Son Vell, Menorca

On the easternmost of the Balearic Islands, Son Vell is a charming rural retreat comprised of a beautifully restored 18th-century manor house and traditional barns that surround it. As you weave your way closer to the estate, passing whitewashed villages and rolling hills, you’ll enter a world of timeless elegance and rural bliss. Walking between landscaped gardens, citrus trees, and olive groves, you’ll spend your days relaxing by the pool, horseback riding through lush and rocky landscapes, dining on the freshest ingredients from the hotel’s organic vegetable garden, and exploring the sun-soaked beaches of Menorca’s southern coast.

Location

Hidden away in Menorca’s rippling countryside, Son Vell is located a short stroll from the island’s breathtaking southern coast and is a quick 40-minute drive from the airport. The ancient Camí de Cavalls walking route borders the estate, taking you along the coast to hidden beaches, pine-scented forests, and rocky cliffs. For a touch of history, head to the picturesque port city of Cuitadella, just a 20-minute drive away. Here, you’ll find honey-hued buildings tucked between Baroque and Gothic churches as you wander through the maze-like old quarter.

Your room

After a meticulous and delicate restoration, Son Vell features traditional marés sandstone, crafted clay, wood, and original limestone. Each of the hotel’s spacious rooms and suites radiates rustic charm and is decorated with antique furniture, natural fabrics, contemporary art and sculptures. Encircled by glorious gardens filled with native flowers and olive groves, you’ll happen across pockets of tranquillity at every turn. Architecturally reminiscent of the Venetian style, the main manor house suggests an elegant home of the nobility, or ‘casas del signore’, with vintage chandeliers and modern touches. If staying in one of the ‘boyeras’ (traditional barns), enjoy your own private terrace and extensive garden complete with Balinese beds and captivating views of the Menorcan countryside.

Why we like it

In between the hills and beaches of Son Vell, you can’t help but be filled with a sense of calm and wonder. Declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993, in Menorca there is a fierce commitment tomeado safeguard the island’s wild environment and historic architecture. And at Son Vell, you’re perfectly placed to experience them both. Whether you wish to explore the beautiful surroundings by horseback, boat, or on foot, Son Vell offers a little bit of everything. Complete with a swimming pool, massage room, yoga deck, and outdoor cinema, winding down just got that much easier. Beneath the sun, and beneath the stars.

Sustainability

Son Vell is part of the Vestige Collection which has a focus on sustainability, showing respect for the natural environment as well as preserving and celebrating cultural heritage. This is done through using chemical-free dyes for room furnishings, employing renewable energy sources like solar power or geothermal systems, collecting rainwater, and nurturing organic gardens to supply their kitchens.