London: BIRD is delighted to announce its partnership with Portella Palma, a 17th-century casal, once the haunt and creative studio of artist Joaquín Torrents Lladó, now reimagined as a discreet, stylish hideaway in Mallorca’s capital. Stripped back interiors, a palpable sense of history, and an enviable location, moments from the Arab baths, the Convento de Santa Clara, and the regal sweep of La Almudaina; Portella is a refuge that blends artistic provenance with the pared back monastic spirit that Mallorca has become so well known for.
Design & architecture
A Mallorcan legacy, Portella now falls to Ines and Enrique Miró-Sans, the discerning siblings who shaped Barcelona’s Casa Bonay into an urban idyll. The pair, together with Parisian studio Festen (the designers of icons Hotel du Couvent and Chateau Voltaire) and Gras Reynés Architecture Studio, have thoughtfully reimagined the property as a contemporary Mallorcan retreat, where historical elegance is less a display, and more an ingrained presence.
The contemporary iteration of Portella, which debuted in February 2024, sees a seamless flow between interior and exterior with local terracotta floors laid in patterns that nod to the neighbouring Arab Baths. This property distinguishes itself with its central courtyard: a riad’s tranquillity, a water feature, and notably, a gallery, a testament to Llado’s artistic annual pilgrimages to Venice. Portella houses 14 rooms, each a testament to a considered aesthetic: limewashed walls, a gentle patina, and a curated fusion of Spanish and French antiques alongside bespoke iron and oak commissions, a subtle dialogue between past and present. The uppermost level, a penthouse poised for convivial gatherings: four rooms that can merge upon request, an echo of the casal’s past, a haven for collective creativity.
A stamp of authenticity has been added through a collaboration with Gordiola, one of Spain’s oldest companies that has honoured the craft of glassblowing for over four centuries and was behind the creation of a bespoke series of light fixtures across Portella. Suites are tastefully appointed with art curation by Galerie Francais including paintings by internationally recognised Spanish artists, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró.
Dining at Portella
The hotel’s intimate dining room and kitchen are aligned to the property’s relaxed ‘mi casa es su casa’ feel, with booklined shelves acting as the backdrop for candle lit tables. The menus, seasonal and spare, are tailored to guests’ cravings with a promise of every epicurean wish served up by the team in just 24 hours’ notice. Having recently taken the culinary helm, Chef Julio Prendes Ramos, spent years traversing the globe’s kitchens and absorbing its diverse palettes, bringing the elemental nostalgic flavours of his northern Spanish childhood to Portella. Dining is casual, served all day and rule breaking with breakfast served until 13.00 that can be taken in the dining room, courtyard or in-room by the open doors of one’s Juliet balcony. Chef residencies are set to take place throughout the year with visits from renowned Spanish chefs, including the Michelin Green stared Maria Solivellas from Ca Na Toneta. Meanwhile, Portella’s rooftop terrace offers a sweeping panorama of the old town and is an ideal spot to enjoy a glass of wine from the well-stocked cellar. The hotel also has close relationships with local wine stores and can order guest’s favourites ahead of their arrival.
Access and experiences
General Manager, Javier, and his team have access to revel the hidden rhythms of the island. Think olive oil tastings – an immersion into the land’s essence – and vintage car tours, journeys into the island’s soul. And then, there are the ceramics workshops at Sonmo: a 500-year-old mountain estate, a regeneration project and a living testament to the island’s enduring spirit, tucked within the UNESCO-protected Sierra de Tramuntana. Guests of Portella are also afforded exclusive access of the owners deeply rooted local connections. This, in turn, unlocks experiences of quiet distinction: private viewings at Gordiola, where the alchemy of glass is revealed; visits to 4 Kilos, a study in contemporary viniculture; and Ca na Toneta, a testament to Mallorca’s evolving palate.
Wellness and group stays
Five suites, equipped with kitchenettes, and four capable of interconnecting, suggest an accommodation that caters to certain multi-generational groups. The uppermost floor has a high-tech gym, while the private hammam, a subtle hint to the region’s Moorish lineage, along with the massage rooms, provide a welcome respite after a day exploring Palma’s storied streets.
Rates at Portella start from £210 (approx. € 250) per room per night including breakfast and based on two sharing. To book, visit Portellapalma.com
