There are beautiful places that boast picture-perfect landscapes and five-star services. And then there are magical places, the ones you never want to leave and would return to over and over again.
These are places where a strange alchemy of views, atmospheres, services and people makes you feel what influencers call “good vibes”, a feeling that cannot be described in words, but when you encounter it, you recognise it immediately: you feel at home, you feel good, you can rest your mind before your body, and enjoy every single minute in that place. No stress, no anxiety, no expectations.
The Hotel de Mar Gran Meliá in Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands, definitely belongs to the second category: that of magical places.
It is difficult to explain why: it may be the location, the surroundings, the natural environment. More likely, it is the people who work there and their attention to customers that make you feel at ease even in such a refined setting.
And on the subject of elegance and iconic style, it should be noted that, since last May, the Hotel de Mar Gran Meliá has been home to a new Riva Lounge, the first in Spain, which extends between a bright indoor dining area and a panoramic terrace facing the sea, surrounded by a garden.
Every detail echoes the style of Riva boats, thanks to the use of fine materials such as mahogany, striped maple and steel, and the choice of legendary furnishings such as the Aquariva lamp and Aquarama chairs. Enriching and making the Riva experience in this resort even more authentic and exciting is a wonderful Rivamare, available for private charter by reservation, reserved for both resort guests and outside visitors. A unique opportunity to explore the island’s hidden bays while enjoying aperitifs at sunset or an unforgettable dinner.
But the Hotel de Mar is also linked to the sea by its silhouette, which resembles the bow of a ship. Designed by Spanish architect José Antonio Coderech in 1962 on commission from Bartomeu Joan Boadas Mayor, and known as the “chocolate building” thanks to its brown ceramic tile cladding, the resort overlooking the coast of Illetes has been one of the symbols of Majorcan architecture for over 60 years and has only sea-view rooms.
Coderech found it inconceivable that, facing such a beautiful, magnetic and fascinating sea, there could be rooms with a view of the road, and so he designed a building that opened up to the view, “turning its back” on everything he did not consider worthy of admiration. As soon as you enter the main hall, you are literally catapulted towards the sea, and what is behind you only returns to view, and to memory, when you leave the resort. Furthermore, as each room is staggered in relation to its neighbours, it is impossible to see into another room from your own. In short, it is the epitome of privacy.
The Hotel de Mar Gran Meliá is a place where everything becomes an experience, where swimming in the sea, sunbathing or lunch and dinner are transformed into emotions.
It starts on arrival, when you are welcomed with a check-in worthy of a king. There is no rush. You are seated in comfortable leather armchairs, pampered with an ice-cold glass of champagne, and then proceed to check in. The rooms, simple and elegant, are a real treat and feature a small terrace with natural teak furniture reminiscent of the transatlantic liners of yesteryear. The view, needless to say, is unparalleled and also extends over the hotel’s outdoor areas, which include two swimming pools, the Bonbon Beach Club designed by Alberta Ferretti, which, in addition to the large double cabanas around the pool, also includes a series of sun loungers in the raised area along the sea and a small beach nestled at the end of a miniature bay that looks like something out of a fairy tale.
There are three restaurants, all worth trying. In addition to the Riva lounge, there is the informal Bonbon Beach Club restaurant, perfect for a midday break, offering revisited Iberian cuisine and traditional dishes. In the evening, a visit to Arrels is a must. This restaurant is run by the famous Spanish chef Marga Coll, who offers a different Majorcan culinary experience every day, based on the availability of the market and her own vegetable gardens. It is not possible to choose à la carte, but every evening a seven-course menu is created, which varies according to the availability of the market and her own vegetable gardens.
To complete the extraordinary experience guaranteed by the Hotel de Mar, this is an “adults only” resort, which means peace and tranquillity are guaranteed, and you can bring your furry friends with you as they are welcomed with the same enthusiasm as their owners.
One last gem. For art and design enthusiasts, this hotel is also a small museum. Each floor features the works of a different Spanish artist. These range from contemporary painter Raquel Navarro to interdisciplinary artist Jordi Lafòn Guerrero, Quique Gimenez, Montsita Rierola de Mas and many other Spanish creatives from the 1960s. To the right of the reception, a small room houses a legend of all the works and documents relating to the construction of the hotel.
