It’s rare that we walk around a hotel in awe, keen to see every suite, but that’s what happened here. The owners’ passion is evident in the restoration and they spared no expense, so we just wanted to see more and more. We gasped out loud each time another old double door opened to reveal the contemporary twists that lay behind – bespoke Nepalese knitted carpets, customised Murano-glass chandeliers and an enviable collection of art – none of the decor straying too far from the original essence of this majestic building.
Majestic is a fair adjective to use here – we calculated that each of the property’s 30 guests in 13 individual suites have a staggering 2,000 square feet of space of their own.
Our Cathedral Suite was the epitome of luxury. Sumptuous soft furnishings complemented the 20ft-high ceilings (with a walk-in shower to match). Other suites that caught our attention include the 3,000 sq ft, six-sleeper Riad, with its magnificent views over Palma and the more intimate Rose, with its stunning terrace close to the bustle of one of the city’s oldest squares. Our advice is to go online and check them out for yourselves.
The jury’s still out on which was our favourite part of the house, be it the symmetrical entrance yard with its double sweeping staircases and Art Deco champagne bar, the lushly landscaped courtyard garden, home to the hotel’s self-service spa, or the roof terrace overlooking the cathedral. There were so many nooks where guests could be outside their rooms, yet experience the utmost privacy.
The hotel’s restaurant was adequate but underwhelming, both in the cooking and ambience during the day. With so much love bestowed on the house, we felt that a lot more could be done to make dining here as special as staying here.
www.palaciocanmarques.com
Carrer dels Apuntadors 15, 07012 Palma
Photography by Stuart Pearce
