LATE SUMMER TRAVELS : MENORCA, PUGLIA, BARCELONA & MARRAKECH
it just so happened that all of my travels this summer harmoniously fell into place during the month of September, i think in total i spent 4 nights in my own bed that month, but i’m not complaining.
i started my adventures teaching workshops in both menorca and puglia then continued my travels to barcelona, ending in marrakech for an amazing textile design trip.
below is a whistle-stop guide of each location, honestly i could definitely do a guide for each… and maybe i will, but for now here is a curation of some of my favourite places.
M E N O R C A
SON BLANC
i was very grateful to be invited to spend a 5 day mini artist residency at the incredible son blanc farmhouse. every single inch of this place is truly so beautiful. from the second you arrive you are welcomed by the most warm and friendly staff, stunning views of the mountains and sea, and wonderfully designed interiors. i spent a few days hosting mark making workshops as part of son blanc’s weekly schedule of thoughtful activities for guest to partake in, such as forest bathing & yoga on their incredible outdoor deck, both of which i was grateful to experiecne. every wednesday they host a communal dinner, which i had the pleasure of co-designing the tablescape for. with an amazing spread of sharing plates it’s a beautiful way to get to know the other guests. their menu is seasonal, farm to table, and so much produce is grown on their land. i couldn’t recommend son blanc enough and i’m desperate to get back.
SES BRUIXES
i may have cracked the code for travelling - a pre flight spa. i spontaneously decided to book myself a spa session ahead of my return flight and came across ses bruixes. it was totally ideal, and maybe one of the best independent hotel spas i’ve been to. the spa entrance is situated down the road from the hotel reception and after my session i decided to go and eyeball the hotel itself. it has a very beautiful courtyard garden where you can do breakfast or lunch, as well as a stunning mural on the ceiling at the top of the spiral staircase in the lobby. both the spa and the hotel are definitely worth a visit.
MENORCA EXPERIMENTAL
this was my first visit to experimental, it’s always on peoples recommendation lists - and fair enough, i did love it. i stopped in for a poolside lunch here on my last day in menorca and it was so delicious. i ate the marinated monkfish brochette and for dessert the mini ice cream sandwiches - both divine. they also have a lovely shop in the hotel lobby with a selection of beautiful homewares & accessories, mostly made by local designers.
OYSTERS MENORCA
a really sweet spot in mahon, as the name would suggest - serving oysters and other fresh seafood. created by one of my favourite design duos quintana partners. a relaxed and intimate dining situation, they also do takeaway boxes intended for boat trips too which i loved as an idea.
GELATERIA DELIRI
i’m a gelato girl through and through, so naturally i’ll try as many places as i can - and this one was my favourite! a very sweet shop tucked in the corner near the market halls. a simple and humble selection of the classic flavours, naturally i did chocolate and pistachio - both of which tasted super indulgent and rich and not artificial at all.
CANTINA
when i first visited menorca we had lunch at cantina after a walk around hauser and wirth, it was such a beautiful setting - sat amongst the olive trees with a gentle breeze and gorgeous views of the island, watching boats go by. i had to come back this time around and i was praying the menu hadn’t changed because it was so tasty the first time. i ordered exactly the same thing - half a grilled chicken and for dessert the Dulce de leche crème caramel which is honestly outrageous.
HAUSER & WIRTH
i really recommend an outing to visit the hauser and wirth gallery, situated on illa del rei, a small island off menorca. you catch a little ferry across from mahon, and the gallery itself is opposite an old naval hospital which is equally as beautiful and fascinating to explore. i was thrilled to catch the eduardo chillida exhibition on this visit. regardless of which artist is exhibiting it’s always worth a visit and a lunch or dinner stop at cantina tied in.
ETESIAN GALLERY
i stumbled across etesian purely by accident and i’m really glad i did. founded by bettina, who sometimes has a selection of her own painted ceramics available (we took how a few pieces) the curation is a mixture of solo and group shows from exciting emerging artists. the gallery space itself is beautiful and in the lovely old town of cuitadella.
CALES COVES
this was my my only beach visit this time around, but it really hit the spot. as the name would imply - the beach is in a cove, so you are hgged by the rocks and protected form the wind. i loved this spot because it didnt feel to crowded. there is a small sandy patch as you walk down to the beach, but thenyou can climb along the rocks to find yourself your own little personal sun trap and it feel slike you are there alone.
P U G L I A
CASINO DOXI STRACCA
i had the pleasure to be invited back to host a second workshop on the amazing beautiful nomad retreat, this time in puglia and hosted at the totally stunning casino doxi stracca - an aristocratic home dating back to the 18th century. the architecture and interiors are beautiful, the perfect balance of undone, paired back and sometimes decorative. of course i had a nosey around the rooms, one with it’s own outdoor dipping pool, another with a stunning handpainted mural adorning the walls. it was a total treat to spend a day here teaching, and a couple of evening enjoying communal dinners.
LA FIERMONTINA / PALAZZO BOZZI CORSO
originally we had planned to go to palazzo bozzi corso for an afternoon aperitif, however sadly it’s guests only - but we did have a good peek in the courtyard and it is gorgeous. failing the original plan we walked five minutes round the corner to la fiermontina’s second location in lecce where we enjoyed a game of cards and a disaronno on ice in the lounge. the hotel is from the 16th century and has a beautiful curation of deisgn and art with sculptures amongst the olive trees and surrounding grounds.
CHOCOLAB
this sweet little Cioccolateria & pasticceria is in cicsternino’s old town, we stopped here for a maritozzi after having a good rummage at the sunday morning flea market. pretty self explanatory really - beautiful hand made chocolates and delicious pastries, say no more.
PIZZA & CO
you’ll see a lot of pucce’s in puglia - and this place was probably my favourite. incredibly pillowy sourdough stuffed to the absolute brim with basically a whole buratta, heaps of mortadella and crushed pistachio. i’d recommend having one of these for a cheap and very cheerful dinner then spending your pennies on a nice bottle of wine from l’altro vino - a natural wine shop not far.
ROOTS TRATORIA
our wedding (which we had in puglia 2 years ago) was catered by this restaurant - despite never having eaten there before we took a punt and it absolutely did not disappoint. the understated sister trattoria to bro’s, a michelin restaurant in lecce. this time we visited roots for a really tasting menu which was so bountiful, a proper feast of traditional puglian food and local ingredients.
ADUA
this was a lovely pasticceria we stumbled upon one morning in martina franca. glass counters absoloutley abundant filled with delightful looking italian sweet treats. we ordered a few pieces to take away and i was obsessed with how they wrapped them, on little golden trays, with branded paper and red ribbon.
TRATTORIA LA LUNA NEL POZZO
a great lunch spot if you are visiting grottaglie to go ceramic shopping. they have a simple menu of home cooked traditional dishes, served on the classic splatterware ceramics. the orecchiette with ragu was perfection and tasted like it was made by a nonna. they also have a great selection of natural wines too.
CICSTERNINO FLEA MARKET
after many failed attempts of trying to visit flea markets in puglia and turning up on the wrong days, we finally got it right and visited one in cicsternino, which is on the third sunday of each month - take a look at italy segreta’s list of flea markets to see other dates/towns if you’re thinking of visiting. cicsternino had a great mix of vintage furniture, ceramics & textiles.
FASANO CERAMICHE
this is my favourite spot for ceramic shopping in grottaglie, nicola fasano is known for their face plates and splatterware ceramics. the shop is a real treasure trove and at the back is all the good stuff. stacks of plates which are all slightly different so you can dig through and choose yourself a set. if you’re short on luggage space i believe they can also organise shipping.
B A R C E L O N A
CASA BATILO
this is a gaudi must visit, it’s my personal favourite of his landmarks in barcelona. an entire building designed top to bottom, inside and out by gaudi for the batilo family. every single detail has been considered by gaudi and hand made by artisans, from the tiles to the door knobs, stain glassed windows inspired by the Mediterranean and sea turtle shells. i was completely in awe and incredibly moved, i recommend doing a sunrise visit to get early access so it’s less crowded.
BATEA
a modern seafood restaurant with delicious sharing plates, the bread with seaweed butter and cod croquettes - (when in rome… well spain) were favourites. simple and intimate interior, great little dat night spot.
THE EGG LAB
where to go for an absolutely bomb brunch - eggs benedict all kinda ways, even a korean style chicken option which i didn’t actually go for but was certainly tempted by. they have a few spots in barcelona, but i loved this one with it’s sage green interiors which gave me a bit of a kubrick 2001 vibe.
BOHL
a nice little brunch / lunch spot if you’re wanted a super nutritious, healthy, wholesome meal. the warm cacao porridge is the most comforting hug in a bowl and the classic pink smoothie i also loved. the cafe is on a nice street with some nice indpendent galleries and passatge sert - a passage with other nice cafes and a great yoga studio.
ORIGO
the second location for this bakery, interiors designed by Isern Serra, a beautiful minimal space with plentiful plasters surfaces, allowing their showcase of stunning bakes to really be the focal point. the canela twists are absolutley delish.
BILMONTE
one of my favourite gelato spots in barcelona, a very simple selection of the classic flavours. the strawberry is really delicious and tastes of fresh fruit. they also have pistachio and chocolate on tap if you decide to have a cone you can get a generous helping of pistachio poured inside your cone for a super indulgent treat - i recommend that too!
SESSUN
amazing interiors designed by one of my favourite designers cobalto studio, using a selection of raw natural, sculptural materials and bright bursts of sunny yellow tiles. alongside the curation of fashion & accessories they also have some really nice homewares pieces too.
YERSE
a knitwear brand founded in 1964, no producing responsible womenswear, a great place for well made classic wardrobe staples. their flagship store is another place designed by Isern Serra, the interiors here are super chic and refined, i loved the large scale photgraphs by Ariadna Puigdomenech.
AESOP
i have to give credit to aesop and how they always collaborate with local inspiring designers and architects to give each store it’s own identity and feel. this shop is designed by mesura studio with an emphasis on sustainability. they used predominantly repurposed stone from demolished buildings sourced from a local quarry. i loved the imperfections and the simplicity of of these different stone remnants stacked together.
M A R R A K E C H
BERBER LODGE
this place has been on my hit list for years now, so i was delighted to break up a day of design work with a gorgeous lunch here. we were really taken care of by romain, the eccentric and wonderful french owner who insisted we take a tour of the property and the rooms - perfect chic, simple design just the right amount of undone. we had a really beautiful lunch in the garden and i loved being greeted by the few resident dogs.
MAISON BRUMMELL
i had such a warm and welcome stay at maison brummell, the staff were so helpful and kind. after being delayed at the airport for 2 hours on my arrival and missing the opportunity to have dinner, the hotel manager delivered me warm khobz (the most pillowy delicious moroccan bread) with sheeps cheese and honey and it melted my heart. the architecture of the hotel is inspired by jardin majorelle which is literally right next door. their breakfast is perfection, fresh orange juice, eggs as you wish and a great selection of fruits, breads, spreads etc. they also have a little hammam which you can book to have for yourself, great for a pre flight chill.
BACHA COFFEE
honestly, this place is kind of a tourist trap and i gets super busy - expect to wait! but… it is worth it. founded in 1910 and situated inside Dar el Bacha palace, explore the palace whilst you wait to be seated in the cafe. if you are a coffee lover this is the spot - they have 200 types of coffee to choose (and even multiple decaf options if you’re caffeine free like me). i went early for breakfast and had a beautiful selection of warm breads with jams, followed by delicious filled croissants. there is also a gift shop to take bacha beans home with you, the branded china sets are cute too.
PLUS 61
australian owned, and they really never miss when it comes to great food. a simple menu of really great flavours executed in a way thats not too pretentious. I had a grilled octopus special and a delicious miso cauliflower. the waiters were also super attentive and friendly.
SAHBI SAHBI
an amazing women owned restaurant, empowering female chefs and showcasing typical moroccan cuisine, honouring the tradition of passing down recipes through generations. as well as the food i loved the warm and tactile interiors, floor to ceiling handmade tiles.
BENI
absolutely worth a trip, a 20 min drive from marrakech you’ll find heaven on earth aka the beni workshop and showroom. here you will see the process of traditional moroccan rug making from start to finish - weaving, washing, drying, trimming and all the final touches. beni work with artisans to bridge modern design with traditional crafts, and their showroom is a snapshot into their creative world. filled with a selection of rugs form their various collections alongside key design pieces and vintage homewares.
THE MOROCCAN BOTANIST
i stumbled upon this shop which looked like a little apothecary, and i’m super glad i did. the moroccan botanist is a luxury tea brand, growing their ingredients on their farm just outside of marrakech. i got two basg of ‘the sultans orchard’ - a traditional moroccan tea blend and i have been drinking it daily.
THE MOROCCANS
a marrakech based natural skincare and wellness brand using 100% natural ingredients, a lot of which derive from morocco. their shop is a great pitstop for gifting, i loved their rose water missed - especially to take on the plane for a mid flight refresh