Boutique Hotel Can Alomar

Sandwiched between two designer boutique window displays, the tall entrance to the Can Alomar manages to be both grand and discreet. Stepping inside, the intimate reception area oozes understated class with original carved-stone walls and exposed beams combined with shimmering backlit paneling, mirrored check-in desk, and cherry-red retro seating. Built on the site of a 15th-century palace, this 19th-century mansion has retained plenty of neo-Gothic and Renaissance accents in its elegant arches and checkered-tile flooring. The hotel opened in 2014 as the third Palma hotel of a Majorcan husband and wife team (the other two being Can Cera and Calatrava), who excel at instilling elegant old buildings with contemporary, chic furnishings. As well as the owners hand-picked art collection, six-month rotating art exhibitions also bring an upmarket gallery feel to the hotel's immaculate public spaces. Outdoor spaces also impress, featuring the popular third-floor bar patio and a gorgeous rooftop space with a lookout tower for panoramic views over the city. Clientele to this undeniably luxury-level boutique property tend toward well-heeled couples on city breaks, though the hotel does also cater to families with kids in the form of some interconnected rooms.

Positioned where one of Palma's most upscale lanes meets the wide leafy promenade of Passeig de Born, the hotel boasts one of the city's most exclusive addresses. The surrounding streets are lined with luxury boutiques, contemporary art galleries, tapas bars, and tourist restaurants, while Born features high-street shopping and alfresco cafes. Most of the city's tourist attractions are within easy walking distance, with the Gothic cathedral just a few minutes' away on foot, Es Baluard contemporary art gallery five minutes, and the seafront promenade 10 minutes. There's a taxi rank as well as underground parking nearby. The start of Palma's sandy beach is a five-minute drive, while Palma de Mallorca Airport is 10 to 15 minutes by road.

The hotel has just 16 guest rooms, which include six Junior Suites and three Suites. While no two rooms are identical, they are all styled in a tastefully understated blend of muted earth tones, with hardwood flooring and smart, contemporary furniture; potted plants and shelves lined with books add a homey quality. Even the smaller rooms are spacious by the city's standards, and either overlook a quiet inner courtyard, a pedestrianized lane, or the tree-lined boulevard, some from Juliet balconies; a degree of street noise in some rooms is inevitable. In-room tech is top-notch, with Bose Bluetooth docks, 46-inch smart TVs, and free speedy Wi-Fi (fast enough for video streaming). Free minibars are advertised but these just contain water (restocked daily) and there's no coffee- and tea-making facilities in standard rooms; Suites are equipped with Illy coffee machines and free tea service. Bathrooms are roomy and finished in cool-gray slate, equipped with separate tubs and showers (with rainfall and handheld nozzles), high-end brand toiletries, and full-size hairdryers; fluffy robes and slippers also come as standard. As well as an impressive choice of pillows, guests point to beds being particularly comfortable.

Breakfast is a choice of a refined buffet (with the likes of Spanish omelet and Iberian sausage), or a la carte options with cooked-to-order eggs plus a choice of bacon, beans, and sausages or smoked salmon. It's not included as standard, however. The De Tokio a Lima restaurant opens out to two spacious alfresco terraces where guests can order from an excellent (though expensive) menu of Majorcan, Japanese, and Peruvian fusion cooking. By night, the space becomes a popular nightspot for drinks. The hotel's small pool can be found on the roof terrace, and includes a whirlpool section and poolside loungers. While there aren't any real spa facilities to speak of, indoor and outdoor massage booths offer a wide selection of body treatments with locally grown organic products. Lack of a fitness room also feels like an oversight for a hotel of this level. Guests, however, do have at their disposal a luxury speed boat (with a captain) for up to seven guests to explore the island by sea.