If you only know Mallorca for its beaches: shame. The charming, compact capital Palma is worth a weekend in its own right. Its pavement cafés beg you to spend a lazy afternoon drinking cheap cava; there are well-heeled art galleries and shops (check out super-chic Rialto Living and the Gallery Corner) and some impressive gothic architecture. A number of new properties have opened in Palma recently, including the elegant Can Bordoy Grand House & Garden and Palacio Can Marques. I checked into the latter — a gorgeous former palace hidden in the Old Town.
First impressions
In the tangle of narrow backstreets you’d be forgiven for walking straight past Palacio Can Marques, so discreet is its façade. The historic building dates from 1760 and has been lovingly restored. In the cathedral-height lobby, with its cobbled stone floor and free-standing staircase that zigzags up to the first floor, it certainly feels like a stately home.
Look
French designer Aline Matsika has taken each of the 13 suites in the wings of the palace and designed them according to a theme: whether based on space or perhaps a colour. Rooms include Rose — a long room with a huge terrace overlooking Palma’s Plaça de la Drassana — Diva and Cascade.
Feel
Dramatically high ceilings, secret views of the Old Town from hidden terraces and heavy wooden doors give the hotel a very imposing feel.
Extras
The Lanson champagne bar is set up enticingly in the courtyard lobby, with a clutch of copper-coloured stools around a marble-topped bar. The Restaurant Can Marques is consistently busy with patrons enjoying its French-inspired Spanish food.
Outside
The harbour is just a few minutes away via Plaça de la Drassana, as is ritzy shopping street Passeig del Born. But because the Old Town is all narrow alleys and backstreets, the hotel feels hidden from both. It’s the ideal base for exploring the Old Town’s charms.
In a nutshell
A revamped palacio with new-school design.
Details:
Rooms at the Palacio Can Marques start from £336 including breakfast and transfers.
EasyJet, Ryanair and Norwegian fly to Palma from the UK for around £30 return.
