24 Best Hotels in Mallorca, Ibiza and the Balearic Islands

In a 19th-century building on a quiet square in the old town, Calatrava is one of many historic buildings converted into elegant, art-laden boutique hotels in recent years. The airy, oversize guest rooms are tastefully decorated with Mediterranean-inspired terra-cotta walls, painted wooden beams, beechwood floors, Carl Hansen armchairs, and thick rugs to create a laid-back, homey feel. The breezy rooftop, which doubles as a breakfast room, has unobstructed views of the Mediterranean and Palma Bay, while the spa has a sauna and heated whirlpool tubs and can be reserved by guests for an hour a day of private use at no extra cost. The delicious-smelling bath and spa amenities are organic and vegan. The hotel accommodates over-14s only.

In recent years, several high-end boutique hotels have opened in Palma de Mallorca, none more fabulous than El Llorenç Parc de la Mar. The setting, on a quiet square in the historic Calatrava neighborhood, is ideal for exploring the prettiest parts of Palma on foot. Guests love the timeless design (which blends landmark details with ultramodern features), the dreamy spa, and the spectacular split-level rooftop, complete with a bar and casual-dining restaurant, infinity pool, and 360-degree views of the bay, the cathedral, and the rooftops of the old town. The hotel interior is the work of Swedish designer Magnus Ehrland, who tapped into Mallorcan history and the island's Moorish influence. The result is a rich aesthetic that pays homage to its historic neighborhood. The cozy rooms mix classic black-and-white photography with colorful details and warm, comforting fabrics. Delicious-smelling Le Labo bath amenities complete the overall excellence of the El Llorenç experience.

About equidistant from Palma and Valldemossa, this restored estate house—parts of which date back to 1672—is one of Mallorca's most luxurious hotels. A cluster of detached suites have private pools, hot tubs, fireplaces, and classic-modern furnishing. Rooms in the main building can be over the top—lots of red and rosy pink—but the bathrooms are truly palatial. Poplars and palms shade the terrace above the 98-foot infinity pool, with a view over the village of Puigpunyent and surrounding countryside, likely making this the best pool terrace on the island. Son Net's restaurant, Oleum, set in an ancient olive mill, is an ideal showcase for chef Sergio Olmedo's Continental–Mallorcan cuisine. The poolside restaurant, El Gazebo, is perfect for summer lunches, and the Treehouse, with panoramic views across the mountains, is a charming setting for more intimate meals. The hotel's own vineyard produces quite drinkable wines.

Romanesque arches and a giant palm tree spectacularly cover the central courtyard and reception area of this shabby-chic hotel, which occupies the former mansion of a noble Mallorcan family. Guest rooms are modest, though some have the original coffered and painted ceilings and traditional Mallorcan furnishings. The rates are more than reasonable, and a buffet breakfast is included.

A favorite way station for groups of cyclists touring the island, the Son Sant Jordi is a small, family-friendly gem of a boutique hotel, formerly the convent of the adjacent Church of Sant Jordi. The palm-shaded patio garden in back is a delight, with orange and lemon trees, a small pool, and a fishpond. Guest rooms have antique furniture, king-size four-poster canopy beds, ceramic-tile floors, exposed-stone walls, and ceiling beams. Full amenities include robes and slippers. The best room in the house is No. 4, "Les Aguilas." Book for a week, and the hotel will arrange free transfers from and to the airport.

Located minutes from some of Mallorca's best beaches, The Lodge is a luxury hotel on top of a lavender field perfect for any would-be photographer. The 24-suite property is a refuge if you want a different vacation while on the capital island of Mallorca. The on-site restaurant Singular is a Mediterranean outdoor fantasy. If the weather is favorable, you'll spend the evening dining on exquisite dishes and sipping some of Mallorca's best wines. The Lodge's suites are all designed in a minimalist decor style that will remain timeless for decades. Suite highlights include the private pool room with a beautiful Mallorcan patio and your private pool.

If you've ever been to Morocco, you know how unique riads are, and this boutique hotel delivers that same charm to each room. Each of its 11 suites has a different decor tailored after the North African country. The Hammam Suite is especially suited for those looking for a luxurious bathroom to relax in for days. The giant tiled tub slowly fills with water while the nearby fireplace beams with luxurious energy, even if not lighted. The hotel is moody, trendy, and great for a drink or meal. 

"Oasis" springs to mind when driving up through family vineyards to this lovingly restored medieval monastery, reborn as a deluxe resort hotel. Weather permitting, meals are served on the poolside patio, with a beautiful view of the Tramuntana Mountains. However, an atmospheric lounge-tapas bar is also inside, decorated with an ancient olive press, stone arches, and thatched vaulted ceilings. Guest rooms have king-size beds and comfortable modern furnishings; bathrooms have huge shower stalls, jetted tubs, and towel warmers. The straw hats in the rooms left there for strolling the grounds in the summer sun are typical of the meticulous attention to detail at Son Brull.

Ca'n Beneït is the perfect rural hotel if you want to avoid it all. It is located in the heart of the Sierra de Tramuntana and mixes contemporary luxury with intelligent design and ample room sizes. If you're sitting on the terrace, the on-site restaurant Mirabona infuses Mallorican gastronomy with the modern and has some of the best views of the Binibona Valley.

Just across the tram tracks from the train station, this former home still feels much like a family hideaway. The lobby is a cheerful clutter of bric-a-brac (sconces, candelabra, bronze heads, novelty teapots); guest rooms are light and airy, with antique furniture, walls in white or Mediterranean blue, exposed beams on the ceilings, and original terra-cotta floors. The bathrooms are ample, with robes and standard amenities. Ask for the Terrace Room, which overlooks the garden.

This lovely hotel in a 13th-century estate is a 10-minute drive from Palma, with several nearby golf courses. The Son Vida golf course surrounds the property, while the Son Muntaner and Son Quint courses and nine-hole Son Quint Pitch & Putt are a short drive away. The spacious guest rooms come with plenty of storage space, double vanities, showers and tubs, and ultracomfy beds, while the common areas are filled with valuable antiques, fine rugs, and a collection of Old Master artworks. The outdoor bar terrace and restaurant offer incomparable views of Palma Bay.

About a minute's walk from almost everything in Palma, this art-friendly boutique hotel is an oasis of quiet in summer, when Palma gets most of its tourist traffic. Rooms are furnished (some have soaking tubs) with hardwood floors and good lighting; bathrooms are modern, with standard amenities. The rooftop patio is a particular delight. Michelin-starred Marc Fosh offers room service, which is a surprise considering that not many Michelin-starred room service options are available globally. 

In an ideal location in the old part of Palma, a minute's walk to the cathedral, this town house, dating back to the 15th century, was the Sancho Moragues home until 2001, when the family opened it as a hotel. Most of the furniture, paintings, and decoration were their own, handed down for generations, but with modernization came enormous whirlpool tubs in the tile bathrooms and a pleasant rooftop terrace with a knockout view of the cathedral. Weather permitting, a basic breakfast is served in the lovely interior garden, overgrown with bougainvillea and orange and lemon trees.

The six-room town house of couple Barbara Martí and Martin Lucas, a few minutes’ walk from Sòller’s center, is an example of homely hospitality at its finest, as well as green policies—all food is plant-based, and every Saturday, there’s a cooking class using ingredients you pick from the garden. Decor varies per room, but statement works by Mallorcan artist Francesca Martí (coincidentally, Barbara’s mom) are a constant throughout, alongside upcycled furniture. The backdrop to the peaceful rear patio looks like an artwork in its own right—an entire canvas of Tramuntana mountains. Facilities include a small pool, and yoga and meditation classes are offered.

Located adjacent to Es Trenc, the Fontsanta Hotel is home to the only thermal waters in Mallorca. This luxurious wellness retreat is an ideal spot for relaxation and rejuvenation. The hotel provides transport to the nearby nature preserve and can arrange delightful picnics for guests.

With a distance of only 15 minutes from the heart of Palma, Grand Hotel Son Net feels like another world. Housed in a historic palace, the hotel is a doorway into another time. Each room is decorated in what feels like perfect time-accurate Mallorcan design. Even though this place oozes luxury, it's open to all different types of travelers, and you can often hear the laughter of children with their families through the other hallways. The best time to visit is in the summer, since it's the perfect escape from the busy city.

Business travelers from the mainland favor this comfortable, central hotel, and it's an excellent choice for vacationers as well. Rooms have pebbled white walls, with furniture and color schemes in soothing tones of brown, cream, and orange, and, though the rooms are mostly singles and doubles, there are also a few family-friendly ones for three or four guests. Open year-round, the Almudaina has just three of its own parking spaces, which are understandably hard to reserve. You might want to pay a little more for the "Double Star" Room 804: the hotel's rooftop terrace-solarium is right next door, with wonderful views of the cathedral, the old town, and the harbor.

If you're a fan of anything Sir Richard Branson, you'll love Son Bunyola. Located 45 minutes from Palma and down some of the most winding roads known to man, it's one of Mallorca's luxury hotels. With limited rooms (and space), Son Bunyola feels like you're walking into a space that mixes historical with contemporary. Highlights include the on-site restaurant with many Mallorcan dishes, and a cocktail menu that rivals the best Palma offers. The rooms are modern with enough space for a family.

Owner Toni Oliver obviously put a lot of work into this lovingly restored town house on Sóller's central square. Rooms—four on the square, four facing the interior—are plainly furnished, but the public spaces keep much of the original lush Moderniste detail: coffered ceilings, alabaster walls cut in floral patterns, arches in carved and painted plaster, and a three-story central staircase with a cupola. The terrace gourmet restaurant takes full advantage of the palm-shaded garden. Book well in advance.

Portella Palma mixes historical design with contemporary. The interiors were designed by Festen Architecture, led by duo Hugo Sauzay and Charlotte de Tonnac. The property is the perfect place if you want to be in the center of the Palma but in an alley that sees little action in terms of parties or nightlife. Consider it a luxury escape with more design aspects than luxury frills. Most rooms have high ceilings and purposeful design choices. Be warned; any construction nearby might add unwanted noise to your vacation.