Rosanna Wollenberg unwinds on Menorca

Where is your favourite destination and why?Menorca. I’ve been going since I was tiny, so it’s a place I have a deep connection with — it brings me a sense of calm and closeness to nature, genuinely a home from home. I also speak Spanish, which means I feel connected to the culture. My father discovered the island in the 1980s through a friend and back then it was a bit of a secret — nowhere near as busy or fashionable as its neighbours Ibiza or Mallorca. That turned out to be a blessing, because the island has stayed remarkably untouched, and since 1993 it’s been recognised as a Unesco biosphere reserve, so the nature is genuinely protected and respected. As a little girl it meant endless days swimming in that turquoise, tranquil water. Now, as a mother, it’s about beach picnics and slower mornings but it’s still fundamentally a place to switch off and be with nature, and I really hope it stays that way. “Once I’ve shaken off the sand, I’d have a gin and tonic made with Mahón gin — the island makes its own, and it’s rightly famous”When was the last time you were there, and who were you with? I’m actually there right now, with my four-month-old, escaping the heatwave in London. I’ve just had a morning dip in the sea and am sipping coffee.Rosanna & Christie Wollenberg.Where do you like to stay there? Other than my family home, I love Torre Vella — it’s wonderfully peaceful, with long grasses around the pool and rooms with that simple, calm, Menorcan style of beauty. One year I was lucky enough to spend a few days at Vestige, near Ciutadella, which was unbelievably beautiful — the rooms have a striking design with concrete and burnt-orange headboards, and a footpath leading straight out to the remote beaches. You wake up to bird song and it is just deeply relaxing. Your favourite meal there? I always love the black rice at Cantina on Illa del Rei, with a carpaccio to start. The dappled sunlight on the tables, nestled between the trees, makes it even more special.What would you do if you had only 24 hours there? Menorca isn’t about rushing. If I’m heading towards Mahón, I’d start with a coffee and croissant at Pigalle, a lovely bakery set up by a French team. Otherwise, I’d grab an ensaimada from a local bakery and take it down to the beach for a morning swim. I recently stayed a few nights at a friend’s in Binibèquer Vell and each morning we took a coffee down to the port for an early swim while the fishermen were coming in. It was glorious. For lunch, your options are endless. I would potentially head to Cala Tirant, followed by an afternoon on the beach below. Once I’ve shaken off the sand, I’d have a gin and tonic made with Mahón gin — the island makes its own, and it’s rightly famous. A good spot for that is down by the port in Mahón, or Bar Imperi if I’m up in the north near Ciutadella. Dinner would be at Experimental or Son Blanc. With young kids, late-night dancing days are behind me for now, but as teens and in our twenties we would always go to Cova d’en Xoroi.Three favourite restaurants? Cap Roig (a renowned spot). It’s perched on a cliff overlooking the northern beach of Sa Mesquida. Club Náutico (one for the family lunch) is the yacht club terrace. It’s more relaxed and brilliant for fresh fish and a laid-back lunch.Seafood at Cap Roig.La Calita (head with friends) sits in one of our favourite bays, where we entertained guests the day after our wedding. I’d also add our friend Marino’s chiringuito in Punta Prima. It’s called Restaurante Aire and is unpretentious and run by locals who know how to do simple, delicious food. What is the one unmissable thing you recommend doing? Take the boat to Hauser & Wirth on Illa del Rei, followed by a lazy late afternoon at Sa Mesquida — perhaps grabbing a gelato from the Italian ice cream truck that’s been parked there for years. Otherwise I would take the Cami de Cavalls coastal trail between a few beaches, packing a jamón sandwich and a bottle of Binifadet wine. Is there a hidden gem you are willing to share? Honestly, the secret’s out about Menorca now — we had it to ourselves for a few years and I’m keeping a few little secrets to myself.Where do you let your hair down? It’s not a party island, so what I’d do is fly to Ibiza first, then head to Menorca afterwards.The harbour at Ciutadellatuulijumala - stock.adobe.comWho do you call to have a good time there? Every October I try to bring my girlfriends out for a relaxing, nurturing stay before the winter arrives in London. It’s amazing to just sit on the beach together with coffee and ensaimadas in the sunshine at that time of year, with long beach and forest walks too.Favourite shops? I love Boba’s shoes in Mahón, run by Llorenç Pons, who handmakes all his shoes from natural materials sourced on the island. There’s also a lovely duo of shops next door to each other in Mahón, Tabouret and Can Sab. Tabouret has beautifully sourced, collectible design pieces and feels more like a showroom, while Can Sab is full of really colourful finds, from hats to cutlery and glassware.The one thing you would bring home as a souvenir? Menorcan sandals, of course! My dad lives in them.Your favourite beauty spot? Alcaufar Bay — it’s where we had a swim on the morning of my wedding, and it’s so stunning.Your packing essential? A large throw for the beach picnic and a good book — although those days of having time to read are slightly gone now my son is around.Song that reminds you of the place? Raquel Martins played at our wedding — she’s Brazilian and she sang Corcovado. It will always remind me of the island, and of that day.Dress code for the destination?Swimsuit, shirt and sandals.Have you ever had an emergency incident there? I stepped on a sea urchin once — watch out in the rocky bays!Building you would like to live in?Any of the restored farmhouses on the island. The traditional “llocs” are built from local sandstone with deep-set windows and thick walls that keep them cool in summer. They’re special because they feel completely at odds with anything showy.