Menorca, SpainAlcaufar
Alcaufar Vell
Aristocratic Menorcan manor
Aristocratic Menorcan manor
Held by the same family for four centuries, the sandstone estate runs like an easygoing, aristocratic country residence.
“This 21-room hotel has a rambling, aristocratic feel to it. The palm- and almond-shaded gardens are lovely, the bedrooms mostly large and light-filled.”
What it’s good at
Notable
An eighteenth-century sandstone manor held by the same Menorcan family for generations.
Notable
Estate-made honey and sobrasada served beneath ancient wild olive trees in the garden.
Listed
Terracotta tiled floors, exposed ceiling beams, and whitewashed walls filled with family heirlooms.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
The idyllic Menorcan countryside is the setting for Alcaufar Vell, a medieval fortification that found a second life as a stately Neoclassical villa, and now a third life as a small and luxurious rural boutique hotel.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Trails wind through 250 hectares of private woodland, and the sheltered sandy cove of Cala Alcaufar is minutes away.
1 of 5
The rooms
Bedrooms have terracotta floors, beamed ceilings, and antique heirlooms. Converted stable suites open onto private patio gardens.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Terracotta coping and a manicured lawn border the freshwater pool, shaded by parasols and mature olive trees.
The spa
Restaurant Alcaufar Vell
Tables fill the whitewashed vaulted stables and spill out beneath wild olive trees for seasonal Menorcan market dishes.
How it began
At a 1756 wedding banquet here, the Duke of Richelieu tasted the local egg-and-oil sauce and introduced mayonnaise to Versailles.
Menorca
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.