Menorcan cuisine is mainly based around simple, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients. The island is famous for its Mahon cheese, or Queso Mahon, which comes in many different forms depending on the length of maturation. The salty flavour of the cheese comes from the winds that blow marine salt on to the pastures where the cattle graze.

Seafood factors heavily into the local diet as you’d expect, and there are many restaurants serving delicious grilled catch-of-the-day. Beef and pork also play a big role and are mainly cured for cold cuts served as part of the tapas spread.

Try Caldereta de Langosta, a slow cooked, rich tomato-based stew with lobster and chillies – it’s a local delicacy and an absolute must-try. For a sweet treat or an afternoon pick-me-up, try the Pastissets – a shortbread style biscuit sprinkled with sugar and filled with a sweet fig jam.

It is said that Mayonnaise was invented in Menorca in the 18th century – based on the local aioli recipe, “Mahonnaise” was an instant success and is of course now found worldwide.

Xoriguer gin is also a very popular drink on the island – first made for the British Navy who were stationed on the island when it was under British rule in the 1700s. Its best enjoyed in the island’s speciality cocktail, the Pomada – a refreshing lemony cocktail perfect for a hot summer’s day.

You really are spoilt for choice on how you spend your days in Menorca. To start with, we’d chose from one of over a hundred beaches on the island – some only accessible by boat (with some dolphin spotting along the way!), and others requiring quite a hike to reach, but you’ll be rewarded for your efforts as you will most likely have the whole beach to yourself. For the sea-lovers, hire kayaks and explore the coastline from the sea, and be sure to snorkel as the waters in this protected biosphere are so incredibly clear and abundant in marina fauna.  

Nightlife here is relaxed and gentle. The locals eat supper late in the evening once the heat of the day has dissipated, and we’d highly recommend following suit. Head out for an aperitif at a waterfront bar and watch the sun go down over the sea, before heading to your dinner reservation and spend the rest of the evening talking about the wonderful day you’ve just had. Mahon has a great selection of bars that stay lively well after midnight for those wanting a bit more of a scene. 

The weather is most glorious in the main summer months, from June through to August, with July & August being the driest and the hottest, perfect for beach days and boat trips. The Spring can still be a wonderful time to visit, as the cooler temperatures make cycling and hiking more manageable. The Autumn months from September onwards can also be great – with bathwater warm seas perfect for long swims, and the crowds from the peak summer months are long gone so you’ll have more chance of finding a beach all to yourselves.