Mallorca

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At a Glance

The sexiest hotel option in Mallorca—and the closest the island gets to St.-Tropez—is the über sleek Cap Rocat, perched on the Bay of Palma de Mallorca.

Indagare Loves

• How the property seamlessly integrates its 19th-century history, as a former fortress, military dormitory and chapel, with a stunning 21st-century design aesthetic
• Breakfast is a veritable feast delivered to your private patio each morning in a massive picnic basket
• While bustling Palma is visible from parts of the beach and sits just a 15-minute drive away, the property remains utterly serene and feels very removed from city life

Cap Rocat Review

Mallorca had a PR problem. It’s an island – and a beautiful one at that – but most luxury hotels are inland, without a beach or even a sea view. High-end visitors who arrive expecting a St. Tropez experience got Provence. But when Cap Rocat opened in 2010, it filled a gaping hole. The owners built this sexy 29-room retreat into a 19-century military fortress to the south of Palma. The Cap Rocat Suites sit within one of the ancient shooting pads and has a private rooftop terrace, where couples can sip cava on daybeds next to decommissioned cannons. Sentinel Suites, outside of the main building, occupy former artillery positions carved into the sandstone cliffs, and feature private plunge-pools.

Even the lounge areas incorporate the fort’s history, with glass-topped loading carts serving as cocktail tables. The interiors of the rooms are cozy, barreled ceilings, antique Mallorquin beds and hand-woven rugs offering a romantic foil to the more sleek common areas of the resort.

Most guests split their time between the glamorous infinity pool that stretches out towards the Mediterranean and their private quarters. Although there is not a large sandy beach for wading, there are stone steps that lead into the sea for a swim in the spectacularly clear water (and kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding is available and a popular way to get some exercise without changing out of your bathing suit).

Cap Rocat sits behind such massive gates and security procedures that you’d think it still holds military secrets, and the resort does not allow anyone aside from guests in the main areas. But its excellent seaside restaurant draws clientele from yachts, and when I was there, a gorgeous vessel unloaded its tanned and toned passengers, who swam to shore and promptly ordered a bottle of the best wine. It was quite a memorable entrance.

An ideal Mallorquin itinerary would be two nights at Cap Rocat followed by a few nights at a luxury property inland like Castell Son Claret (since Cap Rocat is more removed from the rest of the action on Mallorca).

Who Should Stay

Despite Cap Rocat’s bellicose past, the owners have transformed it into an ideal romantic escape for couples. The hotel does not allow children, and frankly, you wouldn’t want yours here anyhow. For the perfect summary of the experience, I’d invoke a slogan from the more recent past: make love, not war.