Gran Hotel Son Net

Perched above the sleepy village of Puigpunyent, near the Tramuntana Mountains, sits the Gran Hotel Son Net, one of the island's grand dame hotels.

• Museum-worthy art collection adorning the walls, including Warhols, Hockneys and Christos
• Stone terrace off the restaurant encourages lazy mornings, afternoons and evenings over delicious cuisine and wines
• Separate, stand-alone cottages are good options for families who want their own small pool and a bit more privacy

A long driveway passes by Mediterranean pine trees and terraced gardens en route to a 17th-century mansion that’s painted a beautiful shade of deep pink. Previously the private home of Canadian hotelier David Stein, the Gran Son Net was turned into a hotel in the 1990s, but the walls are still covered with Stein’s magnificent collection of Warhols, Hockneys and Christos.

All of the twenty-five rooms and suites are unique, but each is equally luxuriously appointed with rich fabrics and spacious marble bathrooms. (Rooms on the top floors boast postcard-perfect views.) Unfortunately, the renovation to become a hotel in the '90s seems to have been the last time the hotel was touched, and, while the property has a delightful sense of place, slightly musty interiors could use an update. Romance is nevertheless in the air, and most guests are couples who choose to spend their day lounging by the 100-foot-long pool and private cabanas or enjoying a bottle of local wine on one of the property’s stone terraces. The more adventurous can explore the surrounding landscape on the hotel’s mountain bikes. The concierge can also arrange for a yacht or sailboat charter, so you can explore the coves of the north coast with a knowledgeable captain.

The friendly staff is the right amount of formal and discreet. The hotel's restaurant, with its expansive terrace sitting under a child's dream treehouse, encourages lounging over breakfast. Most visitors stay on property for dinner in the dining room that is housed in a towering old olive press.

The hotel is set in a stunning valley with views of the Tramuntana just above the small town of Puigpunyent. The remoteness is part of the reason the hotel is so beloved, but it does feel quite secluded. Palma is a 25-minute drive away down relatively narrow country roads, that are very dark at night. Puigpunyent, while adorable, doesn't have a lot to offer. (For both safety and sanity’s sake, you won’t want to do the drive after a few drinks in a hip restaurant in Palma.)

Those looking to stay in a classic, stately Mallorca home and won't mind slightly outdated (but still very charming) furnishings. Families might feel uncomfortable staying in the hushed atmosphere, but the gorgeous pool and treehouse are a hit with kids and the hotel by no means discourages children.