Following our trip to Barcelona, we took a quick 45 minute flight to the Balearic Island of Mallorca. Compared to the Amalfi Coast and Greek Isles, Mallorca felt much more undiscovered (At least by American tourists!). There was so much unmitigated beauty as we navigated up windy seaside roads to the northern coast of Island. Mallorca is home to many luxurious hotels and fincas (country homes) to reside at during your stay in Mallorca, and after much research, we decided on the La Residencia, a Belmond hotel in the quaint village of Deià.
Set on a hillside and surrounded by lush gardens and olive groves, the property is unbelievably beautiful. Our mornings began with an expansive à la carte and buffet breakfast set to the soundtrack of a live Spanish guitarist and our evenings were rounded off by watching the sunset with more live music during apertivo hour on the terrace. With its dramatic views of the Tramuntana Mountains, two expansive swimming pools, and elegant on-site restaurant, El Olivo, it was hard to leave the property during our time on Mallorca. Everything about La Residencia was dreamy!
The village of Deià has a storied history as a coastal retreat for musicians, writers, and artists. In fact, it is where Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote several of his Broadway plays! While very small, we enjoyed heading into town to pop into the few boutiques that line the main road or exploring the hilly village roads by foot.
Despite its size, Deià boasts an impressive culinary scene. We dined at Es Racó d’es Teix, which during our visit had a Michelin star (sadly, it lost it at end of 2021, and I admit, I am not surprised, as we were slightly disappointed with the food), Nama, an organic Asian restaurant with a delicious Chili Basil Duck Pad Thai, and El Olivo, one of the most romantic spots we enjoyed during our trip as well as one of the best meals (I had an unbelievable steak topped with foie gras and the wine pairings and service were top notch!). We ate at El Olivo on our first night in Mallorca and wished we had dined there more than once!
A short drive or hike away from the La Residencia is Cala Deià beach and the oh-so-Instagrammable seaside restaurant, C’as Patro March. With unrivaled views of Balearic Sea, this laid-back, cash-only eatery is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon enjoying fresh seafood and cocktails. I highly recommend booking in advance and if you stay at La Residencia, you can take their complimentary shuttle back to the hotel after lunch. Cala Deià beach is narrow and very rocky; people literally set up towels on any and every flat stretch of rock that they can find. We opted to retreat back to the pool post-lunch, but if you’re staying in Deià and want to be by the water, this is the closest beach option.
Our other excursion while on Mallorca was to Fornalutx, often referred to as the “prettiest village in Spain.” This hillside town, which is a 30 minute narrow and winding drive from Deià, dates back 1,000+ years and is filled with charming cobbled streets complemented by historic stone homes. We enjoyed meandering through the village to admire its undeniable charm before stopping for a bite to eat.
On a return trip to Mallorca, I’d love to explore other parts of the Island, especially the beaches and southern coast. There’s so much beauty there and I feel like we only scratched the surface during our stay!
Outfit Details:
Green + White Patterned Midi Dress
Blue Patterned Summer Dress from Lunch at C’as Patro March
Red and White Patterned Dress from Fornalutx (bought at Holiday Boutique in Concord, MA)
Photos by @TheLyleStevens
The A-Lyst is a Boston-based lifestyle blog curating the very best of style, beauty, food, and travel.