Best Design Hotels in Balearic Islands

People who like to be active during their holiday while surrounding themselves with luxury are sure to appreciate all that the Son Brull Hotel & Spa next to Pollensa has to offer. In addition to the signature spa with its sauna and steam room, the hotel also feature a large tennis courts and a huge outdoor swimming pool complex, both of which are set in a picturesque garden. Lovers of fine dining are also sure to be in their element here as gourmet cuisine is served in a stylish setting. Wine enthusiasts are sure to be in their element as a winery is attached to this luxurious hotel. Special wine tours and tastings are available on request and this special experience is sure to help make staying in this hotel truly memorable.

A barefoot luxury five-star boutique hotel, on a rocky outcrop above Platja Palmira, where an infinity pool melts into the bay and the pine-scented air carries mellow DJ sets across the terrace. Aethos Mallorca is the Mediterranean at its most laid-back and sexy.

With interiors akin to the kinds of superyachts that come and go from the adjacent marina, NH Collection Ibiza is a little alternative (by Ibizan standards) and very trendy. 38 rooms come with Bang & Olufsen speakers, Illy coffee machines, Balearic-sourced Ayurvedic essential oils and Dead Clean bath products. At the heart of the resort is a triangular saltwater pool; a challenge for lengths, but a triumph for Instagramming, a cocktail in the hand and designer sunnies on the head. Izakaya has a bohemian edge and serves Peruvian-Japanese fusion food, including sushi and Sakana small plates, while The Butcher restaurant does a mean Aberdeen Angus beef burger and serves drinks till well after sunrise.

A former nobleman’s home dating from the 1900s, Can Albertí 1740 Boutique Hotel has grown from a six-bedroom residence to offering 14 bedrooms across its three stories. Recognisable by its salmon pink and white front elevation with wrought iron balconies, it’s both striking and romantic. Inside, vintage styling — nodding to the building’s heritage — melds with contemporary Mediterranean furnishings. Guests can access an honesty bar, a leafy courtyard and a terrace perfect for sundowners, and the concierge is on hand to arrange spa treatments and dish out parasols and towels for beach use.

While many flock to beachside resorts in Ibiza, the Hotel Mirador de Dalt Vila offers a very different perspective on the island. The 19th-century property is a former Lord’s manor house, tucked into the walled city of Dalt Vila, a Unesco World Heritage site. It was only recently transformed from a residential home into a hotel, with 12 guest rooms located in the main house and in an annex (book the former for original features such as beamed ceilings and wrought iron balconettes). The terrace provides stunning views over the harbour, there’s a fine dining intimate restaurant overlooking the plaza (all meals are served here) and an outdoor plunge pool to cool off in the Balearic heat.

30 suites at this adults-only barefoot-chic retreat are furnished with Bang & Olufsen TV and sound systems, minibars, Nespresso machines, L’Occitane and Bulgari toiletries. The seaside property’s airy decor takes its cue from both Japanese and Scandi influences, creating a modern, soothing effect. The resort has three saltwater swimming pools (one infinity-style that’s semi-hidden and overlooking the ocean) within its grounds. Dine indoors or alfresco at Asador de Mar, on meaty feasts cooked over an open fire. Pleta de Mar is found a 15-minute walk from the east coast town of Canyamel and is an hour’s taxi ride from the airport.

This 5 star Ushuaia Beach Hotel is synonymous with the best music and clubbing on the island, in fact, it’s the hotel that defined the Ibiza party scene. Located just 15 minutes from the airport at Playa d’en Bozza beach, this adults-only hotel offers 415 luxury rooms and suites across The Ushuaïa Club and Ushuaïa Tower. The resort has three outdoor pools, with sun loungers and Bali beds while the three on-site restaurants mean you never have to leave the resort. One of the key benefits of staying at the hotel is that guests gain free access to the live DJ performances hosted by the hotel and if you want the ultimate clubbing experience, their Front Row Rooms offer front-row views of the DJ arena. This is the ultimate luxury hotel for those seeking one of the best clubbing experiences on the island.

This brand’s fun and youthful vibe fits perfectly into island life. The 162-bedroom W hotel has a chilled barefoot feel by day and a party atmosphere after dark. Its Lounge, set at the heart of the property, has been inspired by the amphitheatre design of the Old Town’s Dalt Villa. Glow is the oh-so-grown-up rooftop space for over 16s. And the WET deck creates a backdrop for dancing, swimming and drinking to the DJ’s beats. W’s Chiringuito Blue serves Mediterranean dishes, with the Beach by Ushuaïa offering a more casual ambience. Plug into the serenity of Ibiza’s natural environment at AWAY Spa.

El Vicenç de la Mar is an adults-only design hotel on Mallorca’s northern coast above the hamlet of Cala Sant Vicenç. This contemporary boutique property features 35 rooms and suites across ten categories, including swim-up rooms and a penthouse with private pool. Dine on Michelin-starred chef Santi Taura’s cuisine at U Mayol bistro and El Vicenç restaurant, unwind at the comprehensive Wellness Studio, and enjoy rooftop cocktails with sea views.

Proving Alcudia isn’t all about young families, this is a hotel catering exclusively to adults. Exposed natural stone walls, pine beams, clean lines, Scandi furnishings, contemporary watercolour artworks, oversized freestanding tubs and industrial-chic lighting all contribute to a peaceful sophistication at Forum Boutique, which first opened in 2018. Guests can swim in an outdoor saltwater pool, relax in the interior garden and stargaze from the terrace hot tub. Forum Boutique has 16 bedrooms in total, a shared lounge and a bar and is located along a pretty cobbled street, a few minutes walk from the town marketplace.

Dedicated to ramping the getaway experience up a notch, Ses Piteras is dedicated to relaxation. Situated next to a glorious vista of beaches, Ses Piteras embraces minimalist design and twenty-first-century chique. Every detail has been taken care of, from an on-site spa to a rooftop terrace. Ses Piteras counters the long days of sunshine with soothing water, creating the perfect accompaniment to the warmth of Ibiza. The hotel is ideally situated for both relaxing and roaming and offers a welcoming return after nights of partying.

Each of the 32 bedrooms at this boutique hotel has been individually decorated, with interior design by Paris-based Jacques Grange. Splashes of bold colour are blended with quirky accents, classic luxe styling and comforting conveniences including blackout drapes and soundproofing. Look out from your balcony onto the ancient olive tree of the Plaça de Cort below, or head up to the chic rooftop pool and terrace where you’ll be afforded far-reaching views over the old city. A calming stone-walled wellness zone with a gym and jacuzzi is found inside, along with a Japanese eatery and a bijou in-house cinema.