Best hotels in Mallorca: eight places to stay, from Palma to the mountains

A mansion by the monastery church

Sant Francesc occupies a grand old townhouse on the square in front of the church of Sant Francesc, in the quietest corner of the old town. On the roof is a small pool with a view of terracotta rooftops and bell towers, and the cathedral is a few minutes' walk away through the lanes.

Inside, the original stone staircase and high ceilings meet clean, modern rooms. It is our pick for a first visit: central, calm at night and easy to love. Do not expect a big pool or resort facilities, this is a city hotel.

The garden nobody else has

Can Bordoy is on a side street near Plaça de la Llotja and the harbour, and it has something almost no other old-town hotel can offer: a real garden with mature trees and a pool among them. The rest of the building is a restored palace, decorated with a sharp eye for colour and old furniture.

It is made for design lovers and couples who want to feel tucked away in the middle of the city. The rooms are individual and some are very large, which is reflected in the price. Families with small children may find it a little too grown-up.

The modern option on Jaume III

Nakar stands on Avinguda Jaume III, the shopping street that runs from the old town towards the Passeig Mallorca. It is a modern hotel in a city where almost everything is old, with a rooftop pool and bar looking towards the cathedral and the bay.

Rooms are calm and well designed, and it is often better value than the palace hotels in the lanes. You give up some atmosphere in return, but you gain an easy location for shopping, restaurants and taxis to the beach. A good choice for a short city break.

Two manor houses above Deià

La Residencia is made up of two old manor houses on the slope just above Deià, wrapped in olive trees and citrus gardens with the mountains rising behind. From the terraces you look down on the village and out to sea, and the walk into Deià takes a few minutes along a path.

This is the island's classic romantic hotel, for anniversaries and long, slow dinners. It is expensive and the atmosphere is hushed, and the nearest swim in the sea is a drive or a steep walk down to the cove. If you want a beach at the door, look elsewhere.

The cliff above the bay

Jumeirah sits high on the cliff above Port de Sóller, the round harbour below the mountain town of Sóller. It is one of the few large luxury hotels on this coast, and almost every room looks either across the bay or up into the mountains.

Come for the spa, the infinity pool and the sunsets over the open sea. The hotel is a steep climb above the port, so plan on taxis or the hotel shuttle in the evening. It is ideal for couples and friends more than families with small children.

The monastery turned design hotel

Son Brull is in an old stone monastery just outside Pollença, with its own vineyards and olive groves around it and the northern mountains in view. Inside, it has been reworked into a modern hotel with clean lines, big rooms and a spa under the old vaults.

It is quiet, elegant and good for food, with Pollença's square and its long stairway up to the chapel ten minutes away by car. It is right for couples and adults travelling together. The beach is a drive away, so it is not for those who want sand underfoot every morning.

Hot springs by Es Trenc

Fontsanta is near Colònia de Sant Jordi in the far south, built around natural hot springs that were used for bathing long before the hotel arrived. It is adults only, and the spa is the main attraction, with Es Trenc, the island's long undeveloped beach, a short drive away.

It is a strong pick for couples and anyone who wants a real rest. The area is quiet in the evening and you will need a car to reach restaurants beyond the hotel. Not a choice for families or for those who want nightlife.

The fortress at the mouth of Palma Bay

Cap Rocat is a former military fortress on the headland on the south side of the Bay of Palma. Rooms are set into the rock itself, with terraces facing the sea, and there is a saltwater pool down by the water. The whole place feels secret, which is part of the pleasure.

It is one of the most unusual hotels in Spain and a fifteen-minute drive from the airport. It is expensive and the rooms are unconventional, so it suits travellers who want a story to tell rather than a standard resort. Children will find little to do.