Petit Palace Hotel Tres

One of Palma de Mallorca’s most stylish hotels brings to this Spanish Gothic town an infusion of bright Scandinavian modernism. This Swedish-owned boutique spans the centuries, a sixteenth-century mansion and a Sixties apartment block joined together, the interiors renovated and redecorated in an utterly contemporary twenty-first-century style, leaving in place the beamed ceilings and central courtyard of the original house.

By now we’ve seen enough all-white interiors that we’re ready with accusations of cliché, of failure of imagination; but what becomes cliché is that which reliably works, and a familiar idea executed well need pay no mind to questions of originality. Here you’ll find those familiar white walls, sleek surfaces and hardwood floors, livened by small outbreaks of bold color or printed upholstery and anchored by semi-abstract photographs and contemporary paintings. Monochrome still works when it’s not a cop-out or a veneer, as these rooms amply demonstrate.

The centerpiece of this hotel, though, is the rooftop terrace, complete with plunge pool, sauna and most importantly ice-cold cocktails. The views from up here are worth the price of admission, encompassing the mountains, city and sea. Down in the courtyard are the restaurant and lounge, worth a night’s attention, while the surrounding neighborhood is home to much of Palma’s best dining and nightlife.