Best Menorca beach hotels: stunning sea views, luxurious spas and unlimited sun

Cala Galdana bay, on Menorca’s south coast, is a picture-perfect crescent of white sand and pristine, glassy water. Set into towering limestone cliffs on the edge of this beautiful, horseshoe bay is Melia Cala Galdana, an upscale luxury hotel offering sun, sea and style.

With glorious views, swish accommodation, three pools and a brilliant kids’ club, this luxury Menorca hotel has a relaxed contemporary feel. Its 341 rooms and suites all boast gorgeous views of the bay and beach beyond. Light is plentiful—many rooms have floor to ceiling windows—and modern furnishings and minimalist palette keep the hotel fresh and on-trend.

If the beach is not enough, there are three pools, a small gym, alfresco yoga classes to enjoy and water sports, like sea kayaking, can be arranged through the hotel. Even the dining options are diverse enough to keep everyone happy; kids will love Casa Nostra’s wood-fired pizzas and a must at the Cape Nao beach club is the Menorcan lobster stew.

For those seeking a little more luxury, The Level is a personalised Meliá service offering access to the best rooms and spaces, including the adult-only beachside infinity pool. The Level’s Grand Suite on the ninth floor features a spectacular terrace with Bali bed and whirlpool bathtub—an ideal place to enjoy a Balearic sunset.

Nestled on the western edge of beautiful Cala Galdana Bay, Artiem Audax is a luxury Menorca beach hotel with a relaxed, grown-up vibe. Designed in a c-shaped crescent, this seven-storey, adults-only hotel is built into a steep, rocky hillside overlooking the stunning Cala Galdana beach—a haven of peace and tranquillity where the water is calm, and the sand is velvety soft.

Surrounded by pine trees and craggy cliffs, guests at Artiem Audax are encouraged to relax and tune into the natural surroundings. The room décor is a fresh blend of muted tones and clean lines paired with pops of colour and Menorcan stone walls. Many rooms have walk-in showers, balconies and sea views; we love the Lemon Room and the Premium Double.

The sixth-floor deck has far-reaching views of the bay and features a two tier-rooftop pool surrounded and luxurious four-poster Bali beds—the perfect place to quietly unwind.

Head to the elegant Blue Café terrace for brunch or s sunset cocktails and DJ set, or The View pool bar for traditional Menorcan dishes with a contemporary twist—glass bread with island pickles or gourmet Tortilla de Patatas (Spanish omelette) both feature on the menu.

If it’s a family beach holiday that you’re after then the Royal Son Bou Family Club on Menorca’s south coast is hard to beat. This family-friendly apartment hotel is just minutes from Sou Bol beach—a long swath of golden sand and calm water. Designed exclusively for families, at the heart of the hotel is a huge pool area where fun reigns; older kids will love the water slides and there’s a gorgeous splash pool for little ones.

With five kids’ clubs, two kids’ ‘spaces’ and a programme of activities, there are activities to occupy all ages from toddlers to tweens. Gaming, robotics workshops, mini discos and arts and crafts all feature on the daily schedule, and almost every sport is covered from tennis to water polo

Comfortable apartments, sleeping between four and six, are arranged around the pool. Many feature self-catering facilities and there are free baby cots and highchairs to hand.

After a packed day of activities, kids can refuel at the children’s buffet—choose pizza, pasta or Menorcan dishes. And for parents in need of a break, the Magikland nursery will take care of the little ones whilst you eat. An optional all-inclusive plan makes dining even simpler and includes free, all day ice-cream!

Carema Club Resort, on Menorca’s rugged north coast, is a fresh, modern apartment hotel built in the style of a traditional, whitewashed Mediterranean village. A family-friendly resort, metres from Cala Tirant beach, the hotel is jam-packed with facilities—there are two pools, tennis courts, a sports ground, mini-golf and even a bouncy castle.

Apartments are comfy, modern and feature kitchenettes for self-catering. If you don’t feel like cooking there are three restaurants to choose from, including Vistamar, where the kids’ buffet is built at just the right height for younger guests to help themselves.

When it comes to entertainment there’s something for everyone. The Mini Club takes care of younger kids with facing painting, cooking classes and arty activities and the Junior Club keeps older ones busy with beach volleyball, mini-golf and games. And for adults, fitness classes and football are on the cards.

What steals the show, though, is the on-site water park, Splash Park. This mini-theme park overlooking the Mediterranean is a fantastic place for wet and wild fun—fly down the kamikaze slide, get drenched by the ‘big bucket’ or aim, fire and soak your siblings with the water jets!

La Quinta Menorca by Portblue Boutique is one of only a handful of five-star hotels on Menorca. A short stroll from the bustling beaches of Cala n’ Bosch and Son Xoriguer, this colonial-style luxury hotel offers a slice of calm and tranquillity. Charming and incredibly chic, glorious gardens, lush tendered lawns, polished marble floors and an impressive collection of modern art set the tone at this boutique, adults-only, hotel.

More well-heeled country estate than buzzing beach hotel, guests can while away the hours on cosy loungers around the courtyard pool, or in the La Quinta Menorca Spa where pampering is the order of the day—a whirlpool tub, steam room, sauna, immersion pools and sensory showers and an extensive spa circuit are at your disposal. Complimentary yoga and aqua classes are also on offer. The 82 rooms and suites are plush, comfy and all feature views of the pool—for direct access to the gardens choose a Garden Terrace room.

Son Xoriguer restaurant does formal dining in an elegant setting and Bar Millennium dials it down a notch with lunchtime salads, sandwiches and cocktails and live music.

Just 250 metres from Son Xoriguer beach, Sol Falcó All Inclusive is a family beach hotel for active sun-seekers. With seven swimming pools, a children’s pool, spacious gardens and entertainment for all ages the hotel is popular with families, golfers (there are five courses within a 15-kilometre radius) and cyclists.

Accommodation is in low-level apartments dotted around the hotel gardens. Modern, bright and recently renovated, the range includes family rooms and cyclists’ rooms featuring rain showers and a furnished terrace—ideal for bike tinkering—and easy access to the hotel garage.

A free, themed kids’ club takes care of children from eight months up and serves up treasure hunts, games, mini chef classes with mascots, bouncy castles and a mini Olympics all inspired by the myths and legends of Katmandu.

As a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, Menorca is rife for exploring by bike. The hotel has its own cycle store and repair shop on site and cyclists are encouraged to take on the island tour, a 100km off-road loop passing Punta Nati lighthouse to the north with an ascent of Monte Toro—the island’s highest peak