My travel research: Upcoming trip - Palma, Majorca (draft not final version)

Cafes, Bars, Restaurants:

*my favourites

Portixol:

Tapas Club:
http://www.gotomallorca.net/tours/tapasclub/tour.html
Visit for lunch
Looks like hipster lounge bar
Colourful
Hip furniture
Inside/outside dining

Town:

Taberna de la boveda
http://www.tabernadelaboveda.com/
Visit for dinner
locals fave -excellent tapas: busy tapas bar at front, more formal resto at back
Traditional (old fashioned?) design
Inside/outside dining
Terrace dining looks more 'us'. Next door to beautiful old building

Old town:

CAN JOAN DE S'AIGO CAFÉ *
http://www.volotea.com/en/inspiration/majorca/can-joan-de-saigo-cafe/
Visit for breakfast
Cafe cum chocolaterie
200 years old
Serves Majorcan equivalent of croissant. Homemade almond Icecream supposed to be Majorcas best. Hot chocolate is speciality. Also try almond milkshake/cake/pastry. And ensaimada pastry dusted with sugar. Helado (ice cream) good too.
Traditional but very stylish. Reminds of grand cafes in buenos aires
Marble tabletops, tiled floors, gilded mirrors
Inside dining only
Not touristy

Bon lloc
http://www.bonllocrestaurant.com/mobile/index.php
Visit for dinner
Vegetarian institution for over 20 years
Interior is modern take on traditional Majorcan restaurant
Inside dining only

Cappuccino grand cafe *
San Miguel
http://www.grupocappuccino.com/grand_cafe/san_miguel/index.html
all day bistro
For breakfast lunch or dinner
Lovely leafy and tree lined large courtyard patio
Within beautiful historic building (an old palace)
Modern take on a grand cafe
Closed Sunday

Cappuccino grand cafe *
Puerto Portals
Not in grand building but large lush patio - and looks bustling

Wineing
http://www.wineing.es/en/index.php
Visit for lunch or dinner
Tapas/wine pairing restaurant. Unique
Traditional interior updated with contemporary chairs and tables
Inside dining only

Abaco bar *
http://www.volotea.com/en/inspiration/majorca/abaco-bar/
Majorcas most lavish bar; in a mansion
Not touristy

Cala Estancia

Zee *
http://www.zeepalma.com/en/photos-restaurant-palma/
Chic restaurant
Black and white interior
Furniture looks high end
Inside and outside dining but inside looks much more high end
Comes very highly recommended

Fashion restaurant, Hotel Zhero
http://www.hotel-zhero.com/en/bar-restaurant.html
Across road from our hotel

Hotels:
Hospes Maricel *
Www.hospes.com
Luxury boutique hotel in restored Palace by the sea. Outdoor pool right on waters edge. Simply gorgeous.
Located in upmarket residential area 5 mins from town.

Cala trava
Www.boutiquehotelcalatrava.com
Recent opening
Centre of palma, by beach - plaza llorenc villalonga, 8
C13th building renovated in contemporary minimalist style
Looks to be good budget(ish) stylish boutique hotel

Afternoon tea review : Milestone Hotel, Kensington, London

What's the curbappeal?
- the style: grand yet homely and intimate. It's like you're dining in the salon of an historic home. Totally unique.
- the oak panelled drawing room full of oil paintings and gleaming silverware
- the creaky floorboards that add bags of atmosphere
- the views onto Hyde Park
- a taste of high society...

Quite simply, lovely. I'll be back

With Love,
Ms. Curbappeal x

Ps. Here's some photos from my iPhone (SLR shots to follow):

Hotel Review: Santo Mauro, Madrid, April 2013

It's Curbappeal:
- Beautiful elegant building
- Pretty garden to relax in
- Located in wealthy residential district
- Calming & exclusive vibe

Crowd: Largely couples, aged 30+ but most very glam/elegant

Food Rating: we only ate breakfast & was disappointing.

Our room: 17 (superior room). Not in main building but in quiet 'stables' styled building. Room opened straight onto quiet courtyard. Large long room with separate dressing area & large bathroom (separate rooms for toilet & shower). Room style was classically elegant & relaxing colours (beige & brown furniture & walls)

Anything we didn't like:
- Breakfast was very mediocre (scrambled eggs were dry & museli came in small Kellogg's packets) - we'd expected more of a five star hotel
- No vanity kits in the rooms (cotton wool etc) nor available when asked
- Eur13 for large bottle of Perrier water to the room with eur5 charge for delivery!

The bill: not too bad (apart from room service bill as mentioned above)

Recommended: definitely - already planning our return stay

... Some photos straight from our iPhones...

Foodie venue review: Greenwich Market, Greenwich, London

What's the curbappeal?
- excellent selection of world food in a beautiful (and historic) covered market
- cuisine includes: Japanese, Korean, British, Spanish, Portuguese etc, etc.
- also great for browsing arts and crafts stalls.

With love,
Ms. Curbappeal x

Ps. Here's some photos from my iPhone...

London Restaurant review: disappointing new kid on the block

Venue: Blue Boar, Westminster, London

What's the curbappeal?
- well its website promises oodles of hipster cool. Teamed with a focus on BBQ food (pretty niche, sounded interesting)
- unfortunately the visit was disappointing: Despite the restaurant marketing itself as a standalone venue (see their website), it's very much part of the Intercontinental hotel, within which it resides. The overall vibe is confusing. It's very modern inside and the attempt to create a hipster interior (in the bar), just doesn't work. The restaurant has a formal setting which is at odds with the cuisine served (BBQ focus). I ate with 2 friends and we were all disappointed with our food. I had the steak (just OK) and my friends had the pulled pork, which they said tasted strange due to its 'rub'.

Sorry but this one's not for me (kudos to some of the art work though)

With Love,
Ms. Curbappeal x

Ps. here's some photos from my iPhone