Hotel Isla Mallorca & Spa

There's little that betrays this hotel's mid-'70s origins, and its shimmering mirror-panel facade and steel-and-glass entrance look considerably more modern. While not quite as contemporary in style, the reception area is a smart and business-like blend of wood-clad pillars, polished stone floors, and black marble trim. Shag-pile rugs and plenty of soft seating add a softer vibe, and just off the lobby is a cozy lounge and separate bar. A pair of elevators ferry guests to one of 10 floors in the main building, and there's also a newer four-story annex just adjacent housing the spa and Executive rooms. Thanks to a full renovation of the property in 2010, interiors are swish and spotless throughout, while outdoor spaces comprise tidy footpaths and terraces lining manicured squares of lawn and neatly arranged plant life. Although a little short on character, the Hotel Isla Mallorca & Spa feels upscale and relaxed, attracting mostly couples on short breaks to the island's capital. 

The hotel is located in a largely residential Son Armadams neighborhood in the west of Palma. While certainly situated in the quieter part of town, there are a few bars and restaurants within walking distance. Several of these (including a Hard Rock Cafe) can be found along the marina-front Paseo Marítimo, five to 10 minutes away on foot. From here, buses regularly run to outside the Gothic cathedral and the start of Palma's charming Old Town. The trendy Santa Catalina neighborhood is also about 15 minutes' walk away and brimming with dining and nightlife. The 14th-century hilltop Bellver Castle can be reached on foot in 20 minutes. The sandy beaches at Cala Major and Palma Beach (Can Pere Antoni) are both around a 10-minute drive away, while Mallorca Airport is about 20.

The hotel has 153 rooms, most of which are decorated in fresh contemporary style, with a cool gray palette that extends to wood-effect floors, simple furnishings, and coordinating fabrics. Although by day the decor feels subdued, some rooms feature lights that bathe the room in colors such as pink, purple, and green. Larger Executive-level rooms are a little cozier, with natural wood accents. Some rooms open to furnished terraces or balconies, with higher levels offering partial sea or castle views (others overlook little more than roofs and buildings). Standard amenities include minibars, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and 32-inch HD-TVs (with around 30 channels covering most European languages); Wi-Fi is free of charge, and though mostly fast, can be temperamental. Clean contemporary bathrooms have wall-mounted hairdryers and walk-in showers with fun color-changing lights, plus both rainfall and directional shower heads.

Breakfast is a decent mixture of the usual hot and cold items served buffet style, though it is not always included in the room rate. A half-board plan is available, which includes a buffet dinner served in the hotel's Restaurant Tragaluz, where there is also an a la carte menu. There's also a snack bar-cafe offering tapas, sandwiches, and salads, plus a lobby bar and poolside bar open over the summer months.The modern spa is one of the largest hotel spas on the island, featuring heated indoor pool, Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, and hydro-massage tub, as well as cold plunge pool, several therapy showers, and wide range of massage and body treatments. It is also open to the public, and while entry is not free, guests receive a hefty discount. The main outdoor pool is just about long enough for a swim and lined with loungers, also overlooked by a sun terrace with more sunbeds. There's a separate adult-only pool and area upstairs.