Puro is pure 21st-century chic in an 18th-century shell: designer décor, urban art, candle-lit courtyards and a buzzing bar where DJs play to the young and beautiful. Tourists who escape off crowded Apuntadors into little Calle Montenegro stop and stare into the lobby: all sleek whites and earthy tones, backed by a vast wood-carving of intricate circularity. This is the mandala flower, hand-carved in Burma as a symbol of life and repeated on walls and sliding doors throughout this former palace building.
You’re drawn inside through the bar, where mojitos are served beneath huge light-boxes and striking paintings, up a flight of stairs to a courtyard, where square candles glow on square tables under a spot-lit palm. The sophisticated style is set, and the 51 bedrooms do not disappoint. But be warned: it’s about fashion, not function. If you want to look cool, feel cool and meet cool, then book here. If you want old-fashioned comforts at old-fashioned prices, then look elsewhere.
Highs
- It’s in a fantastic location in the heart of the old town, a few minutes' walk to Palma's best boutiques, cathedral and seafront
- This place comes into its own at night, with regular DJ sets, funky vibes and great cocktails
- There’s a large roof terrace and a chic beach club (the latter a short shuttle ride away) for chilling out
- Small spa offering excellent massages and holistic treatments
- The in-house Mediterranean-Asian Beatnik restaurant, gets rave reviews
Lows
- Unsurprisingly, some rooms experience evening noise from the bar and the streets - but chances are you’ll be part of it
- We've heard complaints about patchy service and things not working; not what you'd expect at these prices
- It’s not for technophobes: it took us 2 days to work out how to cancel the morning alarm (through the TV, of course)
- The design-led décor means limited wardrobe space, some uncomfy bathtubs and no blankets in winter
- The central location means it's not good for parking
Best time to go
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant; July and August get very hot (though there's good air-conditioning and a roof terrace). In mid-winter it's still a lot more pleasant than northern Europe and you can sit outside on sunny days. During Easter week Palma hosts solemn processions and August sees open-air concerts and theatre performances around the city.
Our top tips
- Don’t miss the Es Baluard museum on Plaça Porta de Santa Catalina. Its impressive collection of contemporary art includes works from Spanish greats such as Miró, Matisse, Picasso and Dalí. It will give you a new appreciation for the urban art lining the walls of the hotel.
- Sip a cocktail at Palma’s most famous bar, Abaco (a 15-minute walk away) - an old Moorish palace filled with art, music and beautiful people
- Boutique Hotel
- 51 rooms
- Restaurant and bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa
- Walk to beach
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Beach club
Rooms
The urban minimalism of the lobby continues in the bedrooms and suites. Cool white walls and muted fabrics contrast with dark wooden floorboards and rich brown furniture. Instead of chairs you’ll find low leather floor cushions, where you can recline (in some discomfort) to enjoy films from the digital library on the 52” TVs and Bose sound systems. Hints of exoticism inspired by Swedish owner Mats Wahlström’s travels are provided through silver cushions and studded dressers, the latter a modern interpretation of a treasure chest.
On one wall, a huge mandala carving slides open to reveal a good-sized black slate, chrome and glass bathroom. Luxury touches include excellent macademia nut and ginseng toiletries and fluffy robes, but again it’s a tug-of-war between aesthetics and practicalities: the wetroom showers are effective, but the dark-tiled bathtubs in some rooms are too angular for soaking in comfort.
Some rooms are duplexes with sleek glass staircases. The Puro Oasis Suites are larger still, with loft-style bedrooms and skylights. More recently, a Private Wing filled with additional Puro Flow Double Superior Rooms was added. It’s across the narrow road and guests can wave between the roof terraces of Puro old and new, but the latter still feels very private.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Minibar/fridge
- WiFi
Eating
On the ground floor, chef Nico Malenchini dreams up a funky blend of Oriental and Mediterranean cuisines in Beatnik restaurant, an ambient space with urban art from Peter Gröndahl, David Feucht and Kim Steeb. Ingredients are fresh and unusual, the taste is vigorous and well-seasoned and the dishes are immaculately presented, but the portions are perhaps a little meagre.
We started dinner with a Malaysian laksha, toothpick-skewered scampi, and an excellent but diminutive flash-fried foie gras. Our ‘Bonito hotpot’ was highly-chillied, with still-pink tender tuna chunks and slightly floury egg-noodles. But top prize went to the chocolate and citrus cake with lime rocks, liquid tangerine and menthol orange. It may sound like an offensive combination, but the flavours worked well and it featured the ubiquitous hot-sauce-and-chocolate-melting theatre.
It certainly puts you in the right mood for cocktails at the bar, which resonates to the beat of an in-house DJ several nights a week. Between dancing, members of Palma’s cool set lounge on floor cushions that spill out into the courtyard.
For lunch you can order snacks on the roof terrace or courtyard. Or head to the Miami-style beach club (hotel guests get free entry) to enjoy oysters, sashimi or a healthy sandwich from afternoon until evening.
Breakfast is a good buffet of chopped fruit, cold cuts, wholegrain breads, ensaimadas and other pastries– - try the vibrant orange carrot juice, as well as creamy café con leche.
Features include:
- Minibar/fridge
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Explore Palma’s wealth of historical and cultural sights - the imposing Gothic cathedral and the Moorish Palau de l'Almudaina are a short stroll away
- Shop 'til you drop in the city’s many boutiques and stroll the harbour - home to some of the world's most expensive yachts
- Enjoy a beer in one of the outside cafés of La Lonja right on your doorstep - this historic district's former fish market is now a cultural centre
- Take the free shuttle (hourly for six people at a time - must be booked in advance) to Puro Beach Club, which offers yoga and meditation in the morning, swimming and sunbathing in the afternoon, and parties and posing in the evening
- If time's too short, splash in the tiny roof terrace pool, or catch a few rays on the canopied daybeds
- Book into the Puro Spa for an express manicure or a cupping massage - or just make use of the sauna and steam room
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Golf
- Nightlife
- Sailing
- Shopping / markets
- Yoga
Kids
Children of all ages are welcome, but there are sharp edges in the bathrooms and expensive please-rip-me furnishings in the bedrooms, so it’s more suited to grown-ups.
Best for:
Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
Baby cots can be added to all but the Puro Business Rooms; extra beds are available in Puro Joy Rooms and Puro Oasis Suites.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Baby equipment:
Baby cots are available on request.
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The hotel is located in the heart of Palma, about a 15-minute drive from the airport.
By Air:
Palma (8km away) is the nearest airport and is served by a wide array of scheduled, charter and budget airlines (click on the links below for a list).
From the Airport:
Take a taxi (there are plenty outside the arrivals building) or you can book one through the hotel. If you plan to explore the island you might want to hire a car, but be aware that parking near the hotel is limited and expensive.
By Car:
See our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions are provided when your booking is confirmed through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Mallorca and getting around
Airports:
- Palma 8.0 km PMI
Other:
- Beach 1.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape