Mahon advice please.

[CLOUD9]

Planning to make our first visit to Mahon next week for a couple of nights. Any tips on nice restaurants in town, or favourite nearby calas for a swim and lunch on the beach would be much appreciated... and cut down on googling time! Thanks R

 

[Whitelighter]

binebeca, (south coast just west of the island on the SE tip) is really nice, good holding (you are probably a bit big for bouys) and a swim up beach bar

 

[Sailorsam101]

Cala N Porta and Cala Galdana are both nice bays with good beaches and well protected if any N in the wind.

Not been by boat but been on the beaches many time. The latter has a few mooring buoys as well.

 

[jfm]

Cala N Porta and Cala Galdana are both nice bays with good beaches and well protected if any N in the wind.

Not been by boat but been on the beaches many time. The latter has a few mooring buoys as well.

alas Cala n porter is mostly now roped off into a no anchoring zone. I would go further w along s coast. Trebaluger, the two Macarellas and mitjana are my favourites. Galdana is ok but hotels are in yer face imho. A night at the restaurant quay in cuitadela is also excellent - on the right as you are well into the basin. trebaluger is very nudist.
With all these you need to get there early if you want to anchor a big boat in the shallow turquoise water. Beautiful anchorages tho.

 

[MedMilo]

Also on north coast is Isla Colom, fantastic spot and plenty of buoys to tie on to if you'd rather not anchor overnight. Fornells is also pretty cool imho - lovely deep inlet and perfect for watersports if you've got skiers etc onboard. South coast anchorages largely covered by others but Cala Covas is great though you'd need to drop an anchor and tie onto the rocks - amazing, protected natural enclave. Cuitadella DEFINITELY a must for a night - and eat at Cafe Balear at the end of the port, but get there before 7.45 to avoid long queues!!

 

[CLOUD9]

Thanks very much for the help. That’s a great start. Will get the charts out and come up with a plan. R

 

[MedDreamer]

Rick

Son Saura is another nice anchorage on the South Coast and as the previous poster also said Isle Colom off the East cost by Es Grau is another popular place - avoid on Sunday’s as it’s where the locals go.

There are even a couple of nice anchorages in Mahon Harbour itself by La Mola - which is well worth a visit btw

On the port in Mahon we like Il Puerto and Opera the Italian place by the casino. For tapas try the bar in the corner of the old market overlooking the port at the top of the big stairs - sorry I can’t remember it’s name but the Hairy Bikers featured it on their last series

Good selection of restaurants in Es Castell too which you could get to by tender pretty easily

We love Menorca

Cheers

Martyn

 

[Hurricane]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Ways Restaurant in Mahon itself.
One of the best Japanese/Chinese/Sashimi/Sushi restaurants of anywhere.
I would (and have) gone in to Mahon just to go to Ways.

 

[Hurricane]

binebeca, (south coast just west of the island on the SE tip) is really nice, good holding (you are probably a bit big for bouys) and a swim up beach bar

We spent a couple of nights in Binebeca sheltering from north westerlies.
OK and an anchorage but not much ashore.
The little village of Binebeca is very pretty (all painted white) but not much in the way of restaurants.

 

[Hurricane]

I was very disappointed with Fornells - a bit exposed.
We moved on to Addaia (to the east).
Needs careful navigation but very do able and very protected once you are in there.

 

[Whitelighter]

We spent a couple of nights in Binebeca sheltering from north westerlies.
OK and an anchorage but not much ashore.
The little village of Binebeca is very pretty (all painted white) but not much in the way of restaurants.

depends what you are after I guess

 

[Hurricane]

depends what you are after I guess

What were you after - I can't remember anywhere that you could get a meal.
There was/is a bar over the quay but when we got into town, there were only sandwiches and a cocktail bar.

This is Binebeca

You could easily pass by without knowing about it.
We have - lots of times.

There is a pole with cardinal markings just outside which makes it easy to remember.
See in this pic

 

[Hurricane]

Isle Colom off the East cost by Es Grau is another popular place - avoid on Sunday’s as it’s where the locals go.

There is the little Restaurant in Es Grau.
You can't get the mother ship in there - the nearest anchorage are the buoys in Isle Colom - then take the tender across the shallows to Es Grau
This is the Restaurant - IIRC it has a very Spanish menu.

As said, Isle Colom is nice

 

[AIDY]

Don't forget you bottle of local gin....

 

[CLOUD9]

Thanks again for the help and the photos. Weather not looking as good as we would like tomorrow, so will have to decide whether to go in the morning. R

 

[Hurricane]

Thanks again for the help and the photos. Weather not looking as good as we would like tomorrow, so will have to decide whether to go in the morning. R

Watch out - the Vikings are about.
Currently in Pollensa I believe.

 

[CLOUD9]

Watch out - the Vikings are about.
Currently in Pollensa I believe.

We missed the Vikings this season unfortunately.
We made it to Mahon and enjoyed our two nights there. The highlight was dinner in Cala Fonts in the former garrison town of Es Castell. Its a taxi or tender ride away from Mahon. Lovely relaxed atmosphere and great steak in Nikkis. We will be going back soon.