Emerging as a pop of coral against the Tramuntana foothills, this palatial estate bestows nothing shy of treatment fit for the aristocracy of its past.
Son Bunyola
MallorcaSon Bunyola
MallorcaConservation and sustainability are at the very heart of Richard Branson’s 1,300-acre private estate – a 16th-century finca meticulously restored to honour its heritage on the Mallorcan northwest coast.
Conservation and sustainability are at the very heart of Richard Branson’s 1,300-acre private estate – a 16th-century finca meticulously restored to honour its heritage on the Mallorcan northwest coast.
Where the Tramuntana mountains dip their toes into the sea lies the definition of ‘labour of love’. Decades are what it took to restore the whitewashed walls of Son Bunyola and the precious features that lie in wait behind them.
Now, 27 bedrooms and three standalone villas sit alongside two locally minded restaurants, Flamenco-fuelled Spanish nights, and a pool that looks out to where the estate meets the ocean. Rightfully romanticising the Mallorcan good life, so much so that any thoughts of home drift away on the cooling breeze.
- 27 rooms; 3 4- to 5-bedroom villas
- The pebble beach is a 20-minute walk downhill with buggies available; beach accessories can be hired
- The estate has 12 beehives and hopes to produce its own olive oil and wine by 2026
- As well as dining in-resort, an evening spent at a family-run restaurant in Son Tomas is highly encouraged
- Palma airport is a 40-minute drive away
- Top tip: twin Son Bunyola with a coastal property for an idyllic Mallorcan itinerary
- 27 rooms; 3 4- to 5-bedroom villas
- The pebble beach is a 20-minute walk downhill with buggies available; beach accessories can be hired
- The estate has 12 beehives and hopes to produce its own olive oil and wine by 2026
- As well as dining in-resort, an evening spent at a family-run restaurant in Son Tomas is highly encouraged
- Palma airport is a 40-minute drive away
- Top tip: twin Son Bunyola with a coastal property for an idyllic Mallorcan itinerary
A sense of
place
Surrounded by land carrying the coveted UNESCO World Heritage title, expectations for Son Bunyola are already set high. That doesn’t go to its head though; the sense of home-away-from-home is palpable. The lack of a formal reception gives the air of entering a friend’s abode, with the only hint that this place isn’t a residence being the friendly and smiling staff.
They don’t linger unnecessarily though, leaving the feeling of intimate isolation to grow. Coming to an unspoilt crescendo during a clear dusk on the sunbed-free beach, while watching the blanket of stars join the lights of Barcelona in the far distance.
Its essence...
In pursuit of...
Swinging open the doors to one of the terraces, it’s easy to get lost in the narrative of island authenticity. Rooms are bejewelled in local artisanal pieces and little surprise gifts are left on the duvets – love letters in the form of traditional slippers to midnight snacks. Strolls around the grounds set the scene with relics like an old olive press, a restored staircase and a medieval defence tower. Plus, there are plenty of little nooks and pretty dining spots.
On location
A boutique hotel by nature means that things to do here are preciously boutique in offering. The spa is quaint, with just two treatment rooms that allow for uber-personalised treatments (think tailored background music and scent). The sun loungers that dot the gardens and poolside also come with buttons for service so it's easy to lose a few hours to snoozing or a good book. However, the lack of grand distractions in-resort is a testament to the adventures outside. This part of the island is known for having some of the best cycling and hiking trails in Europe. But the real treat is open to all in the form of historical hikes with local guide, Martin, who’s ready to tell tales of the island’s legacy.
A Carrier
curation
To carry on the feeling of nostalgia that Son Bunyola does so well, a trip to the agricultural estate of Son Moragues is essential. Explore the farmland that is most famous for its olive oil (though the jam is an unsung hero) before being led to a secret garden. Its centrepiece a small lake that hosts a home-grown picnic on its banks, accompanied by an olive oil sommelier to explain how fruit from the estate’s 100-year-old trees turns into their renowned liquid gold.
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