Can you imagine yourself here...?
The end of summer is always a good excuse to cheer up with **a quiet getaway and in slowlife mode to the calmest and most placid island of the Balearic Islands**. We refer to Minorca , and we give you the seven essential stops to take the end of the summer season.
1. THE LAST TAGS OF THE TYPICAL DISH
The star dish of Menorca is, without a doubt, **lobster stew**, and this month it disappears from the menus of all restaurants, as it is an exclusively summer specialty. So go ahead and do not stop tasting it, yes, better at lunchtime because it is a forceful recipe.
What does it consist of? It is a stew in which the lobster is cut, fried and pampered in the kitchen they play a fundamental role. One of the best places to enjoy it is It's Cranc (Escoles, 31), with its own lobster nursery, which ensures its freshness.
It's hard to beat the views from Menorca.
two. KNOW THE GASTRONOMIC CULTURE
as the saying goes "When in Rome, do as the Romans" . In Menorca there is a gastro stop that, for the end of the season, is essential. We refer to doing **an immersion in the interesting world of its native gin, known as Gin Xoriguer ** and which has spread throughout the world - there are few countries that resist its charms-.
**Located in a small factory overlooking the port of Mahón **, specifically in Plaza del Carmen, 17, perhaps the secret of its success is that it is handcrafted , following old techniques in which the hand of man and patience are an essential part of the process. If you are interested in delving into the subject, they organize a tasting in the same place.
3. THE LAST SUNSET
Or always the penultimate, as they say, you have to enjoy it with a good glass of wine or cocktail in hand, and to the rhythm of the music in the best known bar on the island . We refer to the Cova D'en Xoroi , whose name is linked to legends such as that of the Turkish pirate who lived as a refugee in this natural cave for years, surviving by stealing. When he was found he decided to jump into the sea and disappear.
A glass of wine on the beach? Yes I want.
There is also another one that says he was a shipwreck survivor who came here and fell in love with a local girl . She disappeared one fine day, but an unexpected snowfall revealed some footsteps that led to this place and some armed men followed her until they discovered the cave, and, as expected, the story does not have a nice ending since both the father and the eldest son jumped into the sea.
Four. STROLL THROUGH VINEYARDS
Although it is not an island whose strength is wine production, it is true that there are small wineries dedicated to the production of reds and whites that are improving each vintage, and that they have little to envy to those of Mallorca. **Perhaps one of the best wineries to visit is Binifadet**.
On the same visit you can walk through the vineyards, buy some products that range from wine to jellies made with that ingredient, make pleasant tastings or celebrate a delicious meal on your vine porch, based on one hundred percent Mediterranean recipes where they stand out grilled octopus, Menorcan-style sea bream, prawn carpaccio and grilled vegetables.
In the same way, if you want to continue with the local wine route, another excellent option is to reserve (it is mandatory) **a table at the TorralBenc hotel**. A space that perfectly combines the rustic style with good taste, and where they make a modest but delicious wine production for pairing a relaxing evening.
Fancy a glass of wine in the moonlight?
5. SLEEP IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE,
It is the perfect option of the recently opened **hotel Menorca Experimental**. A très chic agritourism 43 rooms located in an old 19th century estate , where its luxury villas stand out in the surroundings of the central house. The concept is from four partners of the international Experimental Group, and has been **decorated by Dorothée Meilichzon **, the team's lead designer.
An environment in **full nature**, with silence as the protagonist, a very fresh decoration; A delicious swimming pool surrounded by vegetation and a charming restaurant where you can enjoy good mediterranean food with local products by the Chef Sylvain Roucayrol , expressly brought from the French Basque Country.
Don't stop trying its strong point, the cocktails, one hundred percent handmade , since this group started in 2007 with an Experimental Cocktail Club in Paris. Important to highlight its small but interesting fashion, beauty and gastro products store selected with great care. And as a bonus, this hotel also offers varied activities such as horseback riding, outdoor yoga classes or pottery and painting workshops so that boredom has no place.
You worry about having a good time and Menorca Experimental will take care of the rest.
6. THE DINNER TO REMEMBER
The gastronomic offer largest in Menorca is in the city of Mahon . A classic and sure hit is Ses Forquilles , with more than a decade of life, is the perfect place to try dishes based on local raw material such as Galician beef jerky, or cuttlefish noodles with pesto.
also highlights Santa Rita , another flagship of the area, characterized by merge food from the world with local products. That is why it is not uncommon to see in the letter Thai salad, aubergine with prawn or egg and roe arepa . Lastly, for a quick but no less delicious meal, turn to the now **famous hamburgers at the tiny Paput kiosk **; They are finger licking good!
7. FINALLY, THE FAREWELL BATHROOM
And it is that no one can leave the island without taking a last dip in one of its crystalline beaches or coves. It is not necessary to highlight any, it can be ** Macarella , Tortuga, Mitjana or Son Bou ** ; all, in their own way, have a special charm. Ducks to water!
Aerial view of Cala Macarelleta (on the left) and Cala Macarella (right)