Hotel Hospes Maricel & SPA

Ten minutes west of Palma, perched at the edge of the Mediterranean, this stately old building was once a grand residence, and still radiates an aristocratic elegance. Today, along with a neighboring building, it’s the Hotel Hospes Maricel & Spa, a luxury boutique hotel by the Spanish Hospes group, and one with quite a bit more in common with its former life as a private home than with the typical luxury hotel.

The building’s facade and entrance still bear witness to its ancient heritage, while the interiors are decidedly contemporary. The rooms, divided between the villa and the modern annex, are stylish — a bit understated, but far from minimal, with their organic textures and their eye-catching contemporary furniture. And all have comforts to match their visual appeal — a few even have private plunge pools.

Built on an outcropping, the Maricel’s terrace is a spectacular environment, at once closed to the world and open to the sea. A spectacular infinity pool opens onto the Mediterranean, bathing swimmers in that extraordinary blue. Among the most evocative spaces is the Bodyna Spa, which offers a full range of modern treatments in a space that makes use of the property’s natural caves. And the hotel’s social center today is the Maricel restaurant, where Mediterranean fare (including fresh local seafood) is served against the backdrop of the water, and whose bar features creative cocktails accompanied by live jazz.