One shouldn’t travel to Mallorca without sampling at least a few dishes of the typical local cuisine. The Island is fortunate in having ample supplies of excellent quality, locally produced, fresh fruits and vegetables together with fish dishes to delight even the most discerning palate and quality meats to tempt and excite.
Mallorquin cuisine normally consists of tasty, simple, rustic recipes which make good use of what is available within the region. Popular examples include Tumbet, Sobrassada, Salt Cod, Fideua and of course Tapas!
Tumbet is a type of Mallorcan ratatouille consisting of fried sliced potatoes, aubergines, red peppers, garlic and sometimes courgettes, which are then baked in a tomato sauce. It can be eaten on its own as a vegetarian dish or used as a vegetable accompaniment to meat or fish.
Sobrassasda is a raw cured pork sausage seasoned with hot paprika made from the Balearic Black Pig and is soft in texture, somewhere between a pate and a Chorizo sausage. It is often eaten spread on local unsalted bread or as an ingredient in stews and casseroles. Another famous sausage from the area is the Bolifarro which consists of coarse ground cuts of pork, including offal, which is seasoned with aniseed and boiled.
Fideua is a popular dish similar to Paella but made with fish, shellfish and pasta noodles as opposed to rice.
Located on the north east coast of Mallorca, Puerto Pollensa has become a popular tourist destination for sun seekers, bird watchers, cyclists and walkers alike. The town boasts over 130 restaurants and tapas bars from cheap and cheerful to expensive and sophisticated, serving International as well as local fare.
Bar Coral, at 31 Carrer de Pescador is a friendly family run restaurant serving local and English dishes. It is extremely popular and renowned for its typical Mallorquin cooking and excellent value for money.
Bar Coral is open daily from 10.00 until 16.00 and from 19.00 until 23.59, closed on Sundays. To guarantee a table it is worth booking. Try their Salt Cod, it is highly recommended!
One of the best tapas bars in town is La Cabana situated at 114 Passeig Saralegui. This beachfront restaurant specialises in fresh home cooked dishes with vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free options available. With a front terrace, inside dining area and hidden rear terrace you can relax in the cool interior or people watch as you gaze out at the sun setting over the gently lapping waters of the Mediterranean!
La Cabana offers a total of 34 different hot and cold tapas dishes and 15 assorted Pintxos (small snacks). If you can’t make up your mind try the tapas selection of 12 dishes at €16.50 per head for a minimum of two people or 15 dishes at €20.95 per head for a minimum of two. Opening hours are 12.00 to 16.00 and 18.30 to 22.30, closed on Tuesdays. There is a children’s menu available and easy access for wheelchairs.
Located opposite the entrance to the Marina at the junction of Passeig Saralegui with Carrer d’Elcano, is the very popular beachfront Restaurante BrisaMarina specialising in Mediterranean and seafood dishes. With stunning views across the bay this is a wonderful place to dine whilst watching the sun dip below the horizon. Mallorcan’s know how to cook paella and BrisaMarina serves some of the best around with a choice of six different paella dishes!
Other typical local dishes include squid stuffed with Mallorcan sausage and sauce, Cod Mallorcan style, roast suckling pig, rabbit with onions and Mallorcan lobster stew. Noted for its consistently good fare and friendly efficient staff, the restaurant is also vegetarian friendly and serves gluten free options. BrisaMarina is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily from 09.00 to 23.00 (closed on Wednesdays).
Celler la Parra, at 84, Carrer de Joan XXlll is a very traditional, reasonably priced, well established Mallorcan restaurant built within an old wine cellar. The ambiance and decoration is welcoming and the menu is based around typical Mallorcan and seasonal cuisine cooked in a wood oven. Dishes include a selection of paellas, Fideua, Tumbet and Sobrasada both served with eggs and Mallorcan lamb to name but a few.
It is recommended that you reserve your table. Celler la Parra is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday, 09.00 to 23.00.
Every Thursday evening during the tourist season the family run Zarzales Restaurant puts on a Flamenco show for its diners for which booking is essential. The restaurant serves high quality, good value, traditional Mallorcan food from 10.00 to 23.00, 7 days a week. Menu highlights include Cod with Sobrasada and honey, Tumbet, Frito Mallorcan (chopped lamb offal fried with potato, garlic and peppers which tastes far better than it sounds!), goat from the Serra de Tramuntana and authentic Mallorcan roast lamb.
Additionally there are four different paellas including one suitable for vegetarians. Zarzales is located at 11, Carrer de Jafuda Cresques, below the La Gola Apartments and also includes a Tapas bar. Popular with returning guests it is always advisable to book. There is a children’s menu and gluten free options are available.
A favourite with both tourists and locals is Simbad Restaurante at 116 Paseo Saralegui, Puerto Pollensa. Situated on the seafront with great views across the bay there is a rustic feel to this busy establishment specialising in simple food cooked well. It is renowned for its friendly efficient staff, large portions and excellent value! Simbad serves a good range of fish and seafood dishes, many of which are prepared in the authentic Mallorcan style. Their roast suckling pig and Frito Mallorquin are also firm favourites with regulars and don’t forget to leave room for their famous Lemon Meringue pie topped with brandy and set alight!
Open daily from 09.00 to 23.59 (closed on Thursdays) this restaurant is great for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. Simbad is vegetarian friendly and also has gluten free options on the menu.
