Rupert Parker Manages To Find Peace And Quiet at Hotel Honucai In The South Of Mallorca.
If your idea of Mallorca is party central Magaluf then Colonia Sant Jordi is going to sorely disappoint. This quiet fishing village, on the southern tip of Mallorca, is an area relatively unknown to the British. The Hotel Honucai sits directly in front of the old port, adjacent to the sandy beach. The region is mainly agricultural, home to rows of olive trees, and nearby are gigantic salt pans.
These days, the fishing vessels have been replaced by excursion boats and the Paseo Maritimo, is lined with restaurants and bars. Don’t get the idea that it’s going to be noisy as everything shuts down early and you’re guaranteed a good night’s sleep. The area is packed with sandy beaches so it’s an ideal destination for those seeking a relaxing seaside holiday
The large, bright, elegant bedrooms are furnished in a contemporary design inspired by the Mediterranean. Rooms range from Standard to Superior to Suites. All have balconies apart from the Superior Room for Two with Pool. Additionally, some Superior Rooms have partial or complete sea views.
We stayed in a spacious Superior Room with Lateral Sea View – from our terrace we could look out over the promenade and the water. Inside, the furnishings and walls were rendered in soft pastel colourings. A large comfortable bed, mini bar, Nespresso machine and kettle with a selection of tea and coffee made us feel very much at home. The bathroom had double washbasins, a bath and shower, and was stuffed with designer cosmetics.
The hotel prides itself on its Salicornia Restaurant which specialises in Mallorcan sea products. It sits on the ground floor with an outside terrace on the prom. Food is served here all day, but the highlight is the innovative dishes prepared with fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. We couldn’t get enough of their chargrilled fish and seafood, paired with local wines.
The outside terrace on the Paseo Marítimo is the ideal spot for a sundowner watching the world go by. However, a special space on the rooftop has wonderful views over the town and the ocean. You’ll find an infinity pool and solarium overlooking the sea and it’s also the venue for morning yoga sessions.
Up here, there’s a cocktail area with a bar and The Top, an outdoor restaurant, serving selections from the Japanese grill or the raw bar. One level above is the Top – a private space for twenty people for enjoying the summer nights with a group of friends.
The Spa offers facial treatments, body massages, special massages with the Lomi Lomi technique, foot massages and private yoga sessions for individuals, groups and couples.
The hotel caters for cyclists and there’s secure parking for bikes, a repair workshop, washing area and many magnificent routes nearby to pedal around Mallorca.
You can also explore on foot. From Es Port beach, just 50 steps from the hotel, a path runs among pine trees by the sea. It passes the different coves of Es Dolç, Es Dofí, Es Carbó, En Tugores and Es Cargol before reaching the lighthouse at the Cap de Ses Salines.
There are many boat trips going to the Cabrera Archipelago, a maritime-terrestrial national park, during the summer months. This is a fantastic opportunity to see Mallorca’s untouched flora and fauna on the islands and swim amongst some of the protected ecosystems in the waters below.
The nearby Salinas d’Es Trenc is a working salt marina, and the 50-minute guided tour explains the processes of crystallization and production of the Flor de Sal d´Es Trenc, the only one in Mallorca.
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, the picturesque village of Santanyí becomes a local market, full of little stalls where you can buy fruit and vegetables directly from the farmers as well as all kinds of garments made with Majorcan “cloth of tongues”, ceramics and local crafts.
20 km to the east, hidden among cliffs, pine and fig trees is the still active fishing port of Cala Figuera. In front of the whitewashed houses with their green shutters, fishermen repair their nets before going back to sea.
But the main attraction is the Hotel Honucai itself and there’s no real need to go anywhere. Food is fine dining quality yet served in an informal setting and the view from the roof is outstanding. Best of all, the sea is just a few paces away, perfect for that early morning dip. During my stay, every day, just before breakfast I had the entire bay all to myself – not quite the conventional image of Mallorca.
Tell Me More About Hotel Honucai
Hotel Honucai Mallorca c/ Bonança, 107638 Colònia de Sant Jordi, Mallorca
Spain
T +34 971 655 178
Prices for a night at Hotel Honucai start from €157 inclusive of breakfast and vat
