L'Hostal Pollensa

Rooms

Bedrooms are lifted above the standard hotel mould by bright colours (yellows, oranges, blues) and original artwork (avant-garde wood-and-fibreglass cadres). Much of this is by the owner’s daughter-in-law, who may – if you get chatting over breakfast – offer to take commissions. You’ll find high ceilings, bright downlighters, mixed cherry and beech panels in the doors, beds of wrought-iron or slatted wood. All rooms have mod cons such as flat screen TVs and telephones. Top floor rooms have sloping beams and limited views across the town’s rooftops; others have French windows overlooking the narrow front lane or tiny rear courtyard. Our favourite was room 501 which has a rear facing balcony and great views of El Puig de Maria.

Bathrooms are more functional (which I guess is the best asset of any bathroom): white tiles, tub with glass swing-panel, clip-in shower, hairdryer. I’m not convinced about the bright red or mustard basin surrounds, but they do lift your early morning mood.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• Safe box

Eating

When there are enough guests at the Hostal, a fantastic buffet breakfast is laid out on the counter in the stylish hall downstairs. Otherwise you can wander along to the Juma and be served out on the sunny square, or inside at marble-topped tables by the bar. Either way, you’ll get a massive ensaimada (a coil of light, jsugar topped pastry), fresh rolls and bread, sliced ham and cheese, orange juice (freshly-squeezed in season) and all manner of coffees, teas, chocolates and infusions.

There’s also a light menu at the Juma for lunch or afternoon snacks: sandwiches, salads and the usual selection of tapas – albondigas, tortilla, tumbet (and if you don’t know what these mean, then you clearly need to visit Spain as a matter of some urgency). Prices are reasonable; service is brisk but not brusque.

And you’ll find some excellent restaurants for dinner, including La Font del Gall (superior French-style cuisine) and La Fonda (excellent value food in low vaulted rooms). Here, over various visits, we have tried butter bean soup with chorizo (filling!), salted cod, whole pigeon in cabbage, a seafood platter (mussels, prawns and octopus with soft cubes of potatoes), and a juicy suckling pig – and never been disappointed. Finish off with crema catalana or the even creamier pijama (English-speaking Juan will explain).

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

In Pollensa


• Admire gorgeous textiles at the Marti Vicenç museum, named after a local weaver
  
  
• Shop for leather, ceramics, art and clothes at several well-stocked galleries
  
  
• Visit imposing Baroque churches or the cloister of Sant Domingo (photo 1) with its small folk / historic museum
  
  
• Ponder whether the so-called Roman bridge is in fact medieval
  
  
• Enjoy orchestral and choral concerts in the main square (photo 2) during July and August – part of the Pollensa Festival which, since 1962, has attracted the LSO, Kings Singers and other big names
  
  
• Coincide with the August 2 celebration of Joan Mas’ 1550 victory over pirates, vividly played out in costumes on the square
  
  
• Walk up the stepped Via Crucis (photo 5) to Calvari chapel – excellent views over town to the bay of Pollenca
  
  Around and about
  
  
• Hike up to the monastery and hostel on the rocky summit of Puig de Santa Maria (330m altitude; 1½ hours there and back)
  
  
• Follow the historic pilgrims path to Lluc monastery (5 hours from town, or 4 from the trailhead; bus or taxi back), set on a fertile plateau among bizarre rocky outcrops
  
  
• Walk to the rugged cove of Cala Castell (4-5 hours there and back), tucked deep among sheer-sided headlands
  
  
• Swim at the popular sandy coves of Cala San Vicenç (7km, photo 4), backed by the cliffs of Cape Formentor
  
  
• Follow snaking roads to the lighthouse and plunging sea-views of Cape Formentor (27km)
  
  
• Observe egrets, herons, bitterns and ospreys on the protected marshlands of Albufereta (10km)
  
  For local walks and listings, pick up the free ‘Pollença’ guide from the hotel; for longer hikes further afield, buy Sunflower’s ‘Landscapes of Mallorca’.

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Hiking
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome; cots are available for free. A couple of rooms have space for an extra bed (for a supplementary fee), and there's a pair of communicating rooms at the top.

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hotel is centrally located in the town of Pollensa, north-east of Palma.

By Air:
Palma (50km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines.

From the Airport:
Take a taxi, bus or train, but if you would like to explore the island it is best to hire a car. You can unload at the main square, then park a few blocks from the hotel.

By Car:
See our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions are provided when the booking is confirmed through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Mallorca and getting around