The elevator opens and you are suddenly above the rooftops of Santa Catalina. The bay stretches before you: the glitter of the Mediterranean, the silhouette of La Seu cathedral rising over the trees, the old windmills of Es Jonquet on the horizon, the masts of sailing yachts in the harbour. A DJ plays soft lounge electronics; the barkeeper is mixing a Palotini – Palo liqueur, Kahlúa, coffee, chocolate bitters. The island in a glass, above the island.
Concept
Hotel Hostal Cuba is a century-old corner building with an ornamental facade – described by the house as inspired by the Gaudí school – at the edge of Santa Catalina and the Paseo Marítimo. The name "Cuba" honours a fisherman whose time on the Caribbean island shaped the hotel's identity to this day. This four-star boutique hotel runs a multi-level concept: restaurant and bar on the ground floor, the Sky Bar on the rooftop, and "The Club" – a standalone nightclub in the same building for the late hours. The rooftop terrace is the centrepiece: a breakfast terrace by day (open to non-guests as well), a cocktail bar by evening, where the view is not a side note but the actual promise.
Atmosphere & Design
Small, compact, and all the more coveted for it. The terrace is intimate – not a sprawling hotel pool deck, but a close-set space high above the neighbourhood. Chilled sophistication captures it best: relaxed and stylish without showing off. The crowd mirrors Santa Catalina itself – couples, groups of friends, expats, families with children, locals and tourists alike. Dress code is casual, children welcome. Elegant staff serve at the table; the elevator sets a discreet tone even before you arrive up top. The ornamental Gaudí-flavoured facade outside is already part of the experience before you reach the roof.
Drinks & Menu
The cocktail menu leans into island identity. The Maó Mule pairs Gin Xoriguer – the classic gin from Menorca – with ginger beer, passion fruit and orange bitters. The Cuba Old Fashioned blends house rums with rosemary honey and Angostura. The Palotini centres on Palo, the bittersweet Mallorcan herbal liqueur. The Smoky Whisky Sour is built on Talisker. The spirits list stretches to Japanese whisky – Hibiki Harmony and Yamazaki 12 –, Don Julio and Patrón. Mallorcan wines like Es Cap Roig and El Mussol Malvasía feature alongside Champagne up to Dom Pérignon and Louis Roederer Cristal. The price level sits at the premium end – the panorama surcharge is real and built in. The character: crowd-pleasing cocktails with a view, not a mixology showcase.
Programme
Evening DJs rotate through local residents – Xisco Sanchez, Rosa Cara, Javi Cascales and Alex Caro among others – playing relaxed lounge electronics that fit the sunset hour. Those continuing later: "The Club" in the same building runs Thursday to Sunday into the early hours with resident DJs on house, disco and hits; guest artists such as DJ Kiko Navarro have appeared.
For Whom & What Occasions
The classic use: the golden hour as a pre-dinner stop before heading deeper into Santa Catalina for tapas. For early risers, there is a publicly accessible breakfast buffet with panoramic views. For smaller corporate and incentive groups the terrace is bookable. Those planning a full night: start up on the Sky Bar, eat in the ground-floor restaurant, then move to "The Club" – the sequence regulars recommend.
Insider Tip
Arrive early in the evening, before the rush sets in – you will get a table without waiting. Later, seats fill fast; on weekends standing room is standard and the elevator queue is real. Those wanting shade should come even earlier: shaded spots go first. Reservation is not a suggestion but a necessity – especially in high summer. For a quieter visit, early weekday evenings beat the weekend crowd.
