Can Bordoy - Palma

Every hotel featured is visited personally by members of our team, given the Smith seal of approval, and then anonymously reviewed. As soon as our reviewers have returned from this urban oasis in Palma and unpacked their copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales, a full account of their city break will be with you. In the meantime, to whet your wanderlust, here's a quick peek inside Can Bordoy in Mallorca…

Dating back to mediaeval times, Palma’s old quarter is a beguiling place. Aside from the soaring arches of Le Seu, there are the winding streets of the Arab and Jewish quarters, a glut of historic monuments and even the occasional burst of modernista, the Catalan style of art nouveau. Tucked down a quiet side street a stone’s throw from the harbour, Can Bordoy is right in the middle of it all – and it couldn’t be more in tune with its illustrious surroundings. Decorative ceilings, gothic relics and baroque mirrors deliver old-world decadence in spades; bespoke art deco beds and mid-century lounge chairs add a modern edge. No detail was overlooked – right down to the light switches and golden toilet flushes, which were custom made. What’s most beguiling, however, is that the design scheme embraces imperfection – each room’s minor flaws and quirks aren’t glossed over, they’re celebrated for the story they tell. Then there’s the garden, which is the largest of any private building in the old quarter. Centred around a 16m pool, it’s an urban oasis of lush green and birdsong – a romantic escape that’s the perfect counterpart to the dense, winding streets just over the walls.