Ever since Palma's prestigious Portixol hotel and restaurant was refurbished by Swedes Mikael and Johanna Landström at the end of the 1990s, the 400,000-strong Mallorcan capital became a smart port of call for business, family and friends. With its breezy airport located just a couple of kilometres east of the centre and the over-busy hangouts of Palmanova and Magaluf, 10km to the south, Palma continues to charm us with its eclectic architecture, endless eateries and proximity to swathes of unspoilt beaches and coves on the northwest coast.
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01
Essentials
| 01 |
Pick up the morning papers at the converted Gran Hotel in Placa Weyler. |
| 02 |
Then make a beeline for cortados and ensaimadas at Modernista shrine Forn des Teatre on the same street. |
| 03 |
Buy Pa Amb Oli, a Mallorcan biography by Tomas Graves. |
| 04 |
A day spent dotting up and down Deia’s tranquil coastline by car or by boat, in the northwest, is guaranteed to blow away the cobwebs and soothe frayed nerves. |
| 05 |
Best quality leather goods? Placa d'Espanya, especially on Thursdays. |
| 06 |
For Fillipa K-style fitted jackets, sweaters and very big and black sunnies, pop into Purificación García at Plaza del Mercat. |
| 07 |
No trip to Mallorca would be complete without returning with a big bottle of the local extra virgin olive oil - get yours at the Olivar market in Placa Olivar. |
| 08 |
Spend an afternoon unwinding in the Baths on calle Can Serra. |
| 09 |
Pearls, a Mallorcan must-have, can be bought on Avenida Jaume III. |
| 10 |
With some of the best tapas in Spain we're not sure why you'd want to go Japanese, but if you must, stop by Tahini in Puerto Portals for top-notch sashimi. |
02
Hotels
Independent and easy
Portixol Hotel y Restaurante
27 Calle Sivena
+ 34 971 271 800
portixol.com
Dependable chain
HOSPES Maricel
11 Arretera d'Andratx
+ 34 971 707 744
hospes.es
Premium
Esplendido Hotel
5 Es Traves
Puerto de Sóller
+ 34 971 631 850
esplendidohotel.com
03
Dining
Fast breakfast
Fundacion La Caixa at the former Gran Hotel
3 Plaza Weyler
+ 34 971 720 111
Leisurely breakfast
Grand Café Cappuccino
1 Paseo Maritimo
grupocappuccino.com
Mid-morning coffee
Bar Bosch
Plaza Juan Carlos I
+ 34 971 721 131
Lunch with friends
Tast
Calle Unió
Picnic spot
Alaró castle
Lunch on your own
Santa Catalina and Olivar covered markets
Sunset cocktail
Mood Beach Club
Centra Palma - Andratx 11km
Costa D'en Blanes
Calvia
+ 34 971 676 456
moodbeachclub.com
Dinner for two
Sea
26 Congrio, Cala Estancia
+ 34 971 261 337
seapalma.com
Dinner with friends
Temple Plaza Progreso
Santa Catalina
La Boveda in La Lonja square, Wasabi Ciudad Jardin, Sushi Club Calle Unió
Best barbeque
C'an Torrat
29-31 Cala Mayor
+ 34 971 670 682
Big dinner with friends
Es Fum
Mardavall Hotel
Passeig Calvià
+ 34 971 629 629
mardavall-hotel.com
Drink after dinner
Puro Hotel
1 Cala Estancia
+ 34 971 744 744
purohotel.com
Late drinks
Along the Paseo Maritimo
Late bite
Diner (open 24-hrs)
23 Calle San Magin
+ 34 971 736 222
On the tiles
Level Club
33 Avenida Gabriel Roca
+ 34 971 733 671
04
Reading
Newsstand
Gran Hotel
Placa Weyler
05
Basics
Parafarmacia at El Corte Ingles Department store
15 Avenida de Jaime III
+ 34 971 770 177
06
Shopping
Something you can't get anywhere else
Mallorcan truffles
La Favorita, 38a Cala San Miquel
Lost luggage - where to buy shirts, socks and underwear
Porto Pi Shopping Center
54 Avda. Gabriel Roca
Something for the kids
Imaginarium
Calle Unió
+ 34 971 213 480
Something for someone you love
Jewellery at Calle Colon and Calle Platería
Something for yourself
Adolfo Domínguez on Calle Unió.
07
Two hour tour
| 01 |
La Seu Cathedral with Barceló altar piece |
02 |
The Modern Museum Es Baluard
10 Plaça Porta Santa Catalina
Palma de Mallorca
+34 971 908 200
esbaluard.org |
03 |
La Fundación Miró
29 Cala Joan de Saridakis
+34 971 701 420
miro.palmademallorca.es |
08
Limousine/car
Mallorca Bus
+34 971 434 980
09
Transport
Buy a pass
Buy a Palma Sightseeing 24-hour bus ticket.
Rent a bike
Palma on Bike
8 Plaza Coll
+34 971 718 062
10
Fitness
Good gym
Mega
megasportcentre.com
Good running route
Follow the bike path from Portixol to C'an Pastilla (3km one-way).
Alternative diversion
Sandy beach Es Trenc or pebbly strip below the Hotel Bendinat in Old Bendinat.