Laura-Jane Adventures

The week away meant a lot to me; being able to bond more with a friend and I got my second tattoo on the trip!

My most recent summer trip was a few weeks ago now and it was to Palma de Mallorca with one of my current flatmates. Since my Madrid 2021 internship I have really felt at home and my most confident when in Spain. This trip only enhanced those feeling and left me more sure of the fact that one day I will live there.

Below are some of my recommendations for Palma. Most of it is centred around food, because I am a bit of a foodie and still cannot get over how good the food we ate was!

Beaches

Let’s start with beaches. Mallorca is known for its beautiful beaches and I would really like to travel the island by car next time to try and reach more of the secluded ones. Nevertheless, two we visited whilst there were Platja del Portitxolet and Platja de Cala Major.

Platja del Portitxolet is a more local and small beach. If you head to this one then bring your own umbrella if you would like shade.

Whereas, Platja de Cala Major is a bit more touristic and you can purchase a sun bed here with an umbrella. They do only expect cash so make sure to have some on you.

Coffee spots

I am training for London’s ‘Big Half’ marathon at the moment, so I squeezed in a few runs on this trip and one morning I ran to Cala Major. It was tough in the heat but an amazing way to explore Palma and it led me to stumble upon Plant Shack. They have 3 locations on the island and 2 in Alicante. Focused on community and healthy eating they do a range of juices, smoothie bowls and other goods. I refuelled here with a smoothie bowl and a coffee before heading to the beach to meet my flatmate.

Another place to grab a coffee I would recommend is Nano Coffee Lab. They have a range of espresso based drinks and also matcha. It is a good spot to grab a drink and walk around the centre of Palma.

If you are looking for a coffee and breakfast place that does some very reasonably priced and decently sized tostadas, as well as speciality coffee, look no further than Arabay Flagship Store. This store is super central in Palma and located right next to Plaça Major, one of the cities main squares.

Bakeries

Mallorca is famous for its ensaimada – a pastry that is of Hebrew origin and comes from a type of sweet bread. It is very tasty; a little messy depending on which flavour you try and where you get them but it is worth the mess. Two places I would recommend trying them are Ca’n Joan de s’Aigo and Fornet de la Soca.

Another bakery worth visiting if you are looking for some more widely available pastries – but nonetheless delicious – is Fika Farina coffee and bakery. Get there earlier in the day for fresh pastries.

Seafood

I was blown away by how good and fresh some of the seafood we had was. Since 2019 I had been vegetarian but last year introduced fish back into my diet to help me with protein and nutrients.

The first night of the trip me and my flatmate headed to Periplo Portixol. This is a little seafront restaurant and the food was just incredible. It is a tapas restaurant but specialises in seafood. The octopus and calamari is amazing but also be sure to try the ‘glazed aubergine, parmesan cream and pistachios’, which just thinking about makes me hungry.

If you are looking for somewhere to try paella then definitely check out Fervor Palma. The staff are super friendly and accommodating, paired with mouthwatering food and wine. We went for their paella de bogavante y gambas (lobster and prawn paella). Admittedly and embarrassingly, I did have to ask the waiter to help me crack open the lobster. However, it meant nothing went to waste.

The final seafood recommendation is Restaurant la Parada del Mar. This place is simple but special. When you enter the restaurant you stand in front of a fishmongers counter and pick exactly what you want to eat and how you would like it cooked. The staff will help guide you if you are a bit unsure of portion sizes. You are then seated and the food you have ordered will come out one at a time and when it is ready.

Tapas

Two of my recommendations for tapas in Palma are Bar España and OMBU Passeig del Born. Bar España is a classic tapas bar where the atmosphere is lively and the tapas is done perfectly.

If you are looking for tapas with a difference then head to Ombu. I ate dinner here on my own one night and was sat at the bar. The staff were extremely friendly and made me feel very comfortable. I chatted away to them and even got speaking to one of the locals who comes in daily for a coffee. My solo night here was one to remember and the presentation of the food was unique, so unique that the local even asked to take a picture of my food.

Bars

Mallorca has so much choice for where to enjoy a cocktail or nice glass of wine. We had some really nice drinks on this holiday and enjoyed more of the nicer bars rather than going out too much.

For an intimate drink and a chance to get to chat to the barman check out Why Not? Cocktail Bar. This is a 12 seat cocktail bar and they don’t take reservations – so it is all about getting lucky.

For beautiful views of Palma and refreshing cocktails visit Es Princep Rooftop Restaurant & Bar. You can also enjoy food here if you fancy it.

If you are looking for a bit of a hidden surprise right in the centre of Palma then head along to Bar Abaco. You will feel like you have gone back in time as you enter through the doorway.

Some other places for una Copa are Mar de Nudos and Izizi Nunnak.

Overall, Palma was a perfect week away with one of my closest friends. I felt like my free-spirited self in Spain and my new tattoo from this trip is a reminder to never let someone dim your light.

Lots of love,

Laura-Jane