Nobis Hotel PalmaMallorca, Spain
Nobis Hotel Palma, on the ridiculously attractive island of Mallorca, is a ridiculously attractive retreat set in a former 12th-century Muslim palace.
It’s still a palace in some respects, although less of a place of worship, we imagine. It’s been restored in a beautiful cross of Spanish and Scandanavian design; two architecture styles that usually get it right as is. There’s a cosy cocktail lounge, a rooftop terrace with a stage, a spa, and an indoor pool that has the look of an ancient roman bath, so you can feel like Nero while taking a dip.
We love hotels that don’t try and overdo it, and with 37 rooms, Nobis still feels beautifully intimate compared to some of the mega-hotels you could stay at in Mallorca.
We had no idea Mallorca had an Islamic history, but there are plenty of nods throughout the hotel to its ancient past, making it as much of walk down history lane as it is a decadent luxury stay.
The stunningly clear turquoise water in Mallorca is due to underwater meadows of an algae called Posidonia oceanica algae.
The algae oxygenates and then clarifies the water from the bottom up, so you can always see right to the bottom.