Join Hey Lolly for a long weekend of standout food in Palma city. From hidden gems to flavour-rich plates, this is taste-led travel at its best – with tips, stories, and a few dishes you’ll want to recreate the minute you get home! Read more about Where to Eat in Palma…
Where to Eat in Palma: A Food-Lover’s Guide to the City’s Best Bites
I’ve always believed food makes the best souvenir. Forget fridge magnets – I want memories that linger on the tongue, that leave their mark long after the sunburn fades. So when I touched down in Palma city for a four-day escape, I was already plotting where to eat in Palma – and which dishes would stay with me long after the trip.
Palma didn’t disappoint. Especially not in Santa Catalina – the city’s vibrant, boho-cool foodie heart. Once a humble fishing quarter, now home to some of the best food in town, this neighbourhood is all about flavour without fuss. Locals spill out of wine bars, chefs scribble chalkboard menus mid-shift, and market stalls brim with glistening tomatoes, pink prawns, and fragrant herbs that smell like the sun. It’s laid-back, effortlessly cool, and full of small, independent places doing genuinely exciting things with food.
This wasn’t a trip of buffets and beige carbs. It was a taste-led city break – equal parts indulgent and nourishing. Think zingy vegetables slicked in citrusy oil, smoky chargrilled seafood, and tapas so good they leave your fingers glossy and your soul quietly singing.
Why Taste Will Always Be My Favourite Tour Guide.
I don’t travel with a checklist. I travel with an appetite. Some people chase landmarks – I chase flavour. And no guidebook has ever led me to a better place than my tastebuds have.
Food has this incredible way of anchoring you to a moment. A grilled peach here, a glass of cloudy wine there – suddenly, you’re not just visiting a city, you’re tasting it. Palma was full of those moments. Dishes that didn’t just feed me, they made me feel something – nostalgia, surprise, a kind of quiet joy you only get when everything on the plate just makes sense.
What I love most is how it follows me home. One bite of charred citrus or smoked paprika and I’m back in Santa Catalina – sun on my shoulders, fork in hand, thinking about where to eat in Palma next. Travel flavours always end up in my own kitchen – not as carbon copies, but as whispers. A tweak to a dressing, a new way with veg, a confidence to go bold with spice. It’s why I’ll always let my tastebuds lead the way.
Where I stayed, JS Palma Plaza
I wasn’t planning to fall a little bit in love with the hotel – but here we are. JS Palma Plaza isn’t smack in the middle of the city, but it places you within walking distance of some of the best answers to where to eat in Palma. Just a fifteen-minute stroll from Palma’s centre, it sits on the edge of one of the city’s most underrated foodie zones – where you’ll find artisan bakeries, late-night local spots, and the kind of no-frills eateries where the menu is handwritten and the wine is poured generously.
The hotel itself was a quiet triumph. Well-designed, calm, and refreshingly unpretentious, with rooms that hit the sweet spot between style and comfort – think clean lines, muted tones, and a layout that actually makes sense. The bathroom had great water pressure (vital), the bed was gloriously comfy, and the whole space felt like it had been thought through properly, not just filled with “stuff.”
I took full advantage of the rooftop terrace and pool, which became my little sun-soaked sanctuary in between meals. There’s something so luxe about dipping into cool water above the city rooftops before heading back out in search of more tapas.
The breakfast area was also a pleasant surprise – airy, well-stocked, and a genuinely decent start to the day (the fresh fruit and flaky pastries were worth getting up for). And yes, I even used the gym. Mostly to justify the crème catalana and stracciatella, but still – a win.
If you’re looking for a base that’s stylish, quiet, and close to the good stuff without the tourist crush, JS Palma Plaza is a bit of a gem. I’d go back in a heartbeat.
Palma’s Lesser-Known Foodie District: Off the Beaten Appetite
What I love about this particular corner of Palma is that it doesn’t try too hard. No influencer crowds. No foam or tweezered micro herbs. Just really good food, done right. Over the four days, I dined in four spots here – but four stood out enough to earn a permanent place in my mental menu.
If you’re wondering where to eat in Palma that goes beyond the guidebook, here’s where to start.
Restaurant Highlight 1: Restaurant Brutal – Local Flavours, Laid-Back Cool
If there’s ever a dish that sets the tone for a trip, this was it. On our first evening in Palma, we headed to Restaurante Brutal, tucked into C. de la Fàbrica 10, in the beating foodie heart of Santa Catalina – and it absolutely delivered. We dined al fresco on the avenue, the golden light fading, glasses wiping condensation, the whole street alive with relaxed chatter and the smell of grilled seafood from nearby kitchens .
I kicked things off with the traditional Mallorcan cod (bacallà), salt‑rich and silky, bathed in olive oil with confit tomatoes and a flirt of garlic – island cooking at its most honest. No fuss, no flash – just confident Mediterranean flavour on a plate.
It was the kind of meal that gently said: “You’re in Mallorca now, darling. Settle in and savour for the good stuff to come!”
What I’d steal for home: That tomato confit and garlicky oil combo – definitely going on sourdough sooner rather than later.
Restaurant Highlight 2: La Bottega di Michele – Italian Generosity in the Heart of Palma
You know when you book a Spanish city break and end up eating Italian food… and you feel a bit quietly ashamed about it? That was me. For about thirty seconds. Then the food landed and the guilt melted faster than the pork belly in my starter.
Bottega di Michele, sitting directly opposite Brutal on Carrer de la Fàbrica, isn’t flashy – but it knows exactly what it’s doing. The menu reads like a love letter to rustic Italian cooking, but everything is dialled up a notch – from the portions (huge) to the flavour (even huger).
I started with the pork belly salad – wafer-thin slices of warm, melt-in-the-mouth meat on a peppery rocket bed, dotted with olives and slicked in a sharp vinaigrette that cut through the richness like a dream. Then came the beef ragù pasta, and honestly? I didn’t want it to end. Deep, slow-cooked flavour, tender strands of beef, the kind of sauce that clings lovingly to every swirl of pasta.
The vibe? Relaxed. The service? Properly lovely. No rushing, no hard sell. Just great food, great people, and the kind of meal that makes you question everything you thought you knew about holiday eating rules.
What I’d steal for home: That pork and olive salad – unexpected, bold, and totally moreish. Already dreaming of my own version.
One of the reasons I love exploring where to eat in Palma is that you’ll find a mix of bold, unpretentious food in places that really care.
Restaurant Highlight 3: La Bodega – Unforgettable Tapas
There are meals that satisfy, and then there are meals that leave a mark. La Bodega, tucked into a narrow side street on Carrer dels Apuntadors, served up the kind of tapas that had me coming back for more. Literally. I ate here twice in four days – and I’d go back again tomorrow if I could.
Tiny and unassuming, with no more than ten tables and zero need for pomp, this is a place that quietly knows it’s that good. The sort of old-town gem you stumble upon, fall in love with, and immediately feel slightly smug about discovering.
The menu? A masterclass in how to do tapas properly. Not fussy. Not trying to reinvent the wheel. Just small plates that sing with flavour and depth. It started with whitebait – hot, crisp, and addictive. Then came the chopped squid, slow-cooked until meltingly tender in a deep, savoury sauce that coated every bite like velvet.
We had house croquettes, golden on the outside and soft as clouds within – properly oozy, no stingy fillings here. The braised octopus? A thing of beauty: delicate, perfectly tender, and served with just enough sauce to drag each piece lovingly through. But the surprise standout was the curry meatballs with shrimp – rich, warming, with a gentle spice and unexpected brightness from the seafood. An unlikely pairing on paper, but on the plate? Magic.
And to finish? A textbook Crème Catalana – wobbly, creamy, citrus-tinged, with a top that cracked just so.
Tapas, when done like this, is a kind of edible storytelling. Each dish has its own moment, but together they form a little journey. They encourage you to slow down, share, try something new, and then reach for just one more thing.
What I’d steal for home: Those croquettes – golden, crisp, and soft as clouds inside. Easily the best I’ve ever had. I still think about them more than is probably healthy.
Restaurant Highlight 4: Rikito – Sensational Pizza, Even Better Sides.
Every now and then you eat something that makes you go quiet – not out of politeness, but because your mouth is too busy having a religious experience. That was me at Rikito, a super-stylish spot back on Carrer de la Fàbrica, where the pizza is pure art and the energy is lively.
We shared what may just go down as the best pizza I’ve ever had – paper-thin courgettes, silky stracciatella, and salty ribbons of mortadella, all laid out on a perfectly blistered base with a whisper of lemon zest. If you’re wondering where to eat in Palma for a slice that’ll ruin all others, this is it. Alongside it, we had a tomato salad with burrata that was bursting with flavour – sweet, tangy, creamy, all at once. Not a single soggy tomato in sight.
Rikito has a slightly more premium vibe – prices are a touch steeper than the other spots we visited – but the quality absolutely justifies it. The crowd skews a little younger, the playlist’s always on point, and the place fills up fast. If you want in, book ahead – or be prepared to hover awkwardly until a table frees up. Worth it, either way.
What I’d steal for home: That stracciatella-topped pizza with a hit of lemon and courgette sliced so thinly it’s almost transparent – simple, chic, and unforgettable.
Bar Highlight: Lili’s – The Pre-Dinner Pit Stop That Hits Just Right
Sometimes all you want is a pit stop that turns into a whole moment. Lili’s in Palma delivered exactly that. Nestled on a tucked-away square just a little off the beaten path, it was the kind of place you stumble into for a quick drink – and end up staying long enough to feel like a regular.
I ordered the Lili’s Fiero Spritz – and let me tell you, Aperol who? Made with Martini Fiero, white peach, cava and elderflower syrup, it was everything a summer spritz should be: fresh, floral, lightly bitter, and served in a glass that sparkled like it knew it was about to be posted on Instagram. The dried orange slice and mint were a nice touch too – 10/10 for vibe.
What made it even better? The charming staff, who brought over a little tray of warm flatbread, olives, and whipped herby dip – simple, satisfying, and (shockingly) very reasonably priced. It was the perfect pre-dinner pause: light, joyful, and totally unpretentious.
What I’d steal for home: That Fiero combo – cava + elderflower + peach = absolute summer in a glass. Aperol, who?!
Bar Highlight Number Two – Neo Cultural – Palma’s Secret Cocktail Sanctuary
Nestled behind a discreet doorway at Carrer de la Boteria 8, in Palma’s historic La Lonja district, Neo Cultural feels like your coolest friend’s best-kept secret . It’s sleek, understated, and sophisticated – no neon signs, just a door you might easily walk past if you weren’t paying attention.
Inside, expect marble counters, plush leather seating, and moody lighting that whispers “luxury” rather than shouts it. It’s a designer cocktail den where every detail – from the curated playlist to the ice cubes – is effortlessly stylish.
Perhaps the best part? There’s no outdoor seating – but that air-conditioned interior is a blessing if you’ve spent your day sweating around southern Spain. It’s calm, cool, and a chic antidote to the heat.
The bartender is a proper cocktail craftsman. No menus shoved under your nose. Instead, he asks “What do you fancy?” and then whips up something bespoke – balanced, refined, and infused with expertise. The service was impeccable: polished, welcoming, and refreshingly genuine.
We popped in before dinner, and walked out feeling like we’d been let into a privilege, not just a bar. It’s not just a place to drink – it’s a quiet confidence, and Palma’s cocktail scene feels quietly better for it.
What I’d steal for home: The permission to ask for something “refreshing with citrus and gin,” and trust the bartender to make it sublime.
What Travel Teaches Me About Cooking (And Why I Always Come Home Hungry for More)
Every time I eat abroad, I come back with a few new obsessions. This time? Toasted citrus, smoked oils, pickled everything, and letting one good ingredient do the heavy lifting. I’m not here for overly fussy dishes or hours of prep – I want food that delivers bang-for-flavour with minimal faff.
Travel doesn’t just fill your belly – it shapes your palate. And Palma, with its local produce, big-flavour cooking and unpretentious restaurants, has firmly earned a place in my kitchen notes.
Planning a Foodie Escape to Palma? My Quick Tips.
- Stay a little out of centre – you’ll find the good stuff where the locals eat in Palma
- Book ahead for dinner – the best places don’t always look busy… until they are
- Trust the specials board – if it’s written in chalk, it’s probably excellent
- Don’t skip the bar snacks – some of my favourite dishes were eaten at the counter with a cold glass of wine
Inspired to Cook? Here’s What I’m Making Now
After four days spent discovering where to eat in Palma, I’ve come back craving bold, generous food that brings people together. If Palma taught me anything, it’s that the best food doesn’t try too hard. It’s generous, bold, and meant to be shared. Whether it was slow-cooked squid, charred citrus, or a pizza topped with silky stracciatella, every plate I loved had one thing in common – it brought people together.
Now I’m back home, I’m craving that same spirit in my kitchen. Dishes to lay in the centre of the table, to scoop, tear, dip and pass around. I want more food that invites conversation – bright tomato salads, slow-braised things, and big bowls of veg cooked with heart. Plants in abundance, flavour without apology.
Cooking isn’t just about fuelling yourself – it’s about creating a moment. And if that moment involves a chilled spritz, some warm bread, and a few friends hovering impatiently around the table, then I think I’m doing it right.
They’ll be making appearances in my recipes soon. Keep your eyes on the blog, or hop over to my TikTok for behind-the-scenes cooking moments.
If you’re planning a trip and wondering where to eat in Palma, these are the places I’d go back to in a heartbeat. From tapas in Santa Catalina to rooftop cocktails and pizza that ruins all other pizza, this city delivered flavour in every corner.
