Esplendido Hotel

The Esplendido Hotel commands an imposing presence through its broad natural-stone facade with tiered balustrade balconies, traditional green shutters, and Mediterranean architecture. Inside, the mood takes a playful, hip turn in the bright, modern lobby scattered with colorful design seating and funky Pop Art pieces. While the hotel dates to the 1950s, its Swedish owners have transformed the once-outdated property into a smart and stylish hotel with an upscale, retro vibe. A lounge area featuring an impressive vinyl record collection and shelves lined with books continues the laid-back atmosphere. As well as alfresco seating out front, a semi-open wood-paneled patio overlooks the seafront promenade. To the rear, terraced gardens brim with olive trees, bougainvillea, and red geraniums, and provide a loftier panorama of the picturesque bay and surrounding mountains. Guests are mostly well-heeled couples, though also expect a fair share of families with kids over the summer months.

The hotel has a prime location on Port de Soller's beachfront promenade, overlooking its picturesque sweeping bay. There are plenty of bars and restaurants within a short walk of the hotel, and the lovely sandy beach is just across the road. A majestic backdrop is formed by the Tramuntana mountain range, which also provides plenty of local hiking and biking trails. A vintage 1913 tram passes in front of the hotel and connects to quaint Soller town, taking around 15 minutes; from there a tourist train connects to Palma in less than an hour. Palma de Mallorca Airport is a 30- to 40-minute drive from the hotel.

The chic, vintage vibe continues through the hotel's 73 rooms, which combine palm-frond wallpaper with retro seating and carpeted floors. The regular guest rooms come in standard, medium, or large, with most opening to spacious rattan-furnished terraces overlooking the garden or bay; standard rooms can be on the small side, however. Tech includes free and fast Wi-Fi, CD/DVD players, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs (though there are only a few English-speaking channels). Also standard are Nespresso machines and minibars with free beer, Coke, and water. Stone-tile and pebble-walled bathrooms come with shower/tub combos (with flimsy shower curtains), wall-mounted hairdryers, and Korres toiletries. Occupying the top floors are the two Atico suites that feature private terraces with loungers that have the best views overlooking both the sea and garden -- meaning sunlight throughout the day. The luxury Suite Esplendido also has a second bedroom, lounge with PlayStation, and open-air living room with whirlpool tub.

The hotel's bistro is an attractive mix of mid-century furniture, wood floors, and retro hanging lamps, and provides an excellent buffet breakfast that includes a fresh orange juice machine and cooked-to-order eggs. Breakfast is included in room rates, and during the summer months it can be taken on a sea-view terrace. The restaurant also serves a menu of Mediterranean-inspired fare for lunch and dinner. A lobby-side bar is available for cocktails. There are two outdoor swimming pools, one family-oriented with a separate kids' section, and the other is an adult-only infinity pool with impressive sea views. An indoor pool can also be found in the chic hotel spa, together with daybeds, sauna and steam rooms, and an extensive range of massage and body treatments. A small gym has cardio and weight equipment, plus yoga and Pilates classes are available for a fee. A library and music room provides an impressive collection of books and records, and a record player to play them on. Wi-Fi is free throughout.