Menorca, SpainAlaior
Fontenille Menorca Santa Ponsa
Aristocratic garden finca
Alaior Menorca, Spain
Opened
2019
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage WellnessOutside the door
The house
Fontenille CollectionAristocratic garden finca
The former aristocratic manor operates as an intimate rural estate, surrounded by working citrus groves and tiered Moorish gardens.
What it’s good at
Notable
Terracotta-red façades and arched windows enclose interiors styled with woven rattan furnishings.
Notable
An eighteenth-century aristocratic palace fed by an ancient gravitational irrigation system.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Its 21 rooms and suites span several buildings, from the main house to the barn and various outbuildings, whose architecture is a vibrant mix of Spanish and Moorish influences.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
The whitewashed hilltop town of Alaior is five minutes away by car. The island's south coast beaches take ten minutes to reach.
The rooms
Rooms are divided between the main house and former barns, each shaped by irregular stone walls and arched windows.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
Swan-neck spouts feed the vaulted cistern pool, and an outdoor infinity pool stretches beside a domed stone watchtower.
The spa
Botanical treatments use Susanne Kaufmann products, set inside vaulted stone rooms or under open-air garden cabanas.
Yoga and meditation
Morning yoga and meditation sessions take place on stone terraces looking out across the woodland.
Restaurant
Nura
The kitchen draws from an on-site permaculture garden, serving Mediterranean dishes under oak branches hung with woven lanterns.
At the table
Communal tables host evening dinners beside the vineyard, and breakfast unfolds across brick-paved garden terraces.
How it began
Founders Frédéric Biousse and Guillaume Foucher spent three years restoring the estate's agricultural land and groves before opening in 2019.
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.