Review: Hotel Espléndido

Swedish hoteliers Johanna and Mikael Landström have bull’s-eyed every detail in their reinvention of this 1954 vintage seaside property, with dimmers on all lamps, a terrific CD/DVD library at reception, free Wi-Fi all over the 82-room hotel, and a great bistro that serves up yummy indulgences such as gazpacho, bacon cheeseburgers, and cheesecake. The beach is across the street; you can also snag a lounger on the terraced hillside above the hotel, which overlooks the Espléndido’s two pools. There’s a sauna and a hammam next to one of the pools, and the bar has become the town’s hippest place to toss back an espresso and a hierbas (the local herbal liqueur) after dinner. Perhaps best of all, staff are warm, and this place draws a varied clientele, including young Scandinavian families, stylish French and Italian couples, and singles of all stripes. N.B.: The hotel has almost no parking, so use the free lot on the left as you’re coming into Puerto de Sóller.