The Spanish expression ‘Buen provecho’ translates to ‘enjoy your meal’ in English, and you’ll have no reason not to in foodie hotspot Palma de Mallorca. You’ll find all sorts of quintessential Spanish delicacies here, but the food in Majorca has its own identity and a few dishes you’d do well to try in the one place you’ll find them at their best…
What you have to try when holidaying in Majorca: Sobrasada (for sausage-lovers), Tombet (vegan dish), Coca de Trampó (pizza-like snack), ensaïmada (pastry)
Sobrasada is a Balearic speciality – a soft, pâté-esque sausage, often spread on crispy bread. It’s a staple of Mallorcan tapas ensembles.
Vegan? Look no further than Tombet, a veggie-friendly dish that is commonly found all over the island. Sliced layers of potato, aubergine and bell peppers make up this versatile casserole, served often as an accompaniment to meat or fish dishes but just as delicious when it’s the main event. Due to its similarities with ratatouille, courgette has wormed its way into many a recipe, and you may find Tombet with a fried egg or two perched atop.
While we’re still on savoury specialities, let’s talk about Coca de Trampó. This common snack is essentially pizza without the cheese, so your desire to try it may vary depending on how important you think cheese is to a good pizza. These strips of crispy, vegetable-topped pastry make for the perfect on-the-go meal.
On a sweeter note is ensaïmada. Start your day right and pair this spiral-shaped pastry with your morning café con leche. Most versions of this icing-sugar-dusted treat come as just a shell of impossibly light pastry, but filled variations are out there – keep an eye out for cream, chocolate and even pumpkin-filled ensaïmada.
Has your appetite been suitably whetted by all that? Watch our video guide to find out where you can try some of these Mallorcan classics first-hand:
Exploring this city will work up an appetite, so read on for a few more of the best restaurants in Palma de Mallorca.
La Paloma For a spot of fine dining in Palma, head for La Paloma in the city’s lively La Lonja district. A multinational team of young chefs work here, serving up Mediterranean classics in the form of fresh meatballs, garlic prawns, cheese-coated asparagus, and mushroom and spinach-stuffed salmon. But the food is just part of the story – dining in the 15th-century building that the restaurant occupies is an experience, with three distinct dining spaces allowing for different perspectives on this striking setting.
Address: Calle Apuntadores, 16, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Website: lapaloma.es
If you’re after more in the way of fancy food, head to Clandestí Taller Gastronòmic (Carrer de Guillem Massot, 45) in Palma’s Bon Aires area for boundary-pushing tasting menus, or tuck into inventive Balearic dishes at the impossibly stylish Sadrassana (15 Plaça de la Drassana, Palma de Mallorca, Spain) in the Old Town.
You’ll find this buzzy, characterful restaurant on the northern edge of Palma’s Old Town and a diverse, mouthwatering menu awaits anyone who makes the trip. Popular with the locals (so you know its good), this quirky eatery specialises in everything from tapas-esque pintxos bar food to expertly cooked steaks, with some more left field options (mini burgers and tiny fries, anyone?) thrown in for good measure.
Address: Carrer de Sant Miquel, 77, 07002 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
Website: restaurantebuscandoelnorte.com
Tapas is a ubiquitous part of Spanish culinary culture and can be found all over the country, and Mallorca is no exception. ‘Saint Joan’s Oven’ is indicative of the forward-thinking nature of Palma’s food scene and is committed to a particularly progressive type of tapas. Visit this family-run establishment for four individually themed floors of cocktails, a generous wine list and creative dishes that often have a hint of Asian fusion about them.
Address: Carrer de Sant Joan, 4, 07012 Palma de Majorca, Spain
Website: forndesantjoan.com
Want your tapas a little more on the traditional side of things? No-frills Bar Dia (Carrer dels Apuntadors, 18, 07012 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain) is responsible for some of the best tapas in Palma, trading innovation for time-honoured recipes and more-than-generous portions. Mercat 1930 (Avinguda de Gabriel Roca, 33, 07014 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain) is a food market where you’ll be able to find tapas bars tucked away among sushi stalls and burger joints.
The Spanish love their vermouth, and if you want to revel in the newfound popularity of this old-school drink, then head to La Rosa Vermuteria in the centre of town. Traditional Mallorcan takes on tapas classics are on the menu here, alongside a dizzying selection of vermouth brands. It might also be the most Instagram-worthy spot in the city. Arrive early or book ahead (for large groups) if you want to avoid a lengthy wait.
Address: Carrer de la Rosa, 5, 07003 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
Public transport: www.larosavermuteria.com
Last, but by no means least, is Marc Fosh. The eponymous restaurant of British (yes, British) chef Marc Fosh – the first Brit to earn a Michelin star in Spain – opened this restaurant in 2009 and has consistently earned rave reviews ever since. Décor is minimalist here, because Fosh leaves the food to do the talking. Tasting menus are brimming with bold Mediterranean flavours – the Mallorquin suckling pig is a highlight – and carefully constructed using local produce. Even if you’re not a vegetarian, you can’t go wrong with the imaginative veggie-friendly ‘Menu Natural’. Whatever you order, leave room for one of Fosh’s famed desserts – the preserved lemon ice cream with cherry-rosewater sorbet is to die for.
Address: Carrer de la Missió, 7, 07003 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
Website: www.marcfosh.com
If you’re flying to Mallorca during the day, your first experience of dining with incredible views might well be on the plane while you dig into a packet of peanuts. Personally, I can’t help feeling a thrill when those majestic cliffs of Cap de Formentor come into view.
Of course, it doesn’t need to stop there and, fortunately, you don’t need to be thousands of metres up in the sky to enjoy stunning vistas. Mallorca is full of them. Here are some recommendations where feasting on the view is a must.
Recommended restaurants with sea views in Mallorca
1. Sa Foradada Restaurant
2. Ca’s Patro March Restaurant
3. Cassai Beach House
4. Mhares Sea Club
5. Illeta Restaurant
6. Purobeach Illetas
7. Rocamar Restaurant
8. UM Beach House
9. Es Grau Restaurant
Jump to
If you are after a delicious paella served with memorable sea views, then Sa Foradada is an absolute must. On a cliffside overlooking the glistening sea of the west coast of the island, its location makes it a prime spot for sunset watching. You can’t drive here, so will either have to walk down the mountain via the Son Marroig estate, or visit by boat and head up the steps from the water. It’s a no-frills kind of place famed for its tasty paellas cooked over an old-fashioned wood-fired grill.
This restaurant has been firmly placed on the map thanks to the BBC drama ‘The Night Manager’ and that famous kidnapping scene. Ca’s Patro March is in a paradise setting, sitting up amongst the rocks of Cala Deià, overlooking some of Mallorca’s most crystalline turquoise waters. Here is seafood heaven for fish lovers but, if you prefer your food from land-based sources, there are some good meat and vegetarian dishes too. Be warned, there is often a queue for tables even if you have booked but you can easily pass the time soaking up the spectacular surroundings down in the cove while you wait. You can enjoy both lunch and dinner here in the summer months, however, being on the west coast, it’s particularly special during the last golden hour of the day.
If you find yourself in the south-east of Mallorca, then a trip to Colonia de Sant Jordi should be on your agenda. Cassai Beach House is a converted old fisherman’s house transformed into a modern and avant-garde venue which makes the most of its seaside setting. Traditional dishes with a modern twist make a regular appearance on the menu including soups, sausages, rice, meat, and fish. You can dine whilst enjoying the wonderful view over the water all the way over to the island of Cabrera on a clear day.
This beach club at the foot of a cliff near Llucmajor feels deliciously exclusive. Located just within a 15-minute drive south of the capital, its spacious terrace is on the front line of the sea and enjoys stunning views of the Bay of Palma, with the rugged rock face to the side of the restaurant enhancing the feeling of escape and seclusion. The beach club offers a vision of idyllic summer living with terracotta tiles, white Balinese beds and lounge areas. At its Tamarell Restaurant you can tuck into Mediterranean dishes with a twist, like ‘Mallorcan style fish ravioli with prawn and saffron sauce’ or ‘Mixed seafood and meat paella’. In the evening, their Bauxa terrace bar serves incredible cocktails while the sun sets offering a breathtaking spectacle.
If the front line of the seaside isn’t close enough, then how about enjoying the sea views from within the sea? You might recognise Illeta Restaurant, which sits on a small rock just off Camp de Mar Beach from the recent Netflix series ‘White Lines’. An idyllic location where you can immerse yourself in the view and enjoy the refreshing sea breeze. Open for both lunch and supper, the restaurant specialises in seafood. Be sure to book ahead as the attractive location and its easy access means it’s a very popular stop.
Purobeach Illetas is the place to be seen this summer. Located between Palma and Puerto Portals, the prestigious beach club is within easy access of many resorts along the south-west coast of Mallorca. The all-white restaurant offers a glamorous setting alongside some of the best panoramic views of the stunning waters of Illetas. The menu has many international flavours but the ‘Asian beef salad’ will be sure to tickle your taste buds and should be washed down with some scrumptious cocktails. Why not book yourself a sun lounger for the afternoon alongside either lunch or dinner?
You don’t have to drive up mountains or wind down cliffs to find a great view. The restaurants along the harbour of Port d’Andratx are in a prime position to enjoy the relaxing Mediterranean sea views. With elegant yachts and gorgeous villas on the surrounding mountains, this upmarket port holds lots of appeal. Restaurant Rocamar is situated at the end of the row of eateries and specialises in fish and seafood. Perfect for watching the sunset, book ahead to ensure you’ve got a front-row seat.
UM Beach House is another fabulous option to enjoy uplifting sea views in an attractive Mediterranean-style setting. It’s located just outside Puerto Portals and it boasts front-line views of the surrounding bay. Wood, wicker and white furnishings give the terrace its Mediterranean flavour and, during the day, it’s a perfect place to chill out poolside, You’ll be just as warmly welcomed in the evening when the dining area twinkles with candlelight.
Restaurant Es Grau is located just three kilometres outside the picturesque Tramuntana town of Estellencs, on the Carretera de Andratx. The drive here is full of incredible views of arid landscape meeting the bluest ocean. The restaurant’s position on top of a cliff jutting into the sea means the views are breathtaking. Leaning over the balcony you can marvel at the rocky coves accessed only by boat while the shallower turquoise water is so clear you can see the rocks beneath. Go during the day for the full effect. This is the type of place to stop by for a drink or for a casual lunch and is extremely popular among cyclists. The restaurant opens from 10:00 to 18:00 and specialises in Mallorquin cuisine.
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