As many of you will know, Menorca has a very special place in my heart. My family bought an apartment there a few years ago after falling in love with the beautiful, peaceful island. Given that we have a base there, I have never felt the need to stay anywhere else, however on mine and Oli’s trip a few weeks ago I wanted to do something special for his Birthday, the date of which fell on our return to England. Alcaufar Vell is a stunning rural mansion, set in lush spacious grounds, near to the town of Sant LluÃs in Menorca, and a 15 minutes drive from the capital Mahón. Oli and I have enjoyed the Alcaufar Vell restaurant before, but it had been a dream of ours to stay at the hotel; with a special occasion as an excuse, we took the plunge and enjoyed a magical 24 hours of Alcaufar Vell luxury.
Read on for my full review of Alcaufar Vell . . .
Menorca is best explored by car, we hired one for our trip and so drove to Alcaufar Vell for checkin at 4.30. I had planned on keeping our stay a secret, but as I found out that we could checkin in the afternoon I told Ols in the morning over coffee. I think it was actually more fun because we both spent the day super excited. Alcaufar Vell do provide a service from the airport - about 15 mins away - on request.
Our room
On arrival we were greeted by incredibly friendly staff who took us to our room. We were given an upgrade into one of the outbuilding suites, complete with private patio. The decor is rustic - exposed beams, white washed walls and pale stone. The light which flooded our room was beautiful, and in the evening I lay awake looking at the stars through our farmhouse-style windows. The island has very little light pollution and so I always find the Menorcan night sky mesmerising. The bed was incredibly comfy and we had an amazing nights sleep. The rooms are well catered for in terms of robes, towels and toiletries. The patio out back was a sweet private area perfect for lounging with a book and a coffee; as we were only staying one night though we didn’t make use of it much as we mainly explored the grounds of the main hotel. The mini bar is stocked with free beer and soft drinks.
Eating & Drinking
What we ate:
Dinner:
Oli: Trio of duck (shared), Lamb cutlets with local vegetables.
Monica: Trio of duck (shared), Tuna steak with local vegetables.
Breakfast:
Oli: Breakfast buffet of pastries, fruit and yoghurt, followed by eggs and bacon. Coffee and fresh orange juice.
Monica: Same!
The restaurant at Alcaufar Vell is notorious for its exquisite dining. The menu is Mediterranean - my favourite! - and features traditional Menorcan dishes. A lot of the produce is grown in the grounds of the hotel, and you can either eat in the dining room or underneath a canopy of olive trees in the Summer months. As we visited in late May we ate inside but if you are able to eat outside I would take the opportunity, the trees are strewn with lights - it is enchanting and so romantic. In the afternoon Oli and I took a short taxi ride to the stunning Binifadet Vineyard where we sampled wine and ate fabulous antipasti; I would definitely recommend making this trip if you are staying at the hotel as it is inexpensive to get a taxi; from other areas on the island it can be costly. With our appetites suitably whetted, we returned to Alcaufar Vell for pre-dinner cocktails. These were GOOD! The bar tender at the hotel, as we discovered, has won awards (!) for his skill. Oli had a mojito and I had a cosmopolitan. The cocktails were so good we forwent wine over dinner and opted for a steady stream of mojitos - normally I would say this is lethal but in fact we both woke up the next morning feeling perky - the mark of good alcohol (I think?!).
In the morning we enjoyed a coffee in the courtyard outside the main mansion, the grounds are so peaceful it was heaven. For breakfast we made our way to the dining room again. I had read on Trip Advisor that Alcaufar Vell provide a hot menu but that it is not immediately obvious, when we enquired we were told that they did indeed do a hot menu - music to mine and Oli’s ears! I LOVE a leisurely breakfast - who doesn’t?! - and so we stretched out our time enjoying fresh fruit, pastries, yoghurt, followed by eggs and bacon. It makes such a difference having fresh organic ingredients and everything had so much flavour.
Lounging
The hotel were very relaxed about checkout and we felt comfortable being a little over, we left our room at around 11.30. We were told that we would be welcome to use Alcaufar Vell’s facilities for the remainder of the day which included a beautiful pool and extensive grounds for walking. We took full advantage of this and spent till the late afternoon lounging by the pool, reading and admiring the beautiful wild flowers.
Price
Around €200 pn for a double room. Check here for current rates. Around €100 for dinner for two, with drinks.
In Summary
Alcaufar Vell is a peaceful, private hotel set in stunning grounds; and although we didn’t take advantage of it, it is within walking distance of the beach. The overall vibe is relaxed, unpretentious and elegant. True to the ethos of Menorca, Alcaufar Vell places importance on fresh produce and nature, and the food is some of the most delicious I have ever tasted. The service is genuinely kind, and thoughtful. Alcaufar Vell is the perfect romantic getaway; I can whole heartedly recommend staying here for a special occasion or for the duration of your holiday. A stay at Alcaufar Vell is not inexpensive, but the luxury is well worth the cost. A one night stay was perfect for Oli and I for a special occasion. The hotel can also be hired for weddings.
I couldn't help but take a tonne of pictures of our beautiful stay . . .
Have you guys ever visited Menorca? Where have you stayed if so? Or can you recommend any other beautiful romantic getaways? You guys always have great recommendations!
Today I'm going to head to a local open garden, the UK is so beautiful right now! Follow along on
Instagram.
Have an awesome day all!
Love,
MB x
- Oli and I were paying guest of Alcaufar Vell. All images by Monica Beatrice Welburn. -
