There’s nowhere quite like Mallorca and I can’t help being drawn back to the island year after year. It might be something to do with Palma’s incredible food scene where there’s always a cool new restaurant by a renowned chef or a cosy coffee shop with the best pastries in town. That’s before we even talk about the new wave of Neapolitan pizzerias, Scandinavian bakeries and healthy vegan spots.
Here are some of my top recent discoveries to add to your Palma dining list…
Xalest at Concepció by Nobis
Concepció by Nobis opened just last year in a 16th century former soap factory in the heart of Palma’s Old Town. It’s the first boutique design hotel outside of Scandinavia for the renowned hospitality group, juxtaposing a minimalist Nordic aesthetic with Mallorcan architecture. Having already stayed at Nobis hotels Miss Clara and Hotel J in Stockholm, I couldn’t wait to visit for dinner and also have a good look around.
Ground floor restaurant Xalest, headed up by award-winning chef Xema Álvarez, offers creative tapas, pintxos and sharable signature dishes. It’s cosier than you might expect from a hotel restaurant with a sophisticated yet relaxed ambiance – perfect for a chilled out lunch or dinner.
We ordered the most indulgent oxtail sandwich, traditional tortilla, spicy patatas bravas with fresh herbs and luxurious croquettes with Iberian ham and red prawn. We were also wowed by the rich, slow-cooked veal cheeks with truffled mashed potato and crispy leek – so decadent and satisfying.
The menu is surprisingly varied and many of the dishes also come in half-size portions, so you can try a bit of everything. Also, don’t hesitate to explore the open-plan lounge and adjoining wine bar, as well as the stunning outdoor pool, where you can dine in the evenings.
Naan Street Food
There’s always a new restaurant opening in Santa Catalina, but Naan Street Food remains one of my all-time favourites. It’s a cosy spot with a cute surf shack vibe, offering tasty street food bites from around the world. They like to put their own spin on typical dishes, but everything is always done well with a home-made feel.
It’s essential to start with the fluffy, shareable naan topped with crushed almonds and fresh coriander, cooling yoghurt sauce and moreish corn hummus. We also loved the sticky, umami-rich crispy chicken yakitori with kimchee and truffle mayo.
I can never resist ordering the indulgent lobster roll with sauteed half lobster on brioche, avocado, kimchee, tahini and crunchy sweet potato fries.
The crispy seabass sandwich with pickles and fries was another hit, although I’d be tempted to try the fish tacos or the signature butter chicken next time.
Santa Chiara Pizzeria
Palma’s pizza game keeps getting stronger with the recently-opened Santa Chiara Pizzeria. Located in the northern Bon Aires quarter, just around the corner from the brilliant Pizzeria 500 Grados, this contemporary Neapolitan pizzeria is the real deal and already a local favourite. It also stands out from the rest with slick white metro tiles, rustic wooden tables and splashes of neon, plus a stylish outdoor terrace.
Santa Chiara offers a mix of classic and more creative pizzas, as well as a few pasta dishes, all made with authentic Italian ingredients.
We visited for lunch and ordered a simple Santa Marinara pizza with San Marzano tomato, garlic, oregano and olive oil and the signature Santa Chiara with San Marzano tomato, burrata stracciatella, walnut and basil pesto. They were both absolutely heavenly with bubbly, blistered dough, juicy tomato sauce and creamy stracciatella.
Prices are very reasonable, starting at just 7.50 Euros, and it’s also open every day for lunch and dinner, so it’s a good one to add to your list.
Fika Farina
Fika Farina is officially the first Swedish sourdough bakery in Palma, founded by Mattias Mårtensson and Jimmy Groth. This little gem on Calle Sindicato fires up traditional Scandi treats all day long and is open for your pastry fixes from morning to night, every single day.
Fika Farina takes authenticity to the next level, sourcing its butter and flour from small Swedish producers, including Lilla Harrie Valskvarn (Sweden’s oldest flour mill).
The counter is filled with glorious kanelbullar, cream-filled semla, mazarin, montaña de coco, dark rye bread and gourmet sandwiches. We visited for breakfast and loved the sticky, aromatic cinnamon and cardamom buns – it’s hard to pick a favourite!
Rosevelvet Bakery
Rosevelvet Bakery is a cosy all-day bakery and cafe, tucked away on Carrer de la Missió. Owner Rosa was inspired by the brunch scene on a trip to New York and became one of the first to bring pastrami sandwiches, American cookies and frosted layer cakes to the island.
It’s the perfect spot to refuel over a hearty breakfast burrito, kimchee grilled cheese, Turkish eggs or avo toast. There’s also a counter filled with tempting cheesecake, red velvet layer cake, banoffee and banana bread – impossible to resist!
We visited for breakfast and enjoyed a flaky, iced cinnamon bun and a buttery Swedish morning roll covered in fine spiced sugar with an excellent flat white coffee and loose-leaf English breakfast tea. I can’t wait to return and check out their new Santa Catalina bakery and cafe.
Arabay Coffee
Arabay Coffee may look like your typical third-wave coffee shop, but it has been roasting coffee since 1952 and now has stores across Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Madrid. At its impressive, three-floor flagship store in Palma’s Placa Major, you can relax over an expertly-made coffee, shop for professional barista equipment and take a masterclass in espresso or latte art at its training academy.
Arabay only uses 100% Arabica beans and its coffee is organic, environmentally-friendly and Fairtrade. You can find all sorts of speciality coffee from chemex to cold brew, as well as tempted iced summer drinks.
Go for a potent, rich-roasted iced latte, or if you’re in the mood for some barista theatre, try the iced chai latte which is finished with blow-torched cinnamon.
Have you been to any of these restaurants and cafes in Palma? Where are your favourite places to eat out on the island?
Photos by Chérie City
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