Notes from Menorca
In my file of magical places, Menorca is at the top of the list – and it’s a place I am quick to recommend to anyone who asks for a recommendation on the Mediterranean. Considered little more local and laid back than neighboring Mallorca, I’d suggest Menorca to anyone who is up to for a bit of adventure to a stunning beach, a collection of little towns to explore, and a dinner or two by the sea. I adored every day I spent on this island and would return in a heartbeat.
My favorite memories
Swimming in a different nook of the sea each & every day, based solely on the daily recommendation of the owners of the hotel where I was staying.
Catching the ferry from Mahon for an afternoon at the Hauser & Wirth Museum, where I lost the afternoon to art and adventure.
A long and leisurely dinner at Menorca Experimental, surrounded by the beautiful grounds and architecture.
Enjoying sunset cocktails on a cliffside during sunset.
Exploring towns like Mahon, Fornells, & Ciutadella, either before or after a dip in the sea – each day had a little bit of everything, just how I like it.
The ferry to the Hauser & Wirth museum
Menorca Experimental
Cova D'En Xoroi
Menorca Experimental
The agritourismo I stayed at
Fornells
Cala Binidalí
Cala Mitjana
Hauser & Wirth Museum
Menorca Experimental
Cafe at Hauser & Wirth Museum
Fornells
A ferry ride
One of the beaches from along the way
Mahon
Fornells
Fornells
Bodegas Binafidet
Fornells
Cala Mitjana
Recommendation:
Mahon + Hauser & Wirth Museum
I recall heading here on the half day I had just after arriving on the island. I didn’t have it in me to make it to the beach, but was still ready for adventure. My friend Rosie had highly recommended the Hauser & Wirth museum, perched on its own little island within the town of Mahon, and so I spent an hour or two wandering before catching the ferry out to the museum. The museum sits within an old naval hospital, so the architecture alone is quite beautiful – the little crumbly but colorful bits and contrasting textures were a treasure to capture.
Recommendation:
Menorca Experimental
This is known mainly as a hotel, but I went for an evening wander and dinner just to appreciate the design and architecture. If I were to go back to Menorca, I’d consider staying here; the pool looks lovely and I love how most of the rooms are their own little homes with private outdoor spaces.
Recommendation:
Fornells
This pocket felt like a little slice of Greece to me: white walls brimming with colorful flowers, with slices of the sea peeking around every corner. The concierge at the hotel directed me first to “Platges de Fornells,” which felt more like a picturesque but planned community, and I explored the main town afterwards.
Recommendation:
Bodegas Binafidet & Cova d'en Xoroi
Quite a few of the places I ate at during this trip were last minute, low key recommendations from the owners of the hotel where I was staying – and I don’t have a good record of these memorable, delicious moments. But, I do recall enjoying a glass of wine and lunch at Bodegas Binafidet, a beautiful winery on the island, as well as getting a ticket for an evening at Cova d’en Xoroi. The latter is very much a tourist destination, but with good reason; where else will you enjoy a cocktail, completely cliffside, while watching the sunset? I’ll never forget it.
Recommendation:
Ciutadella
This is one of the larger towns on the island. I started my adventure here with a sailing trip via Airbnb Experiences, which took us out to a remote swimming cove, and dropped us back off in the heart of town just in time for dinner and a drink. This town had plenty of shops, restaurants, and streets to explore, and would be a good home base if you want to be surrounded by a bit more energy.
