Hotel Sant Francesc, Palma

7 Mar

Written By LBM

Palma is one of the loveliest cities in the world. It is small - small enough to walk or cycle around in one day, but it's also beautiful, and big enough to get lost in. There are lots of small streets to meander through as your try to find your way around; from the elegance of El Born and Ramblas (it's like a mini Barcelona), to the slightly more relaxed and uber-fashionable Santa Catalina, which is where all the cool cats hang out!

Swimming costume by ASOS (similar here), sunglasses by Tom Ford, earrings from Dinny Hall (similar here).

Hidden away through a maze of tiny streets in the very centre of the city is a lovely, peaceful square. On that square there is a beautiful church and it appears not much else, until you spot the subtly branded Sant Francesc Hotel Singular. In August Palma is hot! We were there in early August when most people who are visiting the island are in the coastal beach resorts or relaxing by their swimming pool at their country finca.

We just had one night in the city after a lovely stay in Pollensa and it was the perfect end to our holiday. The hotel is beautiful - housed in a former palace with interiors that could have been lifted from the pages of an interior magazine. And it's cool. Physically and metaphorically. We arrived from the sweltering heat of the car and immediately felt refreshed. The reception area is super stylish and comfortable and the rest of the hotel reflects that.

After we settled in and unpacked a few things, we headed up to the pool area on the roof for a light lunch and a glass of something pink. The food was delicious (a mixture of sushi and salad) and the view across the rooftops is magical. It's also a great place for a spot of people-watching.

Once the sun started to go down, we decided to brave the heat and went for a potter around the City across to the Cathedral. It's such an amazing building, a must-see if you do visit Palma. We then headed back to the hotel (via a couple of cute wine bars that we stumbled across) to have supper at the hotel's award-winning restaurant, Quadrat, located in the former stables of the palace. We opted for the tasting menu with accompanying wine flight and we weren't disappointed. The food was delicious and the setting magical - we went to bed very full and happy and had a great night's sleep in the soft, comfy beds.

It really is a wonderful place to stay in an almost perfect city. I can't recommend it enough.

LBM x