restaurant shows a careful classic French style cuisine with Spanish recipes. I was very excited to experience this restaurant pop up, since it was only available in Mallorca during the months of July and August.
While the service was exemplary, we were a little dismayed by our culinary experience. The dishes although beautiful, lacked the flavor and innovation we had hoped to experience.
Day Two: Gran Folies Beach Club and Restaurant Illeta
Day two beckoned with the promise of some RnR at the Gran Folies Beach Club.
Situated in Andratx, Gran Folies Holds the title for the best Beach Club in all of Mallorca, and it's not difficult to see why. Crystal clear Azure Blue water, edged by rocky coves, It's Serenity at its finest.
Gran Folies is divided into two main sections, the 'Special VIP" section, close to the pool, and the "Solarium" section. We booked in the VIP section close to the pool and requested two sun loungers with an umbrella. We were second row from the edge, but in all honesty, the view was magnificent from every vantagepoint on the VIP deck.
We arrived around 11:30 am (they open at 10:30 am) and will hold your reservation until 1:30pm before giving it away to a walk-in guest or group. They close around 7:00pm which makes this beach club the perfect way to relax and will away the day before dinner.
After spending a relaxing day at the beach club, we drove along the coast to the town of Es Camp de Mar for a sunset dinner at restaurant Illeta. Luckily for us the weather was glorious, and we arrived about an hour before sunset. Restaurant Illeta is a unique restaurant in that it is situated on an island, reachable by a gang plank from the water's edge at the beach.
The food at the restaurant left a lot to be desired, but we assumed that going in. I had a very delicious starter of grilled artichoke flowers, and my husband had a delicious salad to start. Our mains were nothing special, but the view and chill laid-back ambience made up for it.
Day Three: Soller, Deia, and Valldemossa
On day three, we ventured into the heart of Mallorca, visiting the charming towns of Soller, Deia, and Valldemossa . Each town exuded its unique charm and character, offering a glimpse into the island's rich heritage.
Soller is a charming ochre-colored quaint town, situated in a valley surrounded by hills dotted with orange and lemon groves, the town is most known for the famous Soller train that runs straight through the heart of the main square. Markets run in the town every Saturday, and we were lucky enough to visit while they were in full effect.
After exploring the markets at Soller, we headed off to the next destination, Deia. we had a reservation at the Belmond la Residenca Hotel for 2:00pm and the drive to Deia was expected to take around 30 minutes. Unfortunately for us, we got into some car troubles on the way to Deia, Which I will go into details in my next blog post!
After our harrowing car trouble experience, we were fortunate enough to keep our reservation for lunch at Miro at La Residencia hotel.
The property at the Belmond hotel was absolutely breathtaking, and a must visit if you happen to find yourself in the town of Deia. As a non-hotel guest, typically you are not allowed on the property, however the best way to bypass that is if you have either a lunch reservation at Miro or a dinner reservation at Olivio.
Did you know in 1996 Princess Diana stayed at the Belmond la Residencia, and there is still at note of thanks to the hotel on the wall in the reception area!
From Deia we continued on to Valldemossa, A beautiful rambling town, founded in 123 BC, which was home at one time to composer Chopin, it has also been home to several poets and painters over time. It's not difficult to see why Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas have a home here, on the outskirts of Valldemossa.
Day Four: Boat Rental and Dinner at LIO
No trip to an island in the summertime would be complete without a boat day!
Today was my actual birthday, and I wanted to spend it doing something I really loved. I feel so happy and at ease on the water, it was only natural for me to want to explore a bit of Mallorca's coastline from the sea.
I worked with Sail Trip Mallorca, and we created an itinerary for the day and were set up with a magnificent tapas spread for lunch. We were picked up at the main port, and being a Sunday, the port was empty, and parking was a breeze. Finding the boat slip is a bit tricky, so if you do have the intention to rent a boat, make sure they give you very accurate directions. La Palmas port is one of the largest ports in all of Europe, and without accurate instructions on how to find your vessel, I can imagine it being a bit tricky.
After our relaxing day on the boat, we ventured back into town to do some sightseeing and shopping. Being a Sunday, many of the shops and galleries were closed, but there was still enough to do, and if shopping is your main objective, I'd definitely recommend doing it during the week, outside of "siesta" hours from 2:00pm to 4:00pm when the stores are closed.
I was thrilled to discover, when planning this trip, that Lio has a location here in Mallorca. Two years ago, I celebrated my 40th Birthday at Lio Ibiza, and decided I wanted to keep up with the tradition.
Lio is a dining extravaganza coupled with a dazzling cabaret show that is sure to be full of surprises.
It was the perfect opportunity to get dressed up and celebrate our last night in Mallorca with a bang! My husband and I were both pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food, we were expecting it to not quite hit the mark since Lio is really all about the show, but we were both impressed at the quality. The service was outstanding, and we both agreed we would come back to Lio Mallorca if we were on the Island again.
Spending 4 days discovering Mallorca offered us a mix of adventure, culture, and stunning landscapes, leaving both my husband and I excited to return for another visit in the near future.
For those in search of natural beauty, a rich history, adventure, and a mix of both luxury and simplicity, there is no need to look beyond this Balearic paradise.
We can't wait to visit again and come back again next week to read more about our car troubles on the island!
Fallon xo
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