S'Enclova Petit Hotel

About S'Enclova Petit Hotel

S'Enclova Petit Hotel suits travellers who would rather sleep inside Ciutadella's old town than on the edge of a resort. The address on Carrer de Sa Carnisseria places the cathedral, the palaces and the narrow port within a few minutes on foot, so an evening can end without a taxi. Couples and small groups looking for a four-star base for a few nights, with the south coast coves a short drive away, are the obvious fit here.

The hotel is a four-star property of modest scale, and the name says as much. Its listed facilities lean towards comfort in the room and quiet corners, a lounge, a patio and a terrace, rather than the trappings of a large holiday complex. It is a place to come back to after a day on the Camí de Cavalls or at a beach, not a base for days spent on site.

Location: Ciutadella

Ciutadella is Menorca's old capital, a grid of narrow streets around a cathedral, with palaces and a port that cuts inland and draws people at sunset. S'Enclova Petit Hotel sits 0.3 km from that centre, close enough to walk in for dinner and back afterwards. The Sant Joan festival, held around 23 and 24 June with horses and riders in the streets, is the town's loudest week and worth planning around.

On foot you have the old town, the port and the harbour mouth. Everything else needs wheels: Cala Galdana is 12.5 km away in a straight line, Cala Turqueta 9.8 km and the Naveta des Tudons 4.6 km, while Es Mercadal and Monte Toro sit 21.7 km off across the middle of the island. Ciutadella stays active through the year; in July and August the centre is busy late into the night, and in May or October the same streets are calm.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms at S'Enclova Petit Hotel are listed with air conditioning, a desk, a safe, a minibar or refrigerator, a coffee setup, a hairdryer, toiletries and a TV, which covers the basics for a hot week. Non-smoking rooms are listed throughout. Couples may want to ask for a room with a balcony or one opening onto the patio or terrace; families should check whether a sofa bed is available for their dates, as it will not be in every room.

Housekeeping and cleaning are listed, along with wifi and internet access, luggage storage, a lounge and a laundry service. Express check-in is listed, which helps if you arrive in the evening after a delayed flight. Arrival times are worth settling with the property in advance: ask about check-in and check-out, about which rooms have a terrace, and about laundry turnaround before you travel.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) lies 36 km from S'Enclova Petit Hotel in a straight line, south-west of Maó on the far side of the island. Taxis and hire cars cover the run; buses go to Maó and, in summer, to the resorts, so a change may be needed. Driving gives the most flexibility for the coves later in the stay. Flights thin out in winter, when the same journey needs more planning.

Ferries from Barcelona arrive at Maó, 38.4 km away, or at Ciutadella, closer to the hotel. From Maó port the road crosses the island to the old capital; from the Ciutadella terminal the centre is a short hop. Menorca also has links to Alcúdia on Mallorca from Ciutadella and to Palma from Maó. Check the operators for current timetables, since sailings are fewer outside the season.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Two south coast beaches are within easy reach: Cala Turqueta at 9.8 km in a straight line and Cala Galdana at 12.5 km, both white sand under pine on the Migjorn side. Car parks at the popular coves fill early in summer and some have limits, so an early start or a bus helps. Inland, the Naveta des Tudons, a boat-shaped prehistoric tomb, is 4.6 km away and pairs well with a morning in town.

Food on Menorca is straightforward and regional. Mahón-Menorca cheese carries a protected designation of origin and appears on most menus; lobster stew is the Fornells speciality, a bowl to share. The British centuries left a gin tradition in Maó and Georgian windows in Es Castell. In Ciutadella, eat in the streets behind the cathedral or down by the port, where the sunset is the reason people linger. S'Enclova Petit Hotel puts all of that within a walk.

A day from S'Enclova Petit Hotel

Start early in Ciutadella. Walk the 0.3 km from S'Enclova Petit Hotel into the old town while the streets are still shaded, take in the cathedral and the palaces, then follow the port out towards the harbour mouth. Back at the hotel, collect the car and drive the 4.6 km to the Naveta des Tudons for the prehistoric tomb, then continue south to Cala Turqueta, 9.8 km out, arriving before the car park fills.

Spend the afternoon on the sand and swim in the clear water; the Posidonia meadows offshore are part of why it looks that way. On the way back, stop at Cala Galdana, 12.5 km from the hotel in a straight line, for a late coffee. Shower, change, and return to the old town on foot for the evening, with the port below and the cathedral above. Everything after that is a short walk home.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, though Ciutadella stays open, so check S'Enclova Petit Hotel's own opening dates before booking a winter trip. July and August are the peak, when the old town is at its busiest and the south coast car parks fill. S'Enclova Petit Hotel, like every staffed property on the island, collects the Balearic sustainable tourism tax (the ecotasa) for each person and night; the rate moves with the season and the class of accommodation, drops for longer stays, and does not apply to children under 16. Ask the Govern de les Illes Balears what applies to your dates.

Questions about S'Enclova Petit Hotel