Where to Eat, Sleep and Play in Menorca for a Stylish, Sustainable Trip

It’s certainly not hard to find oneself on the water in Menorca, Spain. The Balearic Island in the Mediterranean Sea is increasingly offered as a more intimate alternative to neighboring Mallorca, and is quickly becoming the preferred choice for water lovers who appreciate style, sustainability and a sense of place.

The island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, meaning that despite its emerging popularity, great pains have been taken to conserve the surroundings, and ensure that economic development is environmentally sustainable. Here, everything new is grounded in something old, offering a little magic with every ocean view.

Eat: Cafe Balear in Ciutadella

Visitors staying at beach resorts should make a point of having dinner at one of the many restored farmhouses in the interior of the island. But if it’s views they’re after, they should also make a trip to Ciutadella, the charming old town of Menorca that’s full of the island’s best eateries. 

Among the spots located along the port is Cafe Balear, which opened more than 40 years ago as a tavern for seafarers. These days, the restaurant has its own boat, the Rosa Santa Primera, which helps supply fresh fish and seafood for paellas, stews and more. To snag an alfresco seat along the harbor’s quay, make reservations ahead of time. 

Sleep: Villa Le Blanc, a Gran Melia Hotel

Villa Le Blanc, a Gran Melia Hotel, is one of the newest luxury properties on the island, offering a chic, sustainable respite on Menorca’s southwest coast, between Santo Tomas and Binigaus beaches. 

The 159-room oceanfront property derives 30% of its energy from solar panels that are adjacent to a rooftop adults-only pool, where the hotel’s minimalist modern design allows the surrounding ocean to shine.

Art and furniture sourced from around the Balearic Islands rely on natural materials and organic shapes, while local cheeses, wines and produce are the backbone behind the tasty food at three restaurants (including an outpost of the popular S’Amarador restaurant. A family pool and a staffed, well-stocked kids’ playroom make it a great landing spot for families, while the Thai Room spa is a must for a couples massage.

And active clients will want to know that the property is along the historic Cami de Cavalls, the 115-mile hiking trail and former horse path that circles the coast, which is dotted with casual eateries, hotels and plenty of wild natural beauty in the form of forests, bays, beaches and caves. 

Play: Hauser & Wirth Menorca

Hauser & Wirth Menorca is no regular museum — it’s an all-day affair. Located on its own small island in the harbor of the capital city of Mahon, it’s accessible by a 15-minute ferry ride that leaves promptly on the hour from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. during the peak summer season.

The island once serviced a naval hospital, which is adjacent to the eight small contemporary art galleries housed in the hospital’s repurposed outbuildings.

It’s a good thing that the amount of art on display is entirely manageable for a quick visit, as most visitors will want to stroll the garden and sculpture trail, featuring works by Joan Miro and Louise Bourgeois, and visit Cantina restaurant, where local produce, sangria and an ocean view cap off a beautiful visit.