The southwestern side of Mallorca boasts a sea which stretches into infinity, and the mountains rise in jagged folds that catch the last of the day’s light in shades of honey and rose. Villages tumble down the slopes in terraces of stone and bougainvillaea, their shutters painted in sun-faded greens. The air smells of pine and salt, and cicadas strike up their chorus as the afternoon slips into evening.
It’s a place of contrasts: broad beaches where families stroll the promenade, tiny calas where the water is so clear it glitters like glass, mountain trails that wind past ancient olive groves, and a capital city close enough for a night of tapas and vermouth. This corner of the island doesn’t clamour for attention; it seduces quietly, with a balance of beauty, history and ease that lingers long after you leave.
The Lowdown
A sleek, unpretentious hotel to complement the iconic beach club, Purobeach Santa Ponsa offers pared-back luxury on Mallorca’s quieter southwest coast with five-star amenities, uber cool staff and laid-back beats.
The Atmosphere
Whitewashed and minimal, with a hint of Ibiza’s barefoot glamour. The main event is the pool, which boasts laid back DJs, loungers and bookable cabanas all oozing glamour with crisp white covers, complemented by cappuccino coloured towels and pretty tasselled sun brollies creating Instagrammable shade when you need to escape the midday heat.
The layout makes the beach the star as the hotel’s rooms are built in blocks leading down towards the bay (although there is no direct access from the grounds – it is a ten-minute stroll away), but the sight is very pretty. The overall vibe is stylish but never brash – polished enough to please the international set, relaxed enough that you can wander barefoot from breakfast to cocktail hour without a raised eyebrow.
The Rooms
There are just 160 rooms, many with sea views, all dressed in a calming palette of pale stone, wood, and linen. Entry-level doubles are compact but well-designed; sea-view rooms and suites add private terraces where the sunrise feels like a personal show.
I stayed in a lower-level terrace duplex with a private upper terrace leading from the bedroom and lounge-kitchenette downstairs, which was dreamy! The top-tier Oasis del Mar Suites include outdoor showers and direct access to cabana beds in the club.
Food and Drink at Purobeach
Breakfast is buffet style, so you can enjoy it before or after a yoga session; whereas the daytime menu travels far beyond Mallorca, weaving together Latin American ceviches, Asian-inspired bowls, and Mediterranean classics.
We were spoilt poolside with an extensively tempting menu, including the Puro brioche Caesar salad, which comes with your choice of free-range chicken or prawns, dressed with parmesan and a silky in-house Caesar sauce, or the goat’s cheese salad, which is caramelised just enough to offset honey and candied walnuts. Vegetarians are spoiled with the grilled halloumi salad, a colourful plate of rocket, strawberries, and balsamic cherry tomatoes; or the smoked burrata salad, unexpectedly paired with apricots, pine nuts, and marinated salmon.
If you’d prefer to dine in the shade, the terrace restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy treats like the salmon poke bowl, whose kimchi cream gives a gentle kick. Meanwhile, the Vegan Wok layers pak choi, soba noodles, and fried tofu in a sticky-sweet kabayaki sauce. Those craving something spicy can indulge in curries: a chickpea tikka with toasted almonds, a chicken tikka masala served with basmati rice, or a salmon dish in Thai red curry, fragrant with coconut and snow peas.
For the best view, reserve the corner spot at the ONA restaurant to catch the vibrant orange sunset. The Nikkei marinated bluefin with grilled pineapple and sesame nods to Peru’s Japanese influence, while the grilled octopus with chimichurri is unapologetically Mediterranean. The catch of the day arrives with purple potato purée and citrus gel; the grilled sea bass with romesco and hasselback potatoes is one of the most popular dishes for good reason.
Wellness
The Spa might be small, but it certainly is mighty! Boasting a sauna, steam room, delightful relaxation area and two treatment rooms where therapists specialise in Balinese and Mediterranean-inspired massages. There’s also outdoor yoga, a gym and padel courts on the cards – although most guests seem content with poolside lounging and the occasional dip in the sea – or one of the two pools; the second pool, although smaller ,is Adults Only and much more chilled.
The location
Santa Ponsa itself is low-key, with two sandy beaches and a scattering of cafés. The Tramuntana mountains are a short drive away for hiking and village-hopping (Deià, Valldemossa, Sóller), while Palma, with its cathedral, galleries, and tapas bars, is around 20 minutes by car.
Final Thoughts
Purobeach Santa Ponsa is for travellers who want beach-club energy without Mykonos-level chaos, and hotel polish without formality. Sitting on a bluff above the beach, the views are cinematic, but it is an uphill walk if you head down into town or to the beach. The adult-only pool is blissfully calm; the family pool can be noisier in peak season. It’s stylish, sociable, and perfectly placed for exploring the rest of the island – though it’s just as tempting to stay put.
FACTBOX
Reservations are now available at Purobeach Resort Santa Ponsa – Oasis del Mar. For more information, please visit: www.purobeachresort.com. Room rates start at £220 per night based on double occupancy in a Flow Standard Room with breakfast.
