How do you choose where to stay on an island that specialises in luxury agrotourism? Menorca is a treasure trove of excellent boutique and small chain hotels, each one offering something different, from sunset bars to clifftop picnics.
After much research and comparison, we decided on Torre Vella, one of two luxury hotels on the island from exclusive French hotel group Fontenille. Fontenille Torre Vella is located near the centre of the island, close to some of the best beaches on the south coast and a short drive from the charming hilltop town of Alaior.
It’s a perfect choice for those looking to experience the seclusion of rural Menorca, coupled with flawless design and laid-back luxury synonymous with the island. Menorca does laid-back chic like nowhere else; it’s all sandy footprints and Michelin-recommended restaurants.
We hear Fontenille Torre Vella before we see it: thousands of cicadas creating a cacophony in the trees surrounding the resort. Inside, the receptionists are speaking to guests in French, and for a second we have to remind ourselves where we are. Armed with a welcome drink, we’re left to take in the surroundings. The interiors appear to have fallen straight from the pages of an editorial on luxe country living. Everything is white with accents of earthen tones from terracotta pots, thatched lanterns, and wooden furniture. From the ceiling in the bar area dangle fifteen or more lampshades of rattan and twine. Above the bar are magnum-sized bottles of the brand’s own wine, cultivated in vineyards in their native France.
A complimentary bottle of the same wine – a rosé – is waiting for us in our room along with biscuits (traditional Menorcan pastissets), fruit and chutneys.
The room has an immediate air of calmness; an air-conditioned haven entirely in white. The aesthetic is pristine and minimalist with just a few design flourishes. Rattan lamps hang low on either side of the bed and a couple of carefully curated coffee table books and ornaments line the shelves.
A half-wall partition creates separate sleeping and sitting areas. On one side, a large television. On the other, the mini bar filled with complimentary soft drinks, water and snacks, as well as some to-purchase options. The bathroom space is a haven of beiges, whites, and woods with a lime-washed double shower, robes, and products from Susanne Kauffman.
There is a basket with yoga mats, enabling you to join the complimentary morning yoga sessions held outside by the pool. Far more than just comfortable rooms and beautiful design, the Fontenille brand is known for providing a start-to-finish package of experiences to make your stay as memorable as possible. Ahead of our arrival, we’re sent a menu of experiences to choose from, ranging from chef-cooked dinners in the vineyard to guided meditation, and plenty more in between. There is also the option to take your health retreat a step further by indulging in a treatment from the Susanne Kaufmann spa at Fontenille’s nearby sister hotel, Santa Ponsa.
Some of the experiences are only offered on particular days, and it just happens that our visit coincides with the ‘aperitif on the cliffs’. Shortly before sunset we follow a walking trail for about 20 minutes towards the sea. The journey to get to the cliff is half the fun as we meander through the countryside, completely alone but for the loud buzz of cicadas and the occasional bird overhead.
We arrive to find several wooden tables set up on the cliff edge, enjoying breathtaking (if a little vertigo-inducing) views of sea stretching to the edges of the horizon. Each table receives an antipasti board with meats and cheeses from the island and waiters keep our glasses topped up with Fontenille brand rosé. It is the ideal spot to while away a couple of hours watching the colours around you transform as the sun sets into the sea.
The experiences do come with a not insignificant price tag; the aperitif on the cliff costs around €80 per couple for a small sharing board and a few glasses of wine each. Arguably the food/drink offering could be better value, but the cost is worth paying for the location and experience alone. It was one of the most memorable things we did during our trip to Menorca.
If you’re less inclined to go adventuring and prefer to sit by the pool for a few days with a good book, you’re also well catered for at Torre Vella. In fact, the pool is so aesthetically pleasing – a shock of turquoise in the middle of pampas grasses and adjacent vineyards – that a visit forms part of the welcome tour. The Torre Vella team ensures that guests have everything they need to stay put for as long as they like: a dry towel, a glass of wine, or even – a pleasant surprise – a miniature jar of gazpacho delivered to our sun lounger to keep us going until lunch.
Speaking of lunch: there is no necessity to leave the grounds for this either as a daily changing menu is available from the onsite Siempreviva restaurant. For dinner, guests can reserve a table on the patio for an al fresco menu of local delights from tapas to fresh fish a la plancha. The area looks especially magical by candlelight in the evenings.
A buffet breakfast is included with the room rate; a spread of high quality ingredients and on-brand healthy options to support your wellness experience. Eggs are to-order from the kitchen and coffee is made fresh, to accompany breads, Menorcan cake, detox juices and cured meats.
We can’t tell if it’s the cloud-like bed or the benefits of a day by that glorious pool, but we are utterly relaxed when it comes time to leave Torre Vella. We have barely left the hotel’s grounds, but the on-site offering leaves us with a feeling of time well spent, and the whole experience has delivered delight points at every turn, surprising us when we’re least expecting it.
Fontenille feels like a different class of hotel. Its small-batch approach to luxury gives guests the impression of a special experience reserved just for them. Quality is the red thread that runs through everything, from interiors to the menu, and – despite the fact that we are in Spain – the brand is unmistakably French. Just ask the shelves full of wine direct from the Domaine de Fontenille in Provence.
So, to answer our previous question: how do you choose where to stay on an island teeming with luxury agrotourism? For us, the choice is simple; a hotel backed up by a brand with a reputation for excellence, where the onus is on giving guests an experience to remember. Mission accomplished – we’re still thinking about the taste of that rosé and the fluffiness of those sheets.
We stayed
in a Classic room, priced at €450 per night (high season) including breakfast.
We experienced
the Aperitif on the Cliff, available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and priced at €38 per person. The price includes a sharing platter, half bottle of wine, beers, water and soft drinks.
For best rates, book directly through Fontenille’s website.
This was a press visit – all opinions are our own
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