The Local

MEET ANA LUI, PHOTOGRAPHER & CREATOR BASED IN MALLORCA

We’ve teamed with Conde Nast photographer Ana Lui and her partner Matias Alexandro this month to bring you local knowledge in their home island of Mallorca. Ana shares her top recommendations on where to eat, stay, shop and picks her favourite styles to pack from our Mallorcan Edit.

Since graduating from Plymouth University with a First Class Honours in Media Arts back in 2007 Ana hasn’t really stopped shooting. She has been working as a commercial photographer for over a decade, photographing interiors, portraits, travel stories and high-end events. In 2018 Ana has officially joined Condé Nast Traveller masthead team.

With CNT she gets to travel and photograph the most wonderful design hotels, restaurants and she gets to hang out with the most inspiring and talented creatives from the travel industry.

In 2019 Ana and her business partner Matias Alexandro purchased an old ruin in Mallorca restoring the finca to its original beauty and designing the interiors to match the standard of all the wonderful hotels that both Ana and Matias shoot for living. Casa Mana Mallorca is now available for rent as a summer villa via well-known agency called The Thinking Traveller. Make sure you add Casa Mana to your Mallorca top list.

    

 

Read more as Ana shares her secrets of this dreamy destination…

Describe Mallorca in three words:

Femininity, nature, rustic

 

What is your favourite part of living in Mallorca?

Because I travel for work living in Mallorca feels like holidays. I come back home surrounded by nature, sea and the sun. Mallorca, still has the dreamy island vibes but also feels like a city buzzing with life all year round. I love popping out to Palma that has all the bakeries, restaurants and shops and driving back to the countryside where I only see the sheep, olive trees and the beautiful mountains.

  

Where is your go to destination for a weekend break on the island?

I love being in Palma. I head to Sant Francesc Hotel and their roof top pool for a mini city break. I also love Can Simoneta and Fontsanta Hotel with natural hot thermal baths. Or Belmond La Residencia in Deia for a quick Deia fix.

Photo: Fontsanta Hotel

When is the best time of year to visit the island?

For me low season is the best April May and mid September October

 

MALLORCA LITTLE BLACK BOOK:

Hotels and Accommodation:

Casa Mana of course, our beautiful finca with a salt water pool and organically certified on-site farm is where we have fallen in love with.
Other favourite hotels are Can Ferrereta in Salinas, Fontsanta, Can Auli in Pollenca, Finca Serena, Can Bordoy.

 

Photo: Can Bordoy

Brunch Choice:

Definitely at the Mama Carmen also Café Riutort and Molienda super hip places to hang out and get a coffee takeaway or sit and chill.

   

Photos: Mama Carmen

 

Light Lunch:

Mama Carmen for brunch, Elefante Mallorca, Santa Catalina Market, Palma Bread for a quick cinnamon roll, NuMarket for a quick cake and coffee, Cocos Deli anytime!

 

Dinner with friends:

Ca Na toneta, BRUT, ReOrganic, El Camino, Arume for Sushi

 

Spot for Sundowners:

Patiki Beach is the best for all day until the sun goes down.

 

Boutiques and shops:

I'm a lover of Act Series, TenTwelve, Oma Project, Lilibon Atelier, Datura Studios - all local designers!

 

Photos: TenTwelve, Oma Project

Most instagramable place in Mallorca:

Palma, Cala Llombards, Cap De Formentor, Sa Foradada, Deia, Sa Calobra, Cala Des Moro. There are so many beautiful places to see on the island. I haven’t even discovered half of them just yet. I love the sea and sunsets so my choice would be driving along the west coast and stopping at a cute chiringuito for a sunset drink. 

 

Any eco-friendly gems?

Yes our finca Casa Mana and our organic farm TerraMana.
Also reOrganic, Ecocirer, Farm To Table Mallorca, NamaDeia, NuMarket, Cal Reiet

 

What do you wear on repeat on a weekend in Mallorca?

Definitely Lilibon sustainable swimwear (the designer lives in Mallorca in Binissalem), floaty natural dresses from Datura, Oma Project, J.Llambias

 

Why should Mallorca be on our travel wish list?

If you love a laid back island living Mallorca is definitely the place for you ! For me Mallorca is a “grown up” more educated version of Ibiza and I absolutely love Mallorquin architecture, the stone walls, Tramuntana mountains and beautiful coves surrounded by olive, almond and orange blossom.

 

Any sustainable tips to travel more consciously?

I always like to choose places to stay with reverse osmosis drinking water so I don’t have to buy plastic water especially in a hottest month of the summer.
Properties with solar panels are scattered all over the island and they should be on the top of the rental lists. I try to choose hotels and properties that use natural cleaning products. I also love places that offer workshops, cooking classes, yoga, breathwork classes working with local artists, artisans and creatives. Supporting local industry.

   

SHOP ANA’S PICKS TO PACK

  

Shop from our Mallorca Edit