Things To Do in Son Bou

Part of a hotel complex, this little play park knows how to keep the kids happy. For a start, there are a couple of water slides to tackle. But, if you want to just relax, there are grassy areas with pay-for sunloungers, plus a poolside restaurant.

The hotels have most of the nightlife covered. They do a good line-up of tribute acts and variety shows, with magic shows and fruit cocktails especially for the kids. The party’s usually over by midnight, but if you want more of a late one a few disco bars keep the tunes pumping out ’til 4am.

Son Bou’s nature reserve, just behind the dunes, is a lovely place for a shady walk, and the wetlands and reed beds are filled with interesting birdlife. Tread quietly and there’s a good chance you’ll see a Booted Eagle, Blue Rock Thrush and Egyptian Vulture. You’ll need a good spray of mosquito repellent before you go in there, though.

Son Bou has just enough bars to liven things up in the evenings, and between them they’ll entertain you with karaoke, quiz nights and live shows. Most places tend to wind down around midnight, but for night owls there are a couple of disco bars that stay open ’til around 4am.

While you’re browsing Son Bou’s shopping centres, you might want to buy a pair of albarcas – these rustic sandals, made from recycled tyres and leather, have been in vogue in Menorca for decades. Ceramics and handmade jewellery also put the local stamp on your retail therapy. For more in the way of boutiques, visit Mahon and Ciutadella – both are around 30 minutes’ drive away.

Son Bou majors in watersports. The sea can get a bit choppy, which is great for the banana boats and jet-skis – and it helps the pedalos along, too. If you fancy exploring under the water, there’s a diving centre in town that will sort you out with local dives. They’ll pair you up with a buddy if you don’t want to dive on your own.

Don’t let the uninspiring exterior put you off Boni because inside the friendly staff serve up some of the best food around here. Fish arrives on your plate fresh from the morning’s catch and the pizzas are specially baked in a steam oven. But if you want a real taste of Son Bou, pull up a seat on the terrace and tuck into paella and sangria while you watch the sun going down over the beach.

The Menorcans love their fideua, a paella that dispenses with rice in favour of noodles. It’s just one of the traditional dishes you’re likely to come across on restaurant menus, along with tapas, lobster stew and chipirones, or battered octopus. Conveniently, most of the eating places are right in the centre of Son Bou.

Rollerblading bar staff bring express-delivery Hawaiian tiki cocktails to your swivel bamboo chair at this fun and lively place. Children are taken care of with early-evening puppet shows and entertainers, so that just leaves you to decide between the fresh fruit daiquiri and pina colada.

There’s a mixed bag in Son Bou’s shopping centre. For souvenirs, you’ve got little craft stores doing a good trade in ceramics and handmade jewellery, while shoe lovers can pick up a pair of albarques, the rustic Menorcan sandals. And a couple of designer boutiques keep label lovers happy. If you just need a few picnicky nibbles, though, the resort’s supermarkets should see you right.

For all its laid-back appeal, when it comes to watersports Son Bou has a lot going on. Out on the sea, pedalos and banana boats are joined by jet-skis, water-skis and kayaks. And there’s a diving centre, close to Club Sant Jaime in the commercial centre, which will take you out to the best of the island’s coves, caverns and wrecks.

Menorcan tradition meets street party at this lively festival in Alaoir. It’s usually held over five days, but most of the action happens on Saturday and Sunday, when the streets come to life with carnival processions, drum bands and giant-size figures, while the cheering crowd throw confetti and colourful streamers. Horse riders also perform their famous equestrian moves – jaleos – before being presented with the traditional green canes and silver spoons.

The show-stopper here is the chateaubriand steak, which the waiter flambés at your table. If you prefer your food without the flames, the lamb shank and battered octopus also rightly take some of the applause. Owner Andres is great with kids – and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of wines. Casa Andres is a popular place, so you’ll need to book ahead, even for lunch.