The Best Restaurants in Palma Mallorca
As a multi-award-winning hospitality operator, I always recognize the elements that create a memorable evening for guests. Whether that’s fantastic fresh produce, excellent service, or an unforgettable experience. So, I feel well-placed to run you through the best restaurants in Palma, Mallorca.
Of course, Mallorca and Palma are blessed with some incredible eateries. This is unsurprising given the abundance of fantastic produce on offer for chefs. In many cases, the very ethos of these restaurants is formed by the ingredients available. Mallorca, as always, plays a big part in attracting great talent to live here in Paradise, much to our culinary delight.
Let’s get to it; here’s my selection of the best restaurants in Palma, Mallorca, for those who live on the island and the millions who visit each year. I have tried to cover a range of cuisines for every taste. I will warn you that this article will make you hungry!
Bar Espanya
Plaça de Raimundo Clar, 13, Centre, 07002 Palma, Illes Balears
It is undoubtedly the best restaurant in Palma, Mallorca, for Pinchos and one of our favorites. Pinchos bars originated as a small snack given for free with your drinks but have become so much more than that. Now, they are a fully-fledged restaurant, but unfortunately, the dishes are no longer free. Don’t expect anything fancy but an authentic Pinchos vibe over a beer or wine with friends, with an incredible array of dishes, including some excellent vegan or vegetarian options.
The Duke
Carrer Soler, 36, Ponent, 07013 Palma, Illes Balears
Found in the bustling Santa Catalina district, everything you would want in a local restaurant and one we have spent many great evenings in: a cool vibe and relaxed dining with an eclectic street food-influenced menu from Chef Ronny. The ethos is simple but not too simple: produce from people they know, meats from butchers who care, and sustainable fish and wine from the best bodegas. The menu features tapas salads, burgers, and curry, and save space for awesome desserts!
With incredible cocktails, wines, and one of my favorite Alhambra beers on tap. Lovely friendly service from the team, quite simply a great evening!
La Bovada
Carrer de la Boteria, 3, BAJO, Distrito Centro, 07012 Palma, Balearic Islands
In our view, the classic Tapas restaurant of Palma is the best for authentic, traditional Spanish Tapas—a very rustic vibe, where the food is no. 1. The menu has some absolute belters, as well as the dishes you would expect on any traditional tapas menu. The dates wrapped in bacon, prawns with scrambled egg, stuffed pepper, and white bean stew are a must! Honestly, once you go, it will be a regular visit, again in the fantastic La Lonja district.
La Paloma
Carrer dels Apuntadors, 16, Centre, 07012 Palma, Illes Balears
A stunning stone-walled restaurant in the heart of the cobbled streets of La Lonja, it has been a favorite of ours for many years. The well-balanced Mediterranean menu includes classic and modern Tapas, fresh fish, and their specialty, locally sourced meats. The Majorcan Shoulder of Lamb is a must! There’s also a good range of plant-based dishes utilizing the lovely Mediterranean flavors.
As you would expect, there’s an excellent range of wines and friendly service. This is a great option in one of our favourite districts of Palma.
La Parada del Mar
Avinguda de Joan Miró, 244, Ponent, 07015 Palma, Illes Balears
On the edge of Palma, a unique way to enjoy exceptional, fresh seafood. The restaurant has been here forever, and we can see why. When you enter the restaurant, you visit the in-house fishmonger. There isn’t a menu; you just choose the fish you like, and they give you options as to how you would like it to be cooked. You then select your drinks from the bar before being taken to your table. The team then cooks your meal and serves it straight from the sea onto your plate.
As you would expect, the fish is fresh and cooked to perfection. The menu includes everything you would expect in a great fishmonger: anchovies, squid, mussels, lobster, clams, prawns, a variety of whole fish, you name it, they have it. It is an absolute must for any seafood lover! A top tip is saving some space for their lovely desserts. The restaurant has a rustic vibe; it’s all about the fantastic seafood, with friendly and attentive service to match and it isnt expensive.
Market Kitchen
Plaça de la Navegació, 5, Ponent, 07013 Palma, Illes Balears
Found in the heart of Santa Catalina, this restaurant’s ethos is fresh food from the market, literally over the road from the front door—British Food with a Mallorcan twist. Run and owned by husband-and-wife team Rob and Amber, Rob is an award-winning chef with cookbooks and TV appearances to his name.
The restaurant has a relaxed vibe, with friendly and fantastic service from the team. The food changes every week. The fish and chips were fantastic on our visit. It’s a throwback to the UK with a twist, all fantastically cooked, making the most of the great market produce. There’s a small but well-formed drinks menu and even an array of cocktails. The Blackberry Gin Bramble is well worth a try.
Origen
Plaça Nova de la Ferreria, 6, Centre, 07002 Palma, Illes Balears
This is an incredible modern Tapas restaurant. It has a nice interior style and excellent service to match. The food is truly exceptional, with a great contemporary take on Tapas. We visited in a larger group, and every dish was fantastic. From the Mallorcan pork cannelloniand wagyu carpaccio to the Peruvian-style sashimi, all were incredible. The Ribs lacquered with barbecue sauce and various larger plates of meat were delicious. They melted in your mouth.
Without question one of the best restaurants in Palma, Mallorca and an absolute must visit.
The Merchants Palma
Carrer dels Apuntadors, 15, Centre, 07012 Palma, Illes Balears
An incredible setting for a restaurant, originally where sailors would buy and sell their wares. Now housed below the 5-star hotel Palacio Can Marques in La Lonja, the restaurant is truly year-round. In the summer dine in their tropical garden enjoying the 18th century architecture and in winter the curved stone ceilinged cellar make a stunning backdrop.
The award-winning restaurant combines top draw steak with fantastic seafood. We enjoyed the Tiger Tempura Prawns to share, the lobster was also excellent and as you would except the Ribeye was cooked to perfection.
All with attentive friendly service and a fantastic wine menu served by very knowledgeable staff. A must visit no matter the season.
Vandal
Plaça del Progrés, 15, Ponent, 07013 Palma, Balearic Islands
The vibe is more NYC than Palma, and it has an excellent mix of great food, drinks, and atmosphere! The food is street food influenced from all over the world. The menu also suggests a perfect drink accompaniment, which we loved. The cocktails are excellent, including a signature range, but I loved the Pisco Sour, which is a throwback to my travels. Everything we enjoyed was delicious, with some amazing flavors, but the crab, scallops, and lamb must be mentioned. They also offer Gluten Free & Lactose-free menus. I would say order more than you think because the portions are not very big. But save space for desserts they are delicious.
Having a reputation for being one of the best restaurants in Palma, it’s not easy to get a table, but it’s worth the wait!
TA KE Sushi Club
Pl. de Francesc Rosselló Pintor, 3, local 4 y 5, Poniente, 07014 Palma, Balearic Islands
We had to include a sushi restaurant in our list, which doesn’t disappoint. Top quality Sushi right in the heart of Palma. The look and feel immediately transports you to Tokyo, and the food is truly exceptional. With attentive service to match the top-quality food, we will certainly be returning. The rolls, shrimp gyozas & octopus balls must be mentioned, and the dessert of tempura cheesecake with ice cream was exactly as it sounds: out of this world.
Summary
The quality of food, restaurants, and service I have found since moving to the island is exceptional, so limiting this down to the ten best restaurants in Palma Mallorca was a challenge. In our view, Palma competes with many of the top cities of Europe, another string to this beautiful island’s bow.
Booking is essential in peak summer months and is good practice anytime to avoid disappointment, especially in larger groups.
I hope you enjoy visiting these fantastic restaurants as much as we did.
If you want to know more, read about the Best Places to Stay in Mallorca.
