About four years ago I was visiting New York City for business and I decided to only capture the city through the lens of my iPhone during the trip. (Sidenote: how much has phone photography advanced in recent years?! Looking at this was a serious step back in time!) Don’t get me wrong, I love taking pictures with my professional kit, but sometimes it’s nice to snap-and-go. Plus, with more the limited capabilities of phone photography it’s a fun challenge, too. The modern day equivalent of shooting with a disposable camera? OK, not quite, but still it’s fun. Anyway, I digress! Today’s post is something your guys have been asking me to blog for agessssss: a Menorca travel guide! Longtime readers will know that Menorca is a very special island to me because it’s where my heart mate and I got married three years ago this month. Last week I was in Europe for my friend’s wedding (it actually happened to be the wedding of the friend who married us!) and so between the bachelorette and wedding weekend we squeezed in a quick trip to our wedding isle. After the jump I’m sharing some of my favorite spots across the island so you can use this post as a Menorca travel guide for a trip of your own to this magnificent place of natural beauty.
I’m kicking off this Menorca travel guide by writing about Ciutadella, which is my favorite major town on the island of Menorca. The old town is full of cobbled streets lined with brightly painted homes that are perfect for wondering without aim. There’s also a collection of gorgeous independent boutiques and lifestyle stores. Yes, I went overboard on ceramic purchases….whoops! Anyway, one of my favs is called La Purissima and it’s ran by a French lady with a mix of fashion, beauty and home. It doesn’t have a website yet but the address is: Calle de La Purissima, 11, 07760 Ciutadella de Minorca. Go, go, go!
Can we please discuss these tiles? Total design inspo. for our new home!
Pizzeria Roma – This is a cute pizza place in Ciutadella. Grab a table on the street in the evening; it’s a casual place but serves delicious pizza. Also open for lunch.
Why are fruit stands so much more charming overseas?! Loved this faded yellow and blue palette inspo.
La Cereria – A super stylish boutique that sells fashion, homeware and gifts in Mahon. Love this place!
Pippet & Co. – A new(ish) restaurant in Mahon that is perfect for lunch. It’s all healthy salads and delicious sandwiches. Highly recommend! Also, this is so new you aren’t likely to see this in another Menorca travel guide.
Restaurante Moli des Raco (Windmill Restaurant) – A lovely place to have lunch or dinner on the terrace. It’s usually full of locals and has such a charming, rustic vibe. Before or after you should drive up to the top of Monte Toro (right by this restaurant) as it’s the highest point on the island, and you can see for miles on clear days. The town at the base of Monte Toro (and where the windmill restaurant is located) is called Es Mercadal and is very small and charming. It’s well worth wondering around to soak up all the Spanish vibes.
You guys know I love a color match moment and this building and tile paired perfectly with my white denim and blue shirt outfit. Love!
Ciutadella Port is a lovely place to explore by day and night as the vibe is so different: bustling by day; romantic and charming by night as the port twinkles with golden lights.
Torralbenc – This is my fav hotel on the island – it’s super small and situated within an old Menorcan farm that’s surrounded by vineyards with views towards the ocean. The restaurant is incredible and you must get spa treatments if you go, too. There’s a bunch of great hikes you can do that leave from the old farm tracks behind the hotel as well.
There’s color at every turn on the island.
Sant Joan de Binissaida – This is another hotel on the island. I’ve not stayed there but we had our wedding rehearsal dinner there and it was beautiful.
Cala Mitjana – This is our favourite beach on the island (pictured in the aerial image at the start of this blog post). We took some of our close friends there on the morning of our wedding because the views are incredible. My heart mate and I like to park in the small residential area and then take the 20-30 minute walk down the mountain through the olive trees etc. to the beach, but there’s a signposted car park that’s a little closer if you would rather not walk so far. Ask your hotel which way the wind is blowing in the morning before you go as this will affect whether there are jellyfish or not. We’ve been to this beach so many times and only once were there jellyfish and it was because of the wind blowing them in. When this happens it’s best to go to beaches on the North of the island instead. I think the beaches on the south (like this one) are prettier with the turquoise water, though!
That moment when your swim shorts match the exact colors of the ocean!
Pins 46 – This is a seafood and tapas restaurant in Cuitadella. Take a seat inside the courtyard or outside on the square.
Cova d’en Xoroi – Go here for a drink and to watch the sunset from a bar set inside the caves of a cliff looking directly over the ocean. Turns into a nightclub at about midnight but before that is a lovely place to have drinks and is a much more chill vibe.
Binifadet – The vineyard where Toby and I were married! Try the sparkling rose, you won’t be disappointed! Hope you guys enjoyed this Menorca travel guide. Let me know if you visit, I’d love to see your pictures and hear what you thought of the island!
// Photography by Will Taylor
17 Comments
What beautiful images and the color of the sea, pure heaven! Hope you have a good weekend.
x finja ~ http://www.effcaa.com
@Finja – Thank you! Yes, the ocean colors there are just *beyond* beautiful. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
I’ve been dying for this post….this island is at the top of our list ever since your stunning wedding weekend!! Happy Anniversary…how has it already been three years?!?!
@Cassie – Thank you, Cassie! I know, it’s flown by. Hope you get to visit this beautiful island one day soon, it’s so near and dear to our hearts!
That’s it…..I have to visit! Wowowowow!
@Justin – Yas! Let me know if you go, I would love to hear what you think of it.
Beautiful pictures Will! The hotel looks stunning and so do the beaches. It’s like paradise the whole island! Thanks for sharing with us! xo
@Alicia – Paradise is the best word to describe Menorca! 🙂
Beautiful island, I have to visit it – thanks for the tips!
@Maureen – It’s such a special place! Hope you get to visit one day. 🙂
I l o v e d this post! Super colorful!! I also really liked your outfits!
Check out my blog and keep up with the good work,
xx Kris
https://dreamingofpink.wordpress.com
@Kris – Thanks so much for the sweet comment! Glad you enjoyed reading it. Heading over to check out your blog now! 🙂
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Hi Will! Cool post on Menorca, THE island. The paradise for me too as you know. Hi from @nanudelmar IG!
@Nanudelmar – So pleased you enjoyed it! Thanks for following along! 🙂
What a nice and colourful island. Great capture Will!
Regards from Indonesia …
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