Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza

Things to see in Mallorca

Puerto Portals

Puerto Portals is the very smart marina attached to the town of Portal Nous. Come here for glamorous shopping, fascinating people watching, expensive drinking, and of course, the flashy boats moored in the marina. It's a real international place - think of a smaller Monte Carlo and you're nearly there.

It's not actually that big - you could walk from one end to the other in five minutes - but the point of being here is to sit and enjoy the world as it goes by. With street cafes and restaurants aplenty, you can come here for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and admire the luxury yachts and the ferrari's & porsches (and of course, their owners!) that parade up and down the front.

There are some designer boutiques for shopping, selling jewellery & watches, fashion, gifts and nautical shops. In between, you'll also find swanky estate agents and yacht brokers.

In addition to the marina, there is a lovely beach to the east of the front, and one of the best beach bars on Majorca - Roxys Beach Bar. It is run by South Americans and serves up great sangria and cocktails, along with snacks & sandwiches. It's a fab place to round off a day of sun-bathing, and they offer a dinghy service to boats anchored in the small bay.

The other attraction in the area is Marineland where you'll find dolphin and sea lion shows, exotic birds, penguins, an aquarium and a small children's water park. Next door to Marineland is Mood Beach Club which attracts a good mix of locals and holiday makers.

Hotels in Puerto Portals

There aren't actually any hotels in Puerto Portals itself. There are however, plenty of apartment rentals in the high-rise buildings surrounding the marina if you are happy to go self-catered. Above Portals lies the town of Portals Nous which has a number of holiday hotel options.

A little further away is the lovely Hotel Bendinat which sits above the coast and so has wonderful views from its gardens. It also has the bonus of having a health & beauty spa and access to seven golf courses in the area for which they can negotiate reduced green fees. Another top choice is the German-run Lindner Golf & Wellness Resort which also offers spa facilities and golf packages.

Further up the hill is the more exclusive district of Costa d'en Blanes. It's more villa than apartment up here and there is normaly a good selection available for holiday rentals - take a look at our Villa Rentals page to search for options.

Restaurants in Puerto Portals
 

For such a small place, Portals is blessed with a great choice of restaurants. The swankiest of them all is Michelin starred Tristan (read our Review of Tristan Restaurant) which has an elegant spot at the far end of the marina. The food here is avant-guarde and the restaurant attracts a smart & international clientele. You might also like to try the slightly less formal Tristan Bistro next door.

Next up is the popular Flanigan, with it's huge terraced dining area. It serves up a lengthy tapas menu and the steaks are among the best in town. Look out for the apple pie on the dessert menu. Another favorite place is Wellies, where you can take a morning coffee on the pavement terrace, have lunch in the Ibiza-esque restaurant, and drink cocktails in the cool bar & terrace on the first floor overlooking the marina.

The well-known cafe-bistro chain Cappuccino is another all day and all night establishment with a lovely terrace overlooking the big yachts across the road in the marina. Next door is the Japanese & Sushi Bar Restaurant, Tahini. It's actually owned by the Cappuccino chain so it has a sleek, contemporary feel rather than traditional Japanese.

Ritzi offers dining on a pavement terrace next to the marina and serves Italian influenced cuisine. The cocktail bar above is one of the hot spots for later on. Continuing on the Italian theme, around the corner is Diablito. A little less formal than some of it's nieghbours, the whole family can enjoy this American style pizza & pasta joint.

If it's the nightlife that you've come for, then Portals is a great spot, with plenty of late night DJ bars, and you can put on your posh frocks and designer shirts without any fear of being over-dressed. Parties go on til late, but bring your wallet - with London prices for cocktails (expect to pay around €12-15 a drink), you're going to need deep pockets!

Wellies, Ritzi and cocktail lounge bar Karma (in the pedestrianised zone behind Cappuccino) are all worth a look and are open well into the small hours.

Source: SeeMallorca