TRAVEL GUIDES
Our Guide To Menorca
With Ines' maternal family rooted in Barcelona, the Balearics have been a constant in our world across different chapters of life. Childhood summers on Menorca first. Then a family house, and the kind of slow, returning relationship with a place that teaches you things a single trip never could. It had been a few years since our last visit when we went back recently and within days it was obvious: Menorca is still, without question, the one.
We say that having watched the others change. Ibiza, which once rewarded you with genuinely local, under-the-radar spots if you knew where to look, gets harder to navigate that way every time. The Balearics are not immune to what's happening to every desirable island in the Mediterranean right now.
But Menorca holds. It's not that nothing's changed: Maó's port has quietly come into its own, with a new wave of small restaurants, bakeries and shops that have real character and taste. The difference is they're still run by people from the island, done with authenticity and no performance about it.
That's just what Menorca does. While other islands are busy trying to be the place to be, this one is perfectly happy just being itself: raw, quiet and effortlessly beautiful. Luxury here isn't a beach club with a queue but a silent cala with nothing but the sound of the waves for company.
If you're after nightlife, a scene, or a packed itinerary of organised activities, this is probably not the island for you. But if you want long days on beaches so beautiful they feel slightly unreal, good simple food, a car and no fixed plan, you're in the right place. Menorca is particularly special for families with young kids, couples after genuine quiet, and anyone who's done the flashier islands and is ready for something that doesn't try so hard.
Late May, June and September are the sweet spot to visit: the island is alive enough to feel like summer, quiet enough to still feel like relaxing. July and August bring the Spanish families (which has its own warmth to it, but the calas get busy and accommodation fills up fast).
A note on this guide: we haven't tried to cover everything, just the places and experiences we'd send a close friend to without hesitation.
Where to Stay
Ciutadella, Menorca
From 350€ per night
We found Faustino Gran completely by accident, walking past and deciding to peek inside. We're glad we did. It's a beautifully restored old building with a stunning courtyard so peaceful you can hear birdsong over everything else, which in peak summer feels like a small miracle. Perfectly located in the heart of Ciutadella too, which makes it ideal if you'd rather leave the car keys at reception and explore on foot. There is a pool and the rooms look very comfortable (some with beautiful views on the church).
SON ERMITA
We haven't made it to yet to Son Ermita from Vestige Collection but it has been on our list for a while. A beautifully restored finca in the countryside. It has the kind of quiet, considered aesthetic that made us stop scrolling the moment we found it: all natural materials, thoughtful interiors and that sense that someone has put real care into every corner. It's on the list for a reason, and when we get there you'll be the first to know.
Ferreries, Menorca
From 500€ per night
Alaior, Menorca
From 300€ per night
Amagatay is rural in the best possible way: sitting in the middle of the countryside, completely quiet, with the most beautiful vegetation all around it. We stayed for dinner at the restaurant, which is stunning to sit in and the service was some of the kindest we came across on the whole trip. The food though was the one thing that didn't quite live up to everything else, which was a real shame because the rest of it had us completely sold. We’d still stay here but wouldn’t recommend to come for dinner.
HOTEL RURAL SANT IGNASI
A beautifully preserved 18th century manor house on the outskirts of Ciutadella. with the kind of old-world charm that feels genuinely earned rather than decorated. It started in 1777 as a summer holiday home for a Menorcan aristocratic family, and it was a local woman, Juana Vilafranca, who eventually restored it and turned it into the first ever rural hotel on the island. The whole place is built around the Menorcan philosophy of "poc a poc": slow, peaceful, in harmony with its surroundings.
Ciutadella, Menorca
From 300€ per night
ALCAUFAR VELL
Alcaufar Vell sits at the heart of a 250-hectare working estate on the southeastern tip of the island, and has belonged to the same Menorcan family, the Mercadals, since the fourteenth century. The building was a medieval fortification, became a stately neoclassical villa, and is now a small rural boutique hotel, with rooms in both the main house and the beautifully converted old stables. Dinner happens either under vaulted ceilings indoors or outside beneath wild olive trees.
Sant Lluis, Menorca
From 300€ per night
SES SUCRERES
Built by a Franco-Menorcan couple who live there themselves, the boutique hotel was once a sweet shop where the kids of Ferreries would come to buy their sweets. It's right in the middle of the island, equidistant from Mahón and Ciutadella and within easy reach of both coasts, which actually makes it one of the more practical bases on this list if you want to cover a lot of ground. We haven’t stayed ourselves but it has a great reputation in the island and very good ratings.
Ferreries, Menorca
From 200€ per night
CRISTINE BEDFOR
The hotel is named after a fictional character: the English alter ego of its founder, Menorcan hotelier Cristina Lozano, and the whole property is built around Bedfor's very specific sense of style: antiques, art pieces, a wonderfully bohemian mix of colours and patterns. She doesn't exist, and yet you feel her everywhere. It's right in the heart of Mahón, which makes it a great base if you want to be in the thick of the port's new energy without driving anywhere at night.
Mahón, Menorca
From 200€ per night
SES BRUIXES
Ses Bruixes is right in the centre of Mahón's old town, in a beautifully restored 19th-century townhouse with a secluded orange tree courtyard that is genuinely one of the prettiest spots in the city. Rooms have fireplaces and soaking tubs, there's a spa downstairs, and the whole thing is adults-only, so if you're after somewhere quiet, considered and very much not family chaos, this is your spot in Mahón.
Mahón, Menorca
From 200€ per night
What to do
ISLA DEL REY
Isla del Rey is small island in the middle of the natural harbor of Mahón, which you can easily reach by a 15 minute ferry. It is internationally known for the art center of Hauser & Wirth, which opened in 2021 after a careful conservation project. The gallery occupies restored naval buildings and combines contemporary art exhibitions with Mediterranean gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Piet Oudolf. Make sure to book their restaurant Cantina, it is excellent and perfect after the visit!
Mahón, Menorca
CAMI DE CAVALLS
Perhaps the most authentic way to experience Menorca is along the Camí de Cavalls, the historic coastal trail that encircles the entire island. Passing lighthouses, secluded coves and prehistoric sites, the route can be completed in 8–12 days or explored in shorter sections. Highlights include the routes “Es Grau–Favàritx” for dramatic landscapes, “Binimel·là–Els Alocs” for a wilder coast, “Cala Morell–Punta Nati” for sea cliffs and sunsets, and “Cala Turqueta–Cala Galdana” for turquoise coves.
Menorca
BODEGAS BINIFADET
Located near the village of Sant Lluís, this family-run estate has helped revive viticulture on the island and is now one of Menorca’s leading wineries. The vineyards grow on distinctive marès sandstone soil, believed to enhance grape quality. Since releasing its first wine in 2004, Binifadet has gained recognition across Menorca and mainland Spain, even appearing on the wine list of Ferran Adrià’s El Bulli. You can go for guided tours, tastings, and long lunches too at the estate restaurant.
Sant Lluis, Menorca
LITHICA
One of Menorca’s most unexpected and surreal cultural sites:a former sandstone quarry that’s been transformed into this almost surreal sculptural landscape park. It’s not a long visit, but the scale of the geometric rocks is pretty impressive. We love that it hasn’t been turned into something overworked or overly “designed”. Today, it also quietly hosts concerts, performances and seasonal events, which gives it this lovely second life as both landscape and cultural space.
Ciutadella, Menorca
CALA EN TURQUETA
Definitely not a “hidden” gem (you’ll be sharing it with plenty of other people), but a gem nonetheless. Cala en Turqueta has that classic Menorca magic: impossibly turquoise water, soft white sand, and pine trees tumbling right down to the shoreline. Yes, in high season it gets busy, but the water is so good it’s hard to mind too much once you’re in it. Go early or later in the day if you can. There is also a chiringuito beach bar during peak season to get drinks and snacks.
Torre Saura, Menorca
CALA BINIDALI
People living in the area, around Cap den Font, tend to be Spanish families so the cove feels a bit more local and quiet. You come, you swim, you sit on the rocks, and that’s pretty much it. There’s a little white house on the cliff that gives it that typical meditteranean postcard look. Just above, you’ve got Som Sis, which we love! Perfect for when you’re done with the sea and want an easy drink without having to go anywhere. You just wander straight up from the beach and it’s all very effortlessly done.
Binidali, Menorca
SA MESQUIDA
This Cala on the North side of the island is close to Mahón (10 minutes by car) but feels a world away. A nice long stretch of sand that never gets too packed, with a little ice cream van in summer. Boats aren't allowed to anchor close to shore, which keeps it cleaner and less crowded than you'd expect. Great for swimming and snorkelling too. It's also right near Es Murtar which is super cute and the Cap Roig restaurant, which would be the perfect option for lunch after a morning on the beach.
Es Grau, Menorca
CALA MITJANA & CALA MITJANETA
Cala Mitjana is another popular unreal turquoise water beaches. Also busy in high season but it still has that wild, protected feel once you’re down there. A short walk away, Cala Mitjaneta is its smaller, quieter sister: more intimate, more tucked away, and often slightly less chaotic if you time it right. You can access it through a short track, swimming, or by boat of course. It feels like the secret pocket of the bigger cove.
Torre Saura, Menorca
CALA MACARELLA & CALA MACARELLETA
These ones are maybe a little bit more difficult to reach with a good 15 minutes on foot to Macarella and then you can also continue to Macarelleta, which is a further 10 minutes but worth the walk! They both have white sand and turquoise water, giving a bit caribbean vibes. You can also reach Macarelleta by kayaks that are rented at Macarella. Again, given the beauty of the waters, they tend to be busy in July and August. Go off-season or arrive early.
Torre Saura, Menorca
CIUTADELLA
Ciutadella’s casco antiguo is just really, really beautiful, with old palaces and noble townhouses made in gorgeous faded golden stone. It looks even better as the afternoon light hits. Swing by the Mercat Municipal, and if you have an interest in art please go to Estesian gallery and their shop, the curation is genuinely some of the best we've seen. Then head down to the port for the evening. There’s many restaurants right over the water, great energy, perfect for a drink and a long dinner.
Ciutadella, Menorca
MAHON
If Ciutadella was for the nobles, Mahón was for the fishermen and pirates. You can feel it in the port (which is beautiful) and the streets. It's less grand, more gritty, with smaller white houses and a rawness we find so charming. Mahón recently came into its own in the last few years with new shops, restaurants, bakeries… all places that feel opened out of passion rather than tourist opportunity. It still feels very local. Walk around on a weekday morning and it's mostly just people from the village.
Mahón, Menorca
FORNELLS
This tiny whitewashed fishing village on the north coast is completely unpretentious. The old school restaurants along the waterfront are the whole point: institutions that have been serving the same caldereta de langosta for decades and have absolutely no reason to change. If you've never had lobster stew sitting at the edge of a Menorcan fishing village with nothing but boats in front of you, put it on the list.
Fornells, Menorca
What to Taste
Binidali, Menorca
€
A tiny simple bar right above the water, nothing more to it than that. Go after a swim at Cala Binidali for an easy lunch. They do homemade focaccias that are really good. Or time it for sunset and order a pomada, the classic Menorcan drink made with frozen lemon with local Xoriguer gin. It’s one of those places where we could end up every single day without really planning to. Book ahead in July and August though!
Mahón, Menorca
€€
One of our absolute favourites in Mahón! This restaurant is located in front of the fish market and the Church del Carme. It doesn’t take reservations and has some cute small tables with red and white checkered clothes. Their dishes are excellent and of the best quality. The menu changes seasonaly but some of their all-year highlights include the Crab and Prawn ensaladilla russa and the bikini trufado. They also have a great selection of natural wines. Really a must in Mahón!
Mahón, Menorca
€€€
Another must! Full disclosure, Pol and Benito who created it are family friends, but that's not why it's here. Everything those two touch just turns out cool. They're interior designers based on the island and the space shows it, beautiful without making a big deal about it. Seafood, sharing plates, oysters obviously, and a champagne selection that's genuinely rare for Menorca. Sounds fancy and serious written down but it really isn't. It’s just the perfect mix of slightly elevated and the relaxed Menorca vibe.
ES CRANC
One of the first restaurants to introduce caldereta de langosta to the village. It's been going for nearly 50 years and is one of those places we've been coming to since we were kids, which makes it a bit of a nostalgic place. The caldereta is the main thing to go for but the eggs and fries are also one of those simple, perfect things you'll think about long after you've left. The inside is pretty old-school but cute and the terrace is very nice too. Book ahead in the summer
Fornells, Menorca
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Ciutadella, Menorca
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There are a lot of restaurants along that stretch of the Ciutadella port and it's hard to know where to land. Fortunately for you, we've tried them all (or most of them at list), and this is the one to go. Some of the places next door look fancier, don't be fooled. The paella is great, the fish is as fresh as it gets (they catch it themselves), and the service is so lovely. We went on a Saturday in early June and the terrace was not packed at all (probably a different story in July and August, so worth keeping that in mind).
Ciutadella, Menorca
€€
One of the places that felt most like us in Ciutadella. It’s right on the square in front of the old market. You can go for breakfast and check out the market but we also think it’s perfect for early drinks or a light dinner in town. They serve small plates with a menu that changes regularly and have a really great wine selection (and good cocktails too). If you look around, you’ll realise most people are locals. They also have a wine shop where you can pick up bottles to take away.
CORAL MENORCA
Coral is the one to book if you're after a special evening. Perched on the northwest tip of the island with views straight out to the sea, it's one of the best sunset spots in Menorca. Book early enough to arrive with the sun still up and just sit there for a moment. It's a bit pricier than most places on the island and not the most local spot, but you're paying for that setting and it's worth going at least once. Save it for a birthday, an anniversary, or just a night when you feel like doing something a little more special.
Torre del Ram, Menorca
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EL HOGAR DEL POLLO
And from one end of the spectrum to the other: El Hogar del Pollo is about as local as it gets. It’s super simple, nothing fancy, just really good seafood and meat and a huge selection of tapas to pick from. It gets busy and there's usually a queue, but that's kind of the whole vibe. Grab a spot at the bar, order a drink, stand, and just enjoy the chaos of it. One of those places that feels completely real in a way that's genuinely hard to find on an island in summer.
Ciutadella, Menorca
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BAR IMPERI
Ciutadella, Menorca
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Bar Imperi is a proper Ciutadella institution. It's been sitting on the Plaça des Born since 1941 and hasn’t changed much since. In the morning, they bake their own bread and pastries, so go early for a coffee and an ensaimada and watch the square wake up. Come back mid-morning for one of their bocadillos de sobrasada con miel y queso on a llonguet (a small local bread roll). You can also go before dinner. That side of the square catches the afternoon sun perfectly, which makes it perfect for apetitivo hour.
EN CARAGOL
En Caragol started as a classic chiringuito by the sea that had been there for twenty years, until a Madrid chef called Riaño , who'd fallen completely in love with Menorca, took it over, gutted it entirely and turned it into something quite different. He reopened it in July 2021 and it's now considered one of the best restaurants on the island. They serve grilled fish and meats in the Basque style, brilliant rice dishes, seasonal dishes made with the best local ingredients. Book ahead.
Biniacolla, Menorca
€€€
CAP ROIG
A cliffside restaurant in Sa Mesquida, with stunning views and great food. It was founded in 1983 by Cristóbal Olives , so it's been there over 40 years, very much an institution. A a top spot on the local radar since opening and today also known by tourists who know where to go. Go for lunch or dinner and ask for a table on the terrace. Order some rice, paella, seafood, and lots of wine! It’s also a great spot for groups as the restaurant tables are pretty large. Book ahead!
Es Grau, Menorca
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TAMARINDOS
Es Grau, Menorca
€€€
This is a great place for a relaxed lunch by the water. The beach there is a bit windy so you eat with a nice sea breeze. You could call Tamarindos a sort of elevated chiringuito. The food is good, nothing out of the ordinary and maybe a bit pricey for the quality, but ok for a simple lunch. They also have their second spot “El bar de Tamarindos” next door, which is even more casual and relaxed. If you are looking for something chill, maybe that one is even better!
DELIRI
Ciutadella, Menorca
€
We were on a hunt for the best icecream in Ciutadella and Deliri definitely won for us. The peanut one and the pistachio are both excellent, and they present new flavours daily which is always a good sign. Ask what they're recommending that day. One thing to flag though: the girl who served us was really really rude, which nearly kept us from adding it to the guide. The ice cream won though. For the scoops, not the service.
EL TRITON
Ciutadella, Menorca
€€
El Triton is an old time classic and we love it for exactly what it is: very simple, nothing fancy, just a long comfortable terrace right in front of the port. Locals, tourists, everyone passes through. It's the kind of place you go when you don't have a reservation anywhere and just want to sit down, have a drink and order a few things to share. The meatballs are what they're famous for but the sardines and croquetas are great too.
PIGALLE
Mahón, Menorca
€
When we were talking about the new wave of spots opening up in Mahón, Pigalle is exactly what we meant. A cool little French bakery that opened relatively recently. They do great coffee, fantastic bread and pastries, and a very good option if you've hit your ensaimada limit for the trip. Really nice for grabbing things to take away. They also do homemade cookies and granola that are both really good. One thing: go early. The bread sells out fast and it would be a shame to miss it.
CAN PONS
You cannot come to Menorca without eating ensaimadas, and Can Pons is where to get them. A bakery in Es Mercadal that's been going since 1929. It started as a mill grinding wheat before becoming a bread oven, passed down through three generations of the same family. Their ensaimada won first prize at the World Ensaimada Championship in 2020. Yes, that's a real thing, and yes, fully deserved. Go, eat some ensaimadas there, and buy some to take back home.
Es Mercadal, Menorca
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