Puerto Portals – Mallorca’s Glamour-Hotspot on the south west coast

Arab sheikhs and oil tycoons, Hollywood stars and Russian oligarchs: Puerto Portals is a billionaire's playground. The marina on the Southwest Coast Mallorca is one of the most enchanting places on the island. Million-dollar yachts bob up and down on the water and paparazzi are always lying in wait, always in search of the ultimate snapshot. Only A-List global Celebrities in Mallorca tend to drop anchor in Puerto Portals. This attracts numerous onlookers who want to catch a glimpse of famous movie stars or billionaire businessmen.

Puerto Portals is located halfway between Palma de Mallorca and Andratx on the southwest coast of the Island. The sophisticated marina boasts just under 700 berths but mooring space in the summer still needs to be reserved as the demand for mooring here in this the coveted harbour is in very high demand.

Puerto Portals is actually simply the Marinas in Mallorca belonging to the coastal town of Portals Nous although, the main focus of tourism has long since shifted from the town to the Mallorca's Ports. A few hundred metres inland, Portals Nous resembles more and more a classic holiday resort. Fine boutiques are packed with souvenir shops and incredibly expensive restaurants as well as traditional Tapas in Mallorca and seafood restaurants.

History of Puerto Portals

Portals Nous along with its marina has a rather short history. Planning for construction only began in the early 1980s. Initially, there were great doubts as to whether the project would be successful. Critics pointed to the comparatively long distance from the island's capital, Palma de Mallorca and its rather secluded location. Despite the doubts, there were enough investors who believed in the project and raised the necessary financial resources.

In 1986 Puerto Portals marina was opened. Although its planned profitability was uncertain at that time, the marina on Mallorca's southwest coast has developed over the decades into a playground of the rich and famous, which can be compared to the much older marinas in Monte Carlo, Marbella and Cannes.

In 2016, the nautical, Mallorca Shopping and leisure complex of Puerto Portals celebrated its 30th birthday. Its founding family, the Grafs, including their daughter Corinna who is now managing director of the prestigious marina. In addition, many big names from the world of entertainment, regional politics and finance were also present. The port has almost 700 berths for yachts with a length of 8 to 60 metres.

Shopping and strolling around in Puerto Portals

Please note: bargain hunters may not enjoy Puerto Portals. The upmarket harbour district is home to a wealth of renowned designer boutiques. Well-known luxury brands present their haut couture in a luxurious ambience. This a place for the mega-rich.

Anyone who moors their 10-million-euro yacht in the marina without quibbling over the cost of the extortionate mooring fees cannot really complain about paying 4,000 euros for a Brioni suit. From time to time, the harbour promenade becomes an open-air stage for car manufacturers presenting their most unusual models to the affluent clientele.

The sheer density of celebs attracts many onlookers to Puerto Portals. Although it is a marina, some visitors would not be able to tell their starboard from their port. Like the many paparazzi, they are simply waiting to see Michael Douglas, Leonardo di Caprio, Claudia Schiffer or Antonio Banderas in a bar or on the deck of a luxury yacht. No easy task, because the international A-listers like to hide from the limelight in their free time and tend to hide their faces behind dark sunglasses.

Even the former King of Spain, Juan Carlos was a regular visitor to Puerto Portals and a master of disguise. Only the numerous bodyguards in their dark suits and with their even darker sunglasses hinted that an important person in may have been having breakfast in a restaurant on the quay.

Beaches in Portals Nous

Unlike other resorts on the Mallorcan coast, the beaches in the village of Portals Nous are not the centre of the action. Playa Punta Portals which extends right up to the marina is small but pleasant. Bury your feet in the warm sand and let your gaze wander over the turquoise-coloured water: the beach promises pure relaxation. A small beach bar provides visitors with cocktails and vegetarian dishes. Despite the proximity to the port, the water is extremely clean. The sandy beach is about 150 m long and the sea is shallow and calm. On one side stands a hotel very popular with British and Scandinavian tourists.

Just off the marina is the idyllic Playa Oratorio. The sandy beach is located in a bay framed by rocky cliffs. There is a wide array of things for families to do including: Stand-up Paddling in Mallorca, flyboarding and more traditional paddle boat hire. One section of the beach is home to a number of multi-storey Mallorcan Hotels - Mallorca holiday flair buildings, which do slightly affect the picturesque ambience. You have a fantastic view of the rugged southwest coast from a platform on the rocks. In the bay area you will also find three rather exclusive restaurants.

Excursions in the vicinity

The most popular destination within easy reach of Puerto Portals is Palma de Mallorca. After a few minutes Mobile in Mallorca you have reached the centre of the island's capital. The most famous attraction is the Gothic cathedral Le Seu, which ominously towers over the sea. In the unlikely event of rain while you are in Mallorca, Palma Aquarium in the capital of Mallorca is well worth a visit. The complex has 55 seawater pools and the tropical jungle on the roof is a tourist magnet on the Playa de Palma.

Also just a few minutes' drive from Puerto Portals is Marineland at Costa d'en Blanes. This is a maritime adventure park with dolphinarium, tropical house and marine zoo. There are Dolphins in Mallorca and sea lion shows every day, and the young ones can let off steam in the mini-park on the pirate ship. Art lovers should plan a visit to the CCA at Andratx. It is the largest exhibition of contemporary art in the Balearic Islands. The main appeal is that certain pieces of art can be purchased directly on the premises.

Restaurants in Puerto Portals

Along the quayside at the Mallorca's Ports there are a variety of restaurants and cafes. However, if you want to enjoy a 6-course meal with prawn ravioli, cat fish and partridge in potato skins, you have to dig deep into your pocket. In 2016 The Spanish Cappuccino Group opened a popular bar/restaurant called "Wellies". This cult place has three outdoor terraces where guests can enjoy a wonderful view of the marina.

Lovers of Italian cuisine will have a field day at the "Ritzi". The innovative kitchen includes homemade pasta, fresh fish and vegetarian dishes.

Flanigan's restaurant has been a mainstay at the marina since offering many culinary treats. Top dishes on the menu include the Flanigan Hamburger and Flanigan Steak Tatar. Both dishes cost about 20 euros, which are typical in the glitzy marina.

A cheap alternative to the fancier restaurants at the harbour is "Diablito". This is a branch of the Spanish restaurant chain of the same name. There you can enjoy pizzas, Tex-Mex specialties and Mediterranean salad creations for up to four people in a chilled atmosphere.

The amazing range of culinary offers in Puerto Portals is topped off by a series of Asian restaurants serving Chinese, Indian and Sushi dishes.

We hope that this article has caught your attention and that you might choose to visit this swish resort on Mallorca's southwest coast during your next holiday and stroll along the quayside like the international jet set.