The guide to Menorca from a duo of jewelers

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Our father bought a villa in Menorca in the mid 80’s, and since then we have been going there summer after summer, so the island has been a true constant in our lives. Endless days on the beach, the smell of pine trees growing along the coast, snorting along the paths with umbrellas, eating squid – those are the charming and nostalgic things you keep from childhood. We both got married on the island, so it really is our second home after London.

In recent years, probably since the gallery hauser & wirth Arriving on the island, everything has become a bit more luxurious: a few more fancy hotels have opened and there are more restaurants. Still, there are strong protection rules on the island as to what can be built, because the islanders have looked at Mallorca and Ibiza and decided they don’t want to go in the same direction. There is a focus on the protection of flora, fauna and culture: it was declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco in 1993 and there are five nature reserves in Menorca.

It takes just over an hour to get from one side of Menorca to the other, and there are over 100 bays, so you’re never more than 20 minutes from the sea. There is a walking path that goes around the island, which was originally used by the military for patrolling, but is now a good way to explore the coast, with beautiful stone walls and wooden gates all along.

Although it is close to the other Balearic Islands, you can see all the way to Mallorca on a clear day, Menorca has many things that make it unique. The dialect is different from Spanish, Catalan and Mallorcan; the island has its own distinctive style of gin, Xoriguer, which originated in the 18th century; and it even has its own native horses, the Menorquín, which are a large part of the local festivals.

It’s not like Ibiza: there’s no scene, and that’s a really good thing.

Since it’s not far from Barcelona, ​​and a lot of people from Spain spend their summers here, you’ll see that Catalan influence in the food. The local Mahón cheese is soft and smooth, and the islanders eat it with ham and bread to start a meal. Then there is the paella, of which there are probably hundreds of variations. The other day, a local friend made us his specialty, just octopus and rice and very little else, and it was absolutely delicious. And you can’t miss the ensaimadas, which are buns filled with cream or Nutella; they are the most delicious thing to have with coffee in the morning.

clover in Es Castell it is one of our favorite restaurants; It’s right on the water and has amazing seafood, particularly the fried sea anemone, and the owner is always around. Cape Roig, near the Mesquida beach, is on top of a cliff, so it has stunning views of the sea from the terrace. They make delicious sobrassada with squid, and black rice and cuttlefish with alioli. We love eating there and then going down to the beach for ice cream from the guy who has been there for years.

To distract and relax, there is old towera hotel nestled in a vineyard, near the spa of Santa Ponsa. They do this beautiful sunset experience where they serve appetizers on the cliffs. Binifadet is another great wine spot, where you can eat among the vineyards and pick up a few bottles to take home for barbecues or beach picnics.

Menorca isn’t known for shopping in the same way as somewhere like St Tropez, but an essential island buy is Menorcan sandals, which are like flip-flops with a back strap. They grew out of the big leather business here, which started about 50 years ago, and everyone on the island wears them. You can buy them anywhere, but there’s this awesome guy who has a store called silly in Mahón and makes really chic versions, classics with a contemporary touch. There are also many great antique stores on the island, such as Antics Antiques.

We also love going to the local fish market, which you have to get to very early, or there is another one more geared towards tourists; you can walk around with a beer and eat tapas at all the different stalls.

Ultimately, Menorca is a place to relax and enjoy a slower pace, rather than a run. Culture is defined by the cuisine, the buildings, the openness, the landscape, the sea. It’s not like Ibiza; there’s no scene, and that’s a really good thing. It is a celebration of simplicity.