Portella Palma – Review

Portella is a 14-room boutique hotel in a restored 17th-century palace beside Palma’s Arab Baths. Expect a leafy courtyard, roof terrace with Cathedral views, suites with kitchenettes, connecting rooms, wellness that includes an authentic stone hammam with treatments, as well as a gym, and relaxed dining led by an in-house chef.

Once you cross the threshold, passing through the tall wooden doors, the city sounds thin to a hush behind you. The courtyard is shaded by palms and pomegranate trees, the only sound is the low, central fountain. The greeting includes a glass of wine as one’s passport is registered. Bags disappear, and soon enough you have the keys to a suite in this boutique bolthole, with the feeling of a welcoming private home in the old town.

Portella opened in 2024 after a careful renovation by Festen Architecture with Gras Reynés. The soul of the noble house remains, from stone and terracotta, the elegant staircase and the wonderfully ornate gallery windows that overlook the courtyard.

The style

This stunning house sits next to the Arab Baths in one of Palma’s most atmospheric corners. You step out to narrow, cobbled streets that thread towards Plaça de Cort in one direction and the park and Cathedral in the other. Inside, life orbits around the courtyard, the open kitchen dining area, and the rooftop terrace.

Check-in sets the tone. I took a seat in the courtyard while Alejandro registered my passport. The fountain trickled and the late sun warmed the golden sandstone walls. When I went upstairs, the suite opened to a generous sitting room with tall windows on both sides, and timber shutters that cut the brilliant sunlight. One outlook took in the quiet stone street. The other faced the patio.

Accommodation

Rooms keep the historic character but are minimalist and modern. Linen is crisp and cool. The mattress and topper are superb and encourage a long lie-in. Lighting is warm and the textiles run in neutrals that ground the space. Several suites, like mine, include a small kitchenette and a proper sofa for reading, which suits longer stays. Families can connect rooms to form a private apartment or even take an entire floor. If you need even more space, the Arab Baths Apartment gives you two bedrooms and a large terrace.

Some suites have a bathtub. Amenities are by Diptyque, which are a treat.

Dining

The social heart lives on two levels. At ground level the dining room, open kitchen and library feel like a home. There is a long communal table by the kitchen, and another large round table beside bookcases, with a few smaller tables tucked beside sofas. Food is personal. The menu travels the Mediterranean with ease, touching on Lebanon and Cyprus, dropping down to North Africa, then back across to the Iberian peninsula. Plates are prepared to order. If you have a dish in mind, give notice and the chef will shop the markets and cook it for you the next day. The wine approach follows the same logic. There is a small cellar on site and a wine concierge who can bring in a particular bottle the same day from partners around the island.

Breakfast is worth slowing down for. It runs late, so you never feel rushed. Fresh orange juice, seasonal fruit, pancakes from the patisserie side and a gentle parade of breads arrive first. Eggs are cooked to order. There are Benedicts on English muffins with smoked salmon or guanciale, or soft scrambled eggs if you prefer something plain. The yoghurt is made inhouse and comes with carob granola, nuts, and jams such as apple with cinnamon or wild strawberry with basil. Mallorca sits at the centre of the spread, from local cheeses to sobrassada and porc negre fuet. Lavender honey appears at the end and feels exactly right with toast and butter.

Up on the roof, life slows further. Mornings are for coffee and a book with the Cathedral lit soft and caramel by the rising sun. Through the day it’s the place to sunbath. By late afternoon you start to hear the bells roll across the rooftops. It makes a fine place for an aperitif before heading down for dinner in the courtyard or at the long table with other guests.

Wellbeing

The wellness area is where the old pottery ovens once stood. Book a private hammam followed by a massage tailored to you. Treatments range from deep sports work to reflexology and a thoughtful menu of techniques inspired by Arabic and Ayurvedic traditions. The Japanese Kobido facial is a calm, precise hour that leaves skin lifted and the mind quiet. There is also a small fitness room if you want to keep a routine while you are away.

General Manager Javier García Montes runs the house with a personal touch, which shows in the details. You notice it in the pacing of breakfast, the welcome note, the confident, attentive team, the insider recommendations for enjoying Palma and the island beyond.

Old Town Palma

The location rewards curiosity. From the door you can be at the Arab Baths in a minute and in the Cathedral in less than ten. If the sea calls, walk down to the promenade and watch the masts tilt at the yacht club. For art, stop at the Fundação Bartolomé March for sculpture and a fine terrace, or head to Es Baluard for a modern view over the bay. Evenings are best spent wandering through the narrow streets, where the sandstone holds the last warmth of the day, before returning to the courtyard for a final glass.

Portella suits travellers who value privacy, design with restraint and the pleasure of a boutique hotel that feels lie a home. It works for couples looking for a few quiet days in the city. It works for families who need connecting rooms and a kitchen. It also works for solo travellers who want a friendly base.

Practical notes. Suites and junior suites include VIP airport transfers, which simplifies arrival and takes the sting out of departure. The kitchen is open throughout the day to guests. If you want something particular for dinner, ask the day before and the chef will source it. Breakfast runs late.