The Magic of Menorca Starts With Morvedra Nou

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If I objectively take a look at my life over the past year, one thing has come to light (which is a lie because so many things have come to light): I’m obsessed with Spain. 

Things that make me think this:

• I woke up one morning and decided to get a weekly Spanish tutor.
• I’ve been to Spain six times since December 2025.
• I’ve seen seven psychics, who have determined that something “Spanish” is going on with me—at least in one of my multiple past lives.
• I started seeing an Osteopath, who is Spanish.
• I really liked Rosalía’s latest album, LUX.
• I have a shirt from Zara that says, “Viva La Vida Lenta,” which I think means I want to live slowly (I do!).

Therefore it should come as no surprise that this year’s annual Goodman Mother-Daughter trip took place in the small, mystical Balearic island of Menorca, where the Catalan phrase, “a poc a poc” (little by little) sits as the island’s north star.

With a population of  ~100,000 people—drivable from east to west within 45 minutes-1 hour—Menorca is Mallorca and Ibiza’s quieter baby sister. Sure, there is about a doubling of the population with tourism during the high season (unbearable), but almost every person I met living there was either 1) from there 2) came on holiday and never went home, or 3) moved for love. 

I was prepared to select options 2 and 3.

Menorca, as Told by Morvedra Nou

My mom and I agreed that—like a gymnast about to win their gold medal on the mat—we were going to go full out for our trip and stay somewhere we’d never forget.

That’s where Morvedra Nou comes in. 

Morvedra Nou is one of the island’s first rural luxury boutique hotels, sitting on almost 180 acres of farmland, housing just 26 rooms across the property, which is a 12-room expansion as a part of their 2023 reopening under the ownership of Spanish hotel group, Annua Hotels. 

It’s completely adults-only (although dogs are allowed), drawing in couples, honeymooners, and mother-daughter duos alike for a romantic, private getaway—just minutes from the center of Ciutedella on the western side of the island. 

The stunning, sunkissed grounds surround a 17th-century estate, dating back to 1650, offering a true immersion into Menorcan landscape and architecture. With privacy in mind, the hotel has managed to leverage the expansiveness of their diverse property to create “moments,” if you will, for guests to experience the hospitality of the island while looking directly at the Mediterranean Sea.

Right at Home

When we first arrived at Morvedra Nou, we almost missed it while driving up the private tiny road. Tucked behind two non-descript gates was a rustic winding path that made me feel like I was offroading through a Spanish agriturismo. 

We were immediately greeted by staff, who said, “This is your home now.” And my home it became!

The team at the hotel provided 1:1 concierge service day in, day out, sharing offsite recommendations, ensuring we had everything we needed, a beach bag, towels, and water for beach days, and a limitless amount of genuine kindness that made me wonder if us cityfolk had lost the plot on life as we know it (we have!).

What I felt was most notable and impressive was the staff’s ability to maintain a premium level of attentiveness without ever making us feel smothered or overly watched. It was the hotel’s ability to strike the perfect balance between approachable luxury, a five-star experience, and preservation of the regional authenticity that made the entire stay so memorable.

But now for the juicy details (or “jugoso” in Spanish!).

A Room With a View

Given that the property only houses 26 rooms, there is neither a bad room onsite nor a detail forgotten. All of the rooms have either private terraces, gardens, pools, outdoor bathtubs, or a mix and match, depending on if you’re staying in a double or superior room, or a suite. During the quieter months, rooms range from anywhere from €250-€600 per night, but expect increased prices in the high season (July, August, early September). 

We had the fortuna of staying in the Morvedra Cottage, which is the most removed suite on the grounds. At ~430 square feet, this cottage was about double the size of my first New York City apartment—add in an open shower / bathtub situation, a king size bed, and two sliding doors that started our days with a private view of nothing but the land, and ended our evenings with a star-riddled sky (I made so many wishes and am now waiting for them to come true!).

I recently learned the Spanish phrase “en fluyendo,” which means to “be in flow.” Our cottage embodied that essence—every element and material was in flow with the surrounding nature and landscape, making it feel like it had been a part of the property all along. From the marés stone walls to the traditional architecture, everything felt organic and in lock step with the entire Menorcan vibe (or “vibe,” as they say in Spanish). 

Eat Fare and Square

Would you believe me if I told you that the entire gastronomic food program at Morvedra Nou is being run by someone who has yet to go through their Saturn Return?

Créelo. (That means “believe it.”)

27 year-old chef José María Borrás, who is a Menorcan native, has been a huge part of Morvedra Nou’s 2024 reopening. As a recent winner of the San Pellegrino Young Chef award and a rising star in Balearic cuisine, Borrás is transforming classic Balearic dishes using inspiration from his time at some of the most acclaimed kitchens in Europe.

The core dining experiences happen at the hotel’s two prestigious restaurants: L´Espiell Bistró, which is a more informal expression of the hotel’s kitchen (and is insanely good), and Aquiara, where you’ll find a degustación (tasting menu) with highly inventive food, prepared with incredible precision and sensorial impact. There is also the opportunity to experience the food in a lighter capacity at their Sunset Bar, which takes you up to the property’s highest viewpoint, giving you the chance to see the sunset while drinking a carefully crafted cocktail and dipping into the freshest ceviche you’ve ever had. Note: The Aquiara tasting menu is €130, which is competitive “in this economy,” if you ask me!

Regardless of where you’re eating on the property, all of the food at Morvedra Nou surrounds an ethos to prioritize and celebrate traditional Menorcan cuisine, local producers, artisans, and vendors, regional ingredients, and flavor, which was apparent in every dish we tasted.

Speaking of Which…

I know I just talked about the food “at a high level,” as they say business, but I want to spend like, five more seconds telling you about my personal experience with the food because it was THAT big of a deal.

I didn’t get to experience the Sunset Bar or Aquiara because they weren’t open during my stay, but I did go to L´Espiell Bistró every night for dinner (and even experienced one lunch). Here’s what I’ll say: so often, at least in the States, hotel restaurants are overhyped and overpriced, where you end up on Reddit for a million hours trying to find hole-in-the-wall gems near where you’re staying, which…fine—all a part of travel.

But, it’s incredibly noticeable when you don’t want to leave your hotel for previously reserved dinner plans because the food is that delicious.

Every night, the food service ran like a carefully choreographed Black Swan performance, but instead of death / rebirth, there was just really incredible bread, olive oil, and salt. Our servers became our collaborators and consultants, making it feel like they were there just for us, and we honestly did whatever they said (and Diego at dinner and Flor at breakfast were never wrong!).

I was so breathtaken by the seamless interweaving of nuanced technique with classic Spanish ingredients and dishes, as well as a consistent nod to Menorca as a whole (in the form of Mahón cheese). Things like bluefin tuna on an olive branch as a new take on a Spanish gilda and a literal Mahón cheese cheesecake rocked my palate. I also became privy to pil pil, which is a traditional Basque sauce for fish, which is like a garlic-infused blanket for any catch of the day. 

A Poc a Poc

Honestly, writing this piece has been a dip into my favorite mental state—Melancholia—because while I’m so, so glad I got to live this experience, I’m now endlessly devastated to be back in reality. I just keep hearing Kyle from Summer House saying, “Summer should be fun! Amanda? Not fun!” but instead replacing “Amanda” with “reality.” That’s how I feel!!

My time in Menorca was a mystical time warp into another way of living—where the people who have chosen a more “island” kind of life don’t seem conflicted about living at a slower pace, having a lack of knowledge about LinkedIn, or opting for a simpler approach to…well…everything. 

Morvedra Nou specifically encapsulated all of the high notes the island has to offer. The hospitality, the personal generosity of spirit, the care and precision surrounding every facet of the hotel—there was nothing on the list I wouldn’t do again.

My Menorca Must-Haves

As I prepared to make my skin and hair become the same color, here were my top 5 essentials for my mystical getaway.