There are many, many average restaurants in Palma de Mallorca. There are even many good ones; but only a small proportion make the journey to greatness. In a city with a flourishing food scene which attracts a certain breed of well-travelled gourmet, a number of restaurants have made the grade. Food, ambience, décor and service combine to create that certain magic.
Over the years I’ve dined at more Mallorca restaurants than I can remember, but some I go back to time and time again. Here are my personal favourites of ‘must-do’ restaurants in the city of Palma.
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30. Isaan Thai Cuisine
Sometimes only great Thai will do, and Isaan delivers perfectly. A team of Thai cooks take great care in preparing real Asian dishes, served in simple, chic surroundings. You can opt to eat at a bar looking into the open kitchen if you wish, watching the chefs do their authentic Thai thing. An exciting new addition to the burgeoning Santa Catalina food scene.
29. El Camino
A relatively new concept in Palma, El Camino is much like a traditional tapas bar save for the bar itself, which is the longest bar you’ve ever seen. The team, led by Eddie Hart, is great, as is the ambience; the food wonderfully fresh and flavoursome. Tapas for taste and style aficionados. Recommended if you are 2 but for a large group it’s not conformable.
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28. Le Bistro
Lucky ones might stumble across Le Bistro Ocho Kitchen – the cosy yet refined culinary offering from the boutique hotel, Ocho Suites. It’s my favourite relaxed place with chic design, fabulously attentive and friendly service, the best ingredients and delicious unpretentious food. Their citrusy and spicy oyesters have the reputation of being the best in town!
27. Bondo Cocina
Bondo Cocina is a family-owned restaurant in Palma’s Old Town, focusing on honest cuisine and high-quality ingredients. Combining Argentinian cuisine with Mallorcan inspiration and local market ingredients, this heartfelt restaurant can be found amidst the winding streets of La Lonja. The menu includes Bondo Specials, Tapas, and Plates, with dishes like sobrasada, shrimp croquettes, and garlic shrimp. Their innovative tapas-style dishes are made with love and passion, embracing all elements of the market-to-table experience.
26. Nola
Nola offers you a journey that takes you through New Orleans and travels through parts of Asia and the Mediterranean. You can snack on something alongside one of their excellent cocktails or dine on flavourful and hearty dishes as you get ready for a night of fun in their lively atmosphere.
25. Marui Sushi
Marui Sushi offers an authentic Japanese dining experience with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant’s uniquely Balearic design blends Mallorca’s natural materials with Japanese-inspired aesthetics, in soft, earthy tones, making guests feel enveloped in hospitality and comfort. The menu features a variety of sushi, sashimi, and enticing speciality dishes such as temaki tacos and Wagu A5, complemented by premium sake and signature cocktails.
24. Mola
I love fusion food made for sharing and Mola certainly delivers. Its prime position opposite the Santa Catalina Market, seductively beckons passers-by to indulge in a long lazy meal. They offer a refreshing weekday ‘Lunchbreak Menu’ as well as an a la carte selection of firm favourites. Give Mola a try and it may as well become a favourite for you.
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23. Mar de Nudos
This restaurant is loved by locals who book days ahead for chef Marco di Loreto’s Mediterranean-meets-Japanese menu. The waterfront location at the Marina Moll Vell means that your meal is accompanied by the sound of waves lapping the dock and a first line view of the marina. Enjoy the fabulous sea views and a fantastic fusion of Mediterranean, Italian and Japanese cuisine.
22. Vandal
Vandal is the wild card on my list. Imagine an edgy, busy, noisy restaurant in somewhere like New York’s Tribeca and you get the idea. The cocktails here are some of the best, inventive and absolutely delicious. The ambience here is dark and quite noisy which will not suit everyone but its highly creative cuisine and outstanding wine pairings definitely earn Vandal a top spot.
21. La Malvasia
In the centre of Palma, the charming and shady Plaça del Mercat is home to La Malvasia, a bright red restaurant with a very special offer. Named after the famous grape harvested in Banyalbufar, La Malvasia is dedicated to offering its customers an unforgettable experience. Diners are pampered with the local white wine, along with a delicious homemade menu of mini burgers, tacos, salads and fresh fish. All ingredients are sourced from the Mediterranean and a special effort has been made to match the food and wine in quality.
20. Kasui
Find fresh, unique flavours erupting from a unique combination of Asian street food and the traditional Robatayaki Japanese grill cooking method at Kasui Japanese Grill. Sit at the bar and you’ve got front-row seats to the cooking and grill show for an exciting take on sophisticated Asian dining.
19. Brasa Madre
Hidden on a back street in the centre near La Lonja, you’ll find this family-owned Argentinian restaurant offering good cocktails and typical meat dishes. Known for their Dry Aged meats as well as fish and seafood from the Mediterranean. I loved the enthusiasm of the team and there seems to be many regulars when we visited.
18. Ta·Ke Sushiclub
Fantastic fusion dishes in an original atmosphere that transports you straight to Tokyo! Located in the multicultural neighbourhood of El Terreno, near Palma’s seafront, Ta·Ke Sushiclub is a hidden gem type of restaurant that all sushi and fusion food lovers in town must try.
17. Restaurant Kaizen
In the Notting Hill of Palma’s Old Town, Santa Eulalia, is this hidden gem of a restaurant. Its cosy and stylish with Japanese wall murals, notably their version of the famous “Great Wave” by Hokusai. Their Japanese food experience serves you flavours that melt on your tongue, and each dish proves their commitment to their mantra: Quality Ingredients, Passion and Love. The perfect restaurant for sushi, sashimi and more in Palma’s Old Town.
16. Mouna
Mouna is a standout gem in La Lonja, Palma, blending tranquillity with exceptional dining. This organic restaurant offers a menu of vibrant, plant-based dishes crafted from fresh, local ingredients. With its serene ambience and commitment to nourishing both body and soul, Mouna provides a refreshing escape from city life, making it a must-visit for those seeking healthful and flavourful culinary experiences.
15. Sumaq
Sumaq is a Quechuan word meaning delicious or tasty, and the name couldn’t be more appropriate for this restaurant serving lunch and dinner, year-round. Owner and chef Irene prepares creative dishes with authentic ingredients from Peru, Japan, and China. Her vibrantly colourful fusion cuisine tastes healthy, fresh, and delicious.
14. Restaurant Xalest at Hotel Concepció by Nobis
The chef at the helm is Xema Álvarez who wowed judges at the 2019 TaPalma and won, beating 50 top chefs in the city. His menu at Restaurant Xalest is reflective of his creative talent, offering a colourful array of Mediterranean cuisine. I love the stylish décor and the food is great too! Perfect for sharing tapas.
13. Maria 5 Urban
Enjoying a meal in this vibrantly upscale Mallorcan atmosphere is an experience accentuated by the food – fresh, homemade, and curated by chef Max Werner. Outside terrace dining takes pride on Plaza Cort, with the famous ‘Olivera de Cort’ – a six-hundred-year-old olive tree positioned just behind. Taste the best of sea, land and farm in one of Palma’s prettiest plazas.
12. Bistro Esencia
This one captures everything I love to offer our foodie readers and followers – it’s small, it’s quite hidden away in Santa Catalina, and it’s the creation of a young talented couple who do what they do with such a sense of passion and heart. You’ll fall in love with them and the cute surroundings on the first visit and keep coming back because you like them. This year they’ve introduced lots of new vegetarian dishes.
11. Lume & Co
It’s very close to my neighbourhood and we have grown to love it over the past year. It’s very relaxed and easy going yet the food and service are slick and attentive. We enjoyed our Easter lunch here and we were very impressed with the confident management on such a busy day. A great place for a celebration with a big group of family and friends.
10. Arume
Here, culinary influences from Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and elsewhere are combined with Mediterranean ingredients and techniques, resulting in innovative and memorable dishes. The chef specializes in the cuisines of Asia and integrates Spanish traditional ingredients – such as jamón ibérico and Mallorcan goat cheeses – resulting in fresh new flavours. The wine and sake menu is extensive and sophisticated.
9. Adrian Quetglas
This Argentinian-born chef is a big talent. He made his name on the tough Moscow restaurant scene and has not stopped since! His restaurant has shot to the top of our list for a superbly creative and well-priced lunch menu that should not go amiss in Palma. His food is reflective of his travels, bold in presentation and beautiful in flavour. If you have an important lunch date in Palma, Adrian Quetglas would be my top choice.
8. OSMA
OSMA restaurant celebrates the essence of French gastronomy through a seasonal, ingredient-driven menu inspired by traditional bistro cooking. Every dish is crafted with precision and care, showcasing fresh, local, and sustainably sourced ingredients. With a focus on quality and authenticity, OSMA offers a unique dining experience where the menu evolves to reflect the best of each season. Complementing the food is a carefully selected wine list featuring French and Mallorcan labels.
7. De Tokio a Lima
Indulge in a luxurious meal on the sandstone terrace of an elegantly restored 19th-century mansion in the heart of Palma. De Tokio a Lima’s cuisine is a fusion of Japanese, Peruvian, and Mediterranean with an à la carte menu – sectioned into starters, raw/marinated and from the stove. They serve some of the best caviar in Palma and offer a 22 year old roe (available only in season). On offer is a special menu that includes 4 glasses of Veuve Clicquote per person, which we’d recommend if you are dining in a group.
6. Fera
There are no shortage of eateries doing Mediterranean-Asian fusion cuisine, but Chef Simon Petutschnig is a master. Fera’s location is within a renovated palace just off El Borne. It has an exclusive air and lunch in particular is surprisingly good value. We’d certainly recommend dining in their beautiful garden, complete with tropical plants and palms. This restaurant is so worth a Michelin-star – we have our fingers crossed for them! Read more
5. Dins
Dins is the new restaurant at the stylish El Lorenç Hotel which sees chef Santi Taura do exactly what he does best – deliver exceptional Mallorcan cuisine. Whenever Santi cooks there is always this lovely personal tone that makes you feel like he’s cooking just for you. Here it’s no different, Dins promises fabulous food from Mallorca’s most beloved chef. Read more
4. Nus
Girl power! This young talented local chef Irene Martinez has worked with some of the best chefs on the island and is now putting her unique stamp on the culinary landscape in Palma. Delicious red shrimp omelet, lemon fish nigiri, delicate tuna tartar or traditional Chinese sea bass are just some of her delicious creations. Check out NUS, you won’t be disappointed.
3. Emilio Innobar
Located in a restored old building near Jaume III, the attractive restaurant Emilio Innobar is in a building full of character with huge windows, interesting art and attractive contemporary decor. Working with the simplest and freshest of high-quality ingredients Chef Marcus Cardoso creates superb cuisine, much of it uncooked. Dishes include sashimi, tataki, and ceviches based on tuna, salmon, prawns, a variety of white fish, and just a few meat dishes.
2. Izakaya
Izakaya is one of the best places for high quality Japanese cuisine in Palma, and indeed, Mallorca. All the chefs, including driving force Carlos Piedra Buena, have over two decades’ worth of experience. Masahide Ozawa (Itamae) leads the way with forty years perfecting the art of cutting. Examples of their impeccable flair include extra-thin bias cuts of tuna belly in the toro usuzukuri and the stunningly beautiful sashimi mix; bold, rich slow-cooked duck dumplings with mi-cuit foie gras and hoisin sauce; prawn gyozas, creatively presented with edible netting dotted with lilac petals and melt-in-the-mouth A5 Wagyu, cooked on the robata grill.
1. Mambo
Of all the restaurants I’ve tried so far this year, this is my favourite. Elegance, sophistication and refined food, it’s top-class from every perspective. A young, talented couple who are obsessed with getting the details right – the décor, the service, the food tick all the boxes. Check it out while you can still get a table. It’s my top recommendation!As you can see from this list, variety is what makes the modern Mallorca food scene in Palma so exciting. Eating terrifically well in the capital city can be done at all price points – it just takes a little insider knowledge. I hope you’ll relish the challenge of seeking out those places that deliver unforgettable dining experiences. And if you want to read more in-detail reviews of the restaurants that have made it to this list, you can find them all here.
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