Guide to Palma de Mallorca
One of La Lonja’s main arteries, Calle Apuntadores could be seen having two sides to it. A beautiful example of a typical back street of Palma by day, and from sun down well into the night a hive of bars and restaurants light up attracting tourists and locals alike. Be sure to drop in Jazz Voyeur for live music, Sazon for international Tapas and La Paloma for the Spanish flavours.
C‘AN JOAN DE S’AIGO
C’an Sanç, 10 – 971 710 759
Barón Sta. Maria de Sepulcre, 5 – 971 725 760
Closed Tuesday
Get a taste of the sweet side of Palma. Famous for their traditionally made ensaimadas, cuartos and homemade ice creams – especially the hazelnut flavour, C’an Joan de S’aigo is famous Sunday afternoon meeting place amongst the locals of Palma.
CASCO ANTIGUO
Make sure to take a simple map with you when you discover the narrow pebbled streets that lead back from behind the cathedral, most streets are pedestrian mainly because they really are so narrow cars can’t fit down them. Places worth a visit; Casa Museo J. Torrents Lladó and Paseo de los Artesanos.
DINER
San Magin, 23 – 971 736 222
Joan Maire Bisbe, 5 – 971 462 567
The closest you’ll get to authentic if what you’re looking for is traditional American; ribs, burgers, onion rings and great coleslaw amongst others. Best of all there are now two restaurants to choose from, both of which are open for late, late dining!
ES BALUARD – Museum Of Modern & Contemporary Art
Plaza Porta de Santa Catalina, 10 – 971 908 200
Open Sun – Tues 10.00 – 20.00 (Nov – May) 10.00 – 12.00 (Jun – Oct)
(Closed Mondays) 6€
One of Palma’s most recent museums (funded in 1997), Es Baluard offers a permanent collection comprised of paint work, sculptures, ceramics and drawings from names such as Cézanne, Gauguin, Picasso, Miró, Magritte or Giacometti. Over looking the Paseo Maritimo and La Lonja, even the view alone is incredible.
FABRICA 23
C/ Cotoner, 42 – Sta. Catalina – 971 453 125
www.fabrica23restaurant.com
Closed Sundays & Mondays
Originally situated at near by Calle Fabrica, brothers Alexander and Sasha have recently moved into their new and larger restaurant so as to accommodate their ever growing loyal followers. They offer fresh international dishes with strong Mediterranean influences. Rather than use a menu, they use a black board of around five starters, five mains and 5 puds which change on a daily basis, which is great as you always get to try something new.
GRAN HOTEL – Fundación La Caixa
Plaza Weyler, 3 – 971 178 500
Open Tues – Sat 10.00 – 21.00 (Sun & festive days 10.00 – 14.00) free entrance
Restaurant, Bar/ Cafeteria, Museum and Book, shop all under the roof of one of Palma’s modern, architectural high lights. Called the Gran Hotel as it used to function as such from 1903 – 1953, always well worth a wonder through to catch some of the passing exhibitions.
HARBOUR CLUB
Club de Mar. Muelle Pelaires s/n – 971 404 049
With in the boundaries of the Club de Mar one is tempted to spend the day lounging at the Harbour Club. Great cocktails, good food, sparkly clean swimming pool and plenty of sofas to relax and disconnect tempting you away from Palma’s city centre.
ICEBERG
Palau Reial, 3 – 971 213 322
www.iceberg-gelats.com
Featured in this months "insider" section, German partners Christoph and Carlos have set up shop right in the heart of Palma, offering a huge selection of home made, high quality ice creams, ranging from your every day flavours to the unthinkable.
JAIME III
Fashion, fashion, fashion!! If you are on Jaime III it can mean only one thing – shopping. Probably Palma’s most well known high street boasting shops such as Mont Blanc, Cartier, Loewe, EL Corte Ingles, Massimo Dutti amongst others.
KING KAMEHAMEHA CLUB
Paseo Maritimo, 29 – 871 939 200
www.king-kamehameha.com (thu – sat 23.00 – 06.00)
Not many know how to name the place, but everyone knows where it is and what it’s about. Palma’s "in" club is a definite must if you want to see and be seen. Bang in the heart of the Paseo Maritimo, King Kama (as most call it), assures top quality music from internationally acclaimed DJs.
LA LUNA
C/ Olmos, 3 – 971 425 360
If you are thinking of buying traditional mallorcan presents for friends and family back home, then head to La Lluna to pick up sobrasada, jams, liquors and other Mallorcan Gourmet foods.
MAR SOBRON
Plaza d’es Mercat, 7 – 971 710 912
From the outside you can tell this shop is going to offer something different. Inside you can find a collection of original, high end fashion names such as Orla Kiely, Rosamunda or John Rocha, as well as Mar’s own personal collection. If amongst the choice on view you don’t find anything you like, Mar also designs to order.
PILAR & JOAN MIRÓ FOUNDATION
C/ Joan de Saridakis, 29 – 971 701 420
Open Tue – Sat 10.00 – 19.00 (May-Sep) 10.00 – 18.00 (Sep-May)
Closed Monday. General admission: 5′00 €
The museum was established due to the Miró’s growing concern that when he passed away his creative environment would be destroyed. By auctioning numerous paintings at Sotheby’s after his death, Pilar (his wife) founded the actual building which contains his workshops and his works as well as being a meeting point for writers, artists, musicians, etc to exchange ideas and work together.
NAUTICA
Jaime III, 16 – 971 713 324
If you want to look the part this summer at the regattas, then head into Nautica. The store on its own has a very strong resemblance to that of a boat’s interior, and obviously the garments on sail are all of a nautical nature.
OLIVAR MARKET
Plaza Olivar
Mon – Sat (07.00 – 14.00)
Not one of Palma’s cheapest markets but definitely the largest and most entertaining. Recently renovated, it still has that haggling, bustling, fresh smelling feel to it. The fish section is huge and offers every possible array of Mediterranean fish and shellfish. Fruit, veg, hams, cheeses, spices, meat olives and other preserves are also all in abundance here.
PASEO MARITIMO
The nautical centre of Palma, the Paseo Maritimo is the sea road that hugs all the bay area. Starting from way back where the Avenidas hit the sea, leading all the way to Porto Pi, and offering restaurants, hotels, clubs, bars as well as a cycle path that snakes all the way along harbour-
CALLE QUINT
Otherwise known amongst many Mallorcan’s as "the street with the stupid stairs" ("las escaleras bobas", as you never know weather to take the steps one, two or three at a time, which unfortunately means you spend most your time looking down rather than taking in lovely shop windows of places such as Pasatiempos, La Industrial Toy Shop, La Pajarita.
REFECTORI RESTAURANT
Hidden down one of Palma’s skinny little streets is the Convent de la Missió Hotel. The hotel’s restaurant Refectori is one of the best on the island and celebrates the pleasures of modern Spanish cuisine. The interior design is stylish without being intimidating.
SAMOVAR
C/ Bonaire, 14 – 971 711 540
Quaint little coffee shop – restaurant and chocolate store offering very reasonably priced lunch menus of Mediterranean dishes. Located just off Jaime III, is a perfect place to end a morning’s shopping trip.
SANTA CATALINA
The Bohemian hang-out of Palma. Santa Catalina is famous for its markets, restaurants and bars. The market is in the centre and all the streets that run off the square are full of unique shops, tiny dark bars and hiving restaurants. Plus the area has been recently done up and is a now one of the trendy areas of Palma. Don’t miss APTC Restaurant, Art Deco Discotheque or Fabrica 23 (as seen above).
THE CLASSROOM
C/an Danus, 4 – 1º,1ª- 971 725 420 – www.theclassroom.es
Partners Elena and Lloyd have decided to give learning languages a new approach. Having recently taken over a long time standing language academy, they are looking to teach languages in a less formal environment, adding their own personal touch to the classes.
Costa C’an Muntaner, 5 – 971 718 860
www.uprockin.net
Trendy, hip hop influenced, street style fashion can be found at this small shop just off Calle San Miguel. As well as designer names such as L’il Kaem, Flux and Hixsept. They also offer records, sprays and set up graffiti and music workshops, for children and adults.
VIA VERI
It’s hard to tell that leading off this little street you can find old palaces, but you can; take a look in at the Centro Cultural Contemporanéo de Pelaires which used to be one and is now home to contemporary artist’s exhibitions. Also shops to die for such as Escada and Janer Interiors.
WINEING
C/ Apuntadores, 24 – 971 214 011
A new concept in wine tasting; upon arrival you are given a credit card which you have to swipe to release a perfect temperature glass of the wine. All you have to decide is how much you want to spend on the next glass… Accompany the wine with a selection of carefully prepared tapas.
XISCO CAIMARI
C/ Protectora, 7 – 971 723 766
Probably one of Palma’s most famous fashion designers. Xisco Caimari’s shop is a reflection of some of the young talent Palma is producing. His designs have been on covers of edition such as Vogue and Elle and are very highly valued amongst Mallorcans.
Y3 by KLING
C/ Constitución, 3 – 971 723 436
Black is the colour that rules at this high end of the market, clothes shop just opposite Palma’s main post office. Just off the Borne, this place offers very trendy modern clothing, especially interesting if you are looking for an intellectual post modern look.
ZARA
If you love high street fashion, Zara is probably on your favourite’s list. Well worth checking out the Zara on the Borne, as it has the pleasure of being housed in one of Palma’s most architecturally appreciated buildings, it used to be Palma’s main cinema house before Zara moved in.
Photograph: Patxi Arostegui
