• Rating: 10/10
• Rooms at Menorca Experimental start from $376 (£316) a night
• Check current rates and availability
After a week exploring Menorca's most beautiful beaches and eating some of the best tapas in Mahon, I wanted to retreat to the countryside to spend a few days at one of the island's newest and most exquisitely designed hotels. Just a 20-minute drive from Mahon, dry-stone walls separate stubbled cornfields dotted with hay bales along the sun-scorched track that leads to Menorca Experimental. The main building is a bright white villa that has been artfully transformed into one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever stayed at.
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| My room at Menorca Experimental |
What’s the vibe at Menorca Experimental?
Much like its London counterpart, the Henrietta Hotel, (also part of the French-owned Experimental Group), Menorca Experimental has been designed to heavenly perfection by Dorothée Meilichzon. I seriously dote on Dorothee’s design vibe—and Menorca Experimental is no exception—part art deco, with muted geometric panels surrounding huge beds, part contemporary with a touch of artist studio cool. There are touches of terracotta with beautiful bedroom floor tiling, lots of retro-feel wooden furniture and plenty of beautiful bespoke artwork, from the Moroccan made blankets to stunning blue vases I wanted to take home. The whole place has an air of calm and is so perfect, that at times I felt as though I was in a film set. There’s not a single thing I didn’t adore about my time at the hotel.
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| Menorca Experimental |
How are the rooms at Menorca Experimental?
Of the 43 rooms, nine are separate from the main building and have their very own dipping pools for intimate seclusion. I stayed in room one, at the very front of the hotel, almost above the reception area, which features a wall of straw hats guests can borrow to wear throughout their stay.
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| Menorca Experimental's wall of hats |
My room was pretty large and the bathroom had a beautiful roll-top stand-alone bath (I have a soft spot for hotel room baths) as well as rainfall shower and concrete sink with gorgeously scented bar soap made on the island. The bed was huge and comfortable, covered by a beautiful line art blanket, hand made and sourced in Morocco by ‘it’ brand LRNCE. There was also a sofa to lounge on, a hand-crafted wooden desk and chair and the usual coffee machine and mini bar. Gorgeous hotel branding, by Karel Balas is on everything from slippers in the room to the peach beach towels by the pool.
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| Even the slippers are stunning at Menorca Experimental |
What is there to eat and drink at Menorca Experimental?
I had breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel, sampling light dishes like grilled chicken skewers, burrata and patatas bravas for lunch, and deliciously inventive plates such as sea bream ceviche, cigalas and baby squid rice, courgette babaganoush and burnt aubergine with tahini for dinner. Many of the vegetables and herbs are grown in the hotels own gardens and menus have been devised by chef Alex Larrea, who uses Mediterranean influences and works alongside small Barearic producers. Breakfast, like dinner, is served outside under sunshades and is a buffet style offering with local cheeses, homemade bread and granola as well as juices and pastries and the most divine homemade fig jam. The cocktail offering is pretty impressive too, with no less than eight delicious concoctions to choose from.
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| Pool side cocktails |
Any highlights?
I’m not exaggerating when I say Menorca Experimental is one the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever stayed at. The size and remote location make it feel exclusive, yet it's also close to the fascinating site of Torre D’en Galmés if you want to learn more about the ancient stone structures dotted across the island. A stunning secret cove, Cala Llucalari awaits, just moments from the hotel grounds and the design by Meilichzon could not be more impressive. The pool area with its individually canopied sun loungers—all pale peach and blush—is a pure delight and the cocktails (especially Salt n Peppa, a delicious blend of tequila, jalapeno and basil) are brilliantly mixed and served by chatty bartenders. I can’t stop thinking about how full of joy my stay was, it's a place of pure perfection—next time I'm going for longer!
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| Outdoor terrace at Menorca Experimental |
Anything they could improve on?
Not a single thing—I want to move in!
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