Hotel de Mar Gran Meliá: Inside Mallorca’s Timeless Grande Dame

Glossy new hotels are popping up all over Mallorca, the Balearic paradise long beloved for its clear sapphire waters and sandy beaches. But we shouldn’t forget about the stalwarts, which are cemented among the island’s history – and decades after launch, continue to dazzle.

Hotel de Mar Gran Meliá is a prime example of this. The storied property opened in 1964 after being designed by the late Catalan architect José Antonio Coderch, but a significant revamp by the Gran Meliá brand in 2008 transformed it into the five-star hotel we know today. Fondly known as ‘The Chocolate Building’ due to its modernist brown and boxy facade, the hotel is lauded for its architectural style – so much so that any renovations to the exterior are forbidden. This means the hotel exudes a feeling of timelessness, but modern updates, such as the introduction of the Riva Lounge in 2025, keep things interesting. 

C&TH’s Ellie Smith checks in.

Review: Hotel de Mar Gran Meliá, Mallorca

The Location

The location is a key draw of this Mallorcan paradise: perched on the island’s western coast in the small beach resort town of Illetas, just a 20-minute drive from Palma. Hotel de Mar overlooks the sea, and feels quiet without being secluded from the rest of the island. Stroll down the road to find charming local restaurants – Restaurante Bugambilia is a lovely spot for lunch, located right beside the beach, while Sorrento’s Illetas is a pretty garden restaurant serving BBQ grill fare. Puerto Portals, known for its upmarket nightlife, is just a 10-minute drive away, and it’s well worth a visit to Camp De Mar – home to Restaurant Illeta, an eatery set on its own island which has been visited by the likes of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.

The Vibe

My husband and I visited Hotel de Mar for a babymoon – AKA, our last child-free trip for a long time – and this was the perfect place for it. The hotel is adults-only and feels both relaxing and buzzy at the same time; the clientele is a mix of couples, groups of friends, and families with older children. 

The hotel has a mid-century, retro aesthetic, with clean lines and light-filled spaces staying true to Coderch’s original vision – and many spaces still home to custom furniture commissioned at its opening. Meanwhile, statement collaborations inject some fun into the design, notably the chic Alberta Ferretti-creted Bombon Pool Club, which sees sun loungers, Bali beds (these require booking for a fee, though some rooms include perks) and parasols decked out in the designer’s signature blue tie-dye prints. 

Hotel de Mar was designed to be built into the sea, and the ocean certainly feels ever-present, with all terraces, and outdoor areas boasting magical views of the glittering Med. You can access the sea directly from the hotel – and, better still, the property has its very own exclusive beach cove, which is a lovely place to paddle or swim free from the crowds.

All rooms, too, boast sea views. We stayed in a Premium Room, which had its own balcony, a gigantic bed, a sofa and a marble bathroom with both a rainfall shower and a bath. If you’re visiting with a group or family, there are connected rooms available – and if you’ve got cash to splash, the Royal Suite is particularly special, decked out with its own hot tub, a butler’s pantry, two huge balconies and a large living area. 

During your stay it’s well-worth paying a visit to the Clarins spa, a sanctuary complete with a pool, hot tub, hammam and sauna. Here you can book an array of treatments including bespoke Clarins facials and reflexology massages; there’s also a selection of offerings for mothers-to-be designed to prep your body and skin for the birth of your baby. Fitness-wise, there’s a small 24-hour gym, and a programme of al fresco yoga and pilates classes.

The Food & Drink

Hotel de Mar boasts three restaurants, all focusing on classic Mediterranean fare. Riva Lounge offers all-day dining, set in the hotel’s seafront gardens and inspired by the style of Riva’s yachts – think nautical accents and striped mahogany finishes. Go for sunset and tuck into the seafood-focused menu, which features starters of shrimp gyozas, Iberican croquettes (a highlight) and patatas bravas ahead of fish of the day, grilled blue lobster and melt-in-the-mouth Black Angus tenderloin. Finish on a sweet note with a slice of fluffy carrot cake topped with lime buttercream, or a traditional Mallorcan almond cake served with nougat ice cream. 

Lunch at the Bombon Pool Club is also a must. Begin with smaller plates of crispy squid with lemon aioli and red shrimp carpaccio followed by generous paella dishes, grilled seafood platters and wild sea bass prepared Mallorcan-style (served with roasted veggies, raisins and pine nuts). 

For a fine dining extravaganza, there’s Arrels by Marga Coll, the hotel’s most upmarket restaurant offering daily seven-course tasting menus based on fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced each morning at local markets. The eatery also offers a signature multi-course tasting menu breakfast, a decadent affair lasting two hours and featuring traditional Mallorcan cuisine – from sobrassada (a cured sausage from the Balearic islands) to ensaimada pastries, alongside paired wines and cavas.

For a more relaxed start to the day head to Perseo for the buffet, which includes all the breakfast fare under the sun – fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereals, croissants, pancakes, an omelette station and made-to-order dishes like Mallorcan toast and Eggs Benedict.

C&TH Key Notes

–The Dish To Order – The fish of the day at dinner – it’s guaranteed to be ultra-fresh and cooked to perfection

–The Room To Book – Treat yourself to a Supreme Suite with Sea View and you’ll benefit from a complimentary Bali bed

–The Treatment To Try – The Clarins Signature Treatment will have you feeling rebalanced and pampered from head to toe

The Last Word

As you’d expect from a Leading Hotel of the World, service was faultless throughout our stay, with friendly staff and thoughtful extra touches like leaving a pregnancy pillow in the room for me (a game-changer). Combining this with its five-star facilities and unparalleled seafront location, it’s no surprise the hotel has stood the test of time.

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