PALMA DE MALLORCA CITY GUIDE

A few months ago one of my lovely friends, Rachelle of Saevil Row mentioned that she was coming to Europe this summer for a friend’s wedding in Mallorca. She was planning on staying with me in Paris the previous week so I asked if I join her on the Spanish island.

I’ve been twice before to Mallorca - the first was a press trip with Park Hyatt (you can read about it here & here) and the second for a collaboration and press trip with New Zealand wine brand, Cloudy Bay. Both were wonderful experiences, but I didn’t have time to explore the island’s beaches or its main city, Palma. So when Rachelle mentioned she was going at the end of August, I thought - what a great way to end the summer! We spent the first two nights in Sóller on the north west coast (more in my Mallorca Travel Guide, coming soon), for the wedding and then we drove back to Palma de Mallorca for three nights to stay in the beautiful and newly opened, Palacio Can Marques.

Palma is a pretty city with beautiful sorbet-coloured buildings, a tree-lined main boulevard and an intricate gothic cathedral that dates back to the 13th century. The city is nestled on the coast with a large port and a sandy beach that stretches along its south east side. It’s not very big and you could easily explore it in a couple of days, so it makes the perfect destination for a weekend if you’re flying in from the rest of Europe.

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I’m wearing: & Other Stories body (similar here & here) and skirt, ATP Atelier Sandals, Loewe Basket Bag, Eliou earrings and necklace (similar here), Alighiera necklace

PALMA DE MALLORCA CITY GUIDE:

EAT:

Aquanauta - one of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve been to in a while and amazing margaritas - go for lunch or dinner, reservations recommended
Chula Vista - Aquanata’s new sister restaurant that I’ll definitely be checking out next time
Palacio Can Marques - eat on the garden terrace and go for the croquettes!
Cafe Ca’n Toni - traditional Spanish grub with outdoor seating, great for lunch or dinner
Forn De Sant Joan - dinner spot
El Camino - brilliant tapas restaurant where you eat along the bar watching the chefs cook. Great atmosphere too! Be sure to book.
La Molienda - I have it on good authority that it does good breakfast and coffee
Fera - dinner spot
Ombu - apparently great food with tapas and cocktails
Gaudeix - great tapas
Toque de Queda - cosy, traditional restaurant with great reviews
Vandal - highly rated dinner spot with beautifully presented dishes

DRINK:

Bar Abaco - with fruit-themed decoration in an old covered courtyard, this place is a quirky spot for a cocktail
Bar Nicolas - good selection of cocktails, with outdoor seating
Tast Club - underground restaurant in the style of an old English club
Sky Bar at Hotel Hostal Cuba - drink cocktails on the roof terrace, it has a great view of the city

DO:

Visit the Cathedral - it absolutely poured down one of the days when we were in Palma, so if you do find yourself in this position, the cathedral is a good place to go!
Plaça Major - a beautiful square enveloped in yellow facades with green shutters

STAY:

Palacio Can Marques - we were lucky enough to be invited and as you might gage from the name, it is indeed a palace dating back to the 18th century that has been beautifully restored and furnished. We stayed in the ‘Rose’ room - a huge room, complete with dressing area and an enormous bathroom with a free-standing bath and shower. It also has its very own terrace overlooking a pretty square which is almost the size of the bedroom.

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