12 of the Best Hotels and Rural Retreats in Menorca

This understated Balearic island offers mellow respite from its Mediterranean siblings with its undulating hills, whitewashed villages, sandy bays and a penchant for siestas. These are the hotels that keep us coming back to Menorca.

As synonymous with clandestine coves as its Balearic siblings are with clubs and crowds, Menorca has a siren call that attracts those keen to explore its underdeveloped waters. You'll find an untrammeled innocence here, where days start with trips to the markets, followed by long, lazy lunches on pine-backed beaches and curtains drawn like clockwork for an afternoon siesta. A smattering of smart boltholes has upped the design stakes in recent years bringing with it a cooler, clued-up crowd, while it's artistic past - Miro, Picasso and Dali were all fans - keeps the island's creative energy intact.

Restored palatial homes, farm-to-fork fincas and rural residences: these are the best places to stay in Menorca

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Hotel Hevresac

Menorca, Spain

Situated in the small town of Maó-Mahon in the Old Quarter, the eight-room Hotel Hevresac embodies the island's unhurried and lo-fi nature. Part city beach pad and part family home, this well-furnished bolthole pays homage to a smattering of Pinterest-approved trends: Nordic firewood fireplaces, feathered chandeliers and porcelain mosaic tiles - pinned for that bathroom renovation you haven't got round to - all feature. You can almost imagine a modern-day personification of Maó-Mahon perched on the mustard chesterfield, paintbrush jauntily in hand. This hotel is one of the more wallet-friendly options on the island - use your surplus fund to splash out on Menorca's signature dish: lobster stew, best enjoyed by the harbourside.

Address

Carrer d'Anuncivay, 20, 07702 Maó

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Casa Albertí

Menorca, Spain

A former noble's home in the centre of Mahón - just 180 metres from the harbour - now turned art hotel, Casa Albertí fuses period features such as whimsical chandeliers with hand-picked antique furniture and a revolving art exhibition. Wooden beams, high ceilings and views across the harbour come as standard in each of the 15 rooms, while the honesty bar and coffee sideboard stocked with Menorcan herbal teas and local vino give it a homely feel. Pick up a glass and take it to the terrace that overlooks the church spires of the Old Town or borrow a bike to explore the streets overflowing with top-draw tapas bars.

Address

Carrer d'Isabel II, 9, 07701 Maó

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Menorca Experimental

Alaior, Spain

Swapping hedonism for wholesomeness, the four Frenchmen behind the Experimental Group picked the pine groves and wildflower-filled surrounds of sleepy Menorca for their first island foray. Set in 30 hectares of carefully cultivated grounds, 43 rooms and nine villas with private dipping pools take root in the 19th-century restored farmhouse. Mixing rustic textures with a flirty art-deco accent - think natural leather, rough-hewn wood and curvaceous mirror - designer Dorothée Meilichzon's interior styling is the kind that makes you question your flat-pack furniture. Swapping late-night lights for early mornings is the norm; sign up to pottery, painting or yoga classes. Fans of the group's other properties shouldn't hide their hip flasks, however, Menorca Experimental hasn't completely cast aside the cocktail shakers. In a nod to the group's roots, the cocktail menu is delicious and each drink comes garnished with something picked from the garden.

Address

Batería Militar de Llucalari, Camí de Llucalari, 07730 Alaior, Balearics, Spain

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Hotel Can Faustino

Menorca, Spain

A 16th-century palace set in the centre of Menorca’s Ciutadella, Can Faustino is an ideal launchpad for exploring the town. Its suites and private villa have touches of leather and marble that give each space a luxurious touch, while double doors open out onto patios overlooking the city and harbour. The spa, however, is this stay’s crown jewel. Set in a grotto, it has an indoor swimming pool and a hammam, so you can relax after a horseback ride along the coast or hours of wandering around town.

Address

Calle de Sa Muradeta 22 07760 Ciutadella

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Son Vives

Menorca, Spain

Farm-to-table is a way of life on this island that is still very much in touch with its pastoral roots, so expect stays that offer yoghurt made on-site and heirloom tomatoes straight from the garden. Son Vives, a destination for agritourism, fully embraces this bucolic lifestyle. In addition to producing its own cheese, the hotel’s owners manage an organic vegetable garden, so meals are the main event during a stay here. The 12-bedroom farmhouse is located on a hill that’s slightly more inland, giving visitors a taste of local island life that differs from the typical sea-and-sand getaway. Indulge in daily on-site yoga and organic meals away from any crowds whatsoever.

Address

Camí de Sant Patrici km 4,5 07750 Ferreries

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Alcaufar Vell Hotel Rural

Menorca, Spain

Owned by the Mercadal family since the 14th century, this green-shuttered mansion is completely out of the way, making rest and relaxation the order of the day during a stay here. Surrounded by olive trees, it’s a favourite hideaway among stylish young couples and foodies on the hunt for something new. The farm-to-table experience here is very special, particularly when taken in the Jardí dels Ullastres under a sprawling tree decked out with lanterns. Working up an appetite with a stroll around the property followed by a dip in the pool. Spend the late afternoon sunbathing on your room’s terrace while you watch the farmhouse’s pale pink stone catches the idly setting sun.

Address

Carretera de Cala Alcaufar km 8 07710 Sant Lluis

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Casa Ládico

Menorca, Spain

A boutique hotel in the old part of Mahón, Casa Ládico embraces all that Menorca stands for: a slower pace of life, seasonal local produce and naps in dappled sunlight (there’s massive windows to thank for that). The poolside pergola is where you’ll want to languidly sip on glasses of white wine and order fresh fish drizzled with the island’s olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. While this hotel an ideal starting point for exploring Menorca’s capital on foot, its rooms are surprisingly spacious for a place in the historic centre and the beds are ultra comfortable – ideal for putting your feet up at the end of the day.

Address

Carrer d'Anuncivay 26 07701 Mahón

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Hotel Petit Maó

Menorca, Spain

A self-proclaimed “alternative hotel”, Petit Maó is as chilled out as hotels come. The rooms are stripped back with exposed wooden beams, pillowy beds and bleached-out stucco walls. The low-key vibe lends itself to lazy mornings spent under freshly laundered linens followed by catching up on reading by the pool in the garden. When you’re keen to set out on an adventure, the hotel can arrange a picnic basket brimming with local cheese and bottles of cava, as well as bikes for you to take on an excursion around the island.

Address

Infanta 17 07702 Mahón

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Hotel Rural Binigaus Vell

Menorca, Spain

A low-slung farmhouse on a remote property, this former dairy farm has been refitted to offer guests the most comfortable accommodation. Whether your stable-turned-suite has huge French doors that swing out onto either a terrace or a private swimming pool, you’ll find yourself floating between the indoor and outdoor spaces. The Oasis pool is the hotel’s hub, where one can easily spend the entire day lounging with a stack of magazines and the restaurant’s dark chocolate brownie with mint ice cream. Feel like venturing off the property? Binigaus beach is only a short walk away, and is so secluded that you’ll likely have a cove to yourself – a luxury that’s next to impossible to find in Ibiza. If you’re the sporty type that needs to keep busy, the hotel can also organise a day of sailing.

Address

Camí De Sa Mala Garba Km. 0.9 07749 Es Migjorn Gran

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Sant Joan de Binissaida

Menorca, Spain

A luxury boutique hotel set in an 18th-century country house, Sant Joan de Binissaida is by far one of the chicest stays on the island. With a gorgeous wrap-around terrace dripping with bougainvillea, it’s our top choice for an extra-special getaway (think: honeymoon sundowners). You’ll likely see a load of Missoni beach cover-ups as you indulge in the Bini brunch by the pool, as well as the latest Net-a-Porter lookbook come happy hour. The sprawling 12-room property has its own vegetable garden and super-size swimming pool minutes from the beach.

Address

Camí de Binissaida, 108 07720 Es Castell

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Hotel Tres Sants

Menorca, Spain

Perched on Carrer de Sant Cristòfol in Ciutadella de Menorca, Tres Sants offers a bohemian getaway on a reasonable budget. Each of this boutique hotel’s eight rooms is unique, and many have alluring canopy beds and terraces overlooking the city’s Sant Josep church. The candlelit underground spa, complete with an indoor pool and steam room, is one of the highlights of this hotel. Amateur artists looking to sketch the town’s buildings from the rooftop should book the Bohemi apartment, which was once an artist’s workshop.

Address

Carrer de Sant Cristòfol 2 07760 Ciutadella

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Hotel Torralbenc

Menorca, Spain

Overlooking the sea, Torralbenc is a former farm that’s been restored as a chic getaway. Not too far from wide swathes of beach, it’s a top choice for athletic folk hankering after days of horseback riding along the shore, swimming or merely tanning for hours on end. Those in need of some Zen will rejoice at the yoga retreat offering, which includes vegan or vegetarian menus and two daily outdoor yoga classes. Rooms with private plunge pools and views of the Mediterranean Sea serve as the perfect space to rest before re-emerging for dinner at the restaurant, which has Michelin-starred chef Gorka Txapartegi as its advisor, and blends Basque flavours with produce and wine fresh from the property.

Address

Ctra. Maó, Cala’n Porter Km.10 07730 Alaior

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