Menorca, Spain

Menorca, where rustic charm intertwines with breathtaking beauty… an enchanting haven that captivates the soul. As the sun sets, a gentle breeze guides the light to a mesmerizing flamingo-pink horizon, while the crashing waves send a refreshing spray into the night air. With a delightful coastal walk along the scenic twenty-odd kilometres, including picturesque horse trails, we find ourselves content to linger in the cosy embrace of a nearby restaurant.

Menorca is where possibilities abound like a radiant string of fairy lights, illuminating warm summer nights and inviting us to indulge in glasses upon glasses of delectable sangria. So sit, sipping a glass of the finest local white wine from Bodegas Binifadet, and let the mind wander. Why is Menorca's extraordinary culinary scene not in the spotlight? Its consistency is a marvel—consistently delightful, consistently impressive, and consistently satisfying. Let’s embark on a captivating journey to uncover the hidden treasures of Menorca's culinary delights.

 
KEEP ON EXPERIMENTING

Full of private nooks and crannies, Menorcan countryside views and convivial places and gather to eat and drink, the Menorca Experimental encourages living life large, as well as reminding us that serenity and reflection are also quite useful on a holiday break. It’s an inspiring experiment.
www.menorcaexperimental.com

FROM LEFT: Menorca Experimental encourages free thinking and daily indulgences. Try one of their White Sangrias with Pisco, fino sherry, elderflower, orange juice and white wine and get it delivered to your bungalow.

THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS

I have a simple philosophy for travel - indulge in the highs and the lows. In this instance, the lower price was the old-school Hotel Playa Santandria. What it lacked in style, it made up in abundance with early morning sunrises over glassy waters and spectacular sunsets. The Hotel Bahia next door offers old-school verandah vibes to soak up those sunsets over a bowl of Spanish olives and to throw back a few Estrella Galicia’s.

A PLACE TO HANG OUT AND MAYBE... LOOK FOR PROPERTY?

Ibiza is the infamous dance-on-the-table kind of island, right? Menorca is her barefoot, low-key sister which has its appeal as you get older. Right? Menorca has also got WTF blue waters, pristine beaches and an undulating landscape. You may just fall under her spell and start looking for a little white-washed finca to do up! Why not!

SO MANY BEACHES, SO LITTLE TIME

Cala Turqueta
Paging through a magazine, I spotted an image of a triangle of white sand, eye-popping teal waters and a trail that leads back through the pine trees. This little beach sealed my need to go to Menorca, to walk the horse trails and to cliff-dive into Cala Turqueta. Be aware that this beach will get busy. They have even stopped traffic way up the hill so you will need to walk a fair distance down to the water. But that may just be its appeal.

Cala Macarelleta & Cala Macarella
Walking along the coastal path, you first discover Cala Macarelleta, a small beach that can only accommodate 20 people or so. Continue around the corner and you’ll find her bigger sister, Cala Macarella. We visited in early October and there was still a bit of a summer party vibe, with pop-up Pineapple mojito bars!

Cala Mitjaneta
Cala Mitjana is one of the bigger beaches which can get busy, so you may want to move around the corner to the tinier version, Cala Mitjaneta. To be honest there are so many beaches it’s really hard to keep up with where we went or if it was Cala What Not or Cala Where to Now! The choices are endless.

FROM LEFT: Possibly my favourite beach in the world... Cala Mijaneta; Ahoy there: Walking the horse trails from Cala Macarelleta towards Cala Macarella - and the never-ending blue oceans!

LEMON FANTA + LOCAL GIN = POMADA
Order a local Pomada and you may just be surprised at how sweet the local lemon Fanta is. Opt for the pre-mixed one in the groovy green bottle from local gin distillers, Xoriguer, named after the owners’ reputation as millers and the name of their old windmill – Xoriguer.

TRUST GOOGLE MAPS TO TAKE YOU TO AN ART GALLERY?
Illa del Rei, a beautiful island in Mahon Harbour, is home to Hauser & Wirth Menorca where art exhibitions, events, and learning activities connect with the local community and landscape. However, you will need to catch a ferry there and not let Google take you on a wild goose chase, as we did.

FROM LEFT: Stopping for a break at Cala Mitjaneta, a savvy local sets up a makeshift Pineapple Mojito stand (psst, he’s under the white umbrella); Seaviews from old-school Hotel Playa Santandria

HORSEBACK THE CAMI DE CAVALLS
The Camí de Cavalls (meaning horse path) is a 185 km trail that runs along the entire perimeter of Menorca. Rehabilitated a few years back, the trail is, once again, the perfect way to discover what the island has to offer: remote beaches, unspoiled nature, landscapes, and panoramic views. We dipped in and out of the trails on foot. It’s a truly amazing way to explore the coast.

NEXT TIME...HEAD FOR THE CAVES
The Cova d’en Xoroi club is “a series of interconnecting caves halfway up a cliff, which open out like mouths in the rock face, leering down at the ocean.” Next time, visit them for a sunset beverage! Oh and also the Bodgeas Binifadet wine farm...