a nice guide: mallorca
everywhere I loved on the dreamiest island <3 68 spots to save
oh mallorca… oh how I love this place with every fiber of my being. the island was always a dream destination of mine and last year I got to go with my best friend - we stayed at hotel corazón and hung around and explored deià. our hotel was everything I could have asked for: amazing pool, beautiful property, impeccably designed, and plenty of cats on the property (what else could a girl need?). I was putting off writing this guide for a while because I fear that I cannot capture how wonderful this place really is. everyone we met was the sweetest and most welcoming - I loved every minute on that island
this isn’t a full guide and it’s nowhere close to comprehensive; it’s a handful of the spots I loved + saved across staying, eating, drinking, beaches, wandering, and shopping (buckle up, that last one got away from me). these are the places I’ve been texting my friends when they tell me that they’re going and I think to myself, I should probably just turn this into a substack guide instead so it’s easier to send around. so, here we are!
a couple things before we get into it: you’ll want to rent a car, make the reservations before you leave home, and go in late may or september if you can (but anytime will do!)
let’s get into it:
where to stay
★ finca serena (the center) - adults-only estate, olive groves + lavender, about 30 min from palma
mirabó de valldemossa (valldemossa) - a tiny hillside finca over the village; infinity pool, valley views, olive-farm charm
the lodge (the center) - the second, more light-filled finca serena property
belmond la residencia (deià) - the famous one; go for lunch at el olivo even if you’re not staying
★ hotel corazón (deià/sóller) - small design hotel with its own farm; I think this is my #1 hotel I’ve ever stayed at. we loved it so much I wish I could live there. you can always come here for a meal (I recommend going around sunset!)
can ferrereta (santanyí) - restored estate, close to the best calas
hotel bon sol (illetas) - a charming, offbeat family-run cliffside resort with tropical gardens and its own little cove, 20 min from palma
es racó d’artà (northeast) - slow wellness retreat
caffeine + sweets
can joan de s’aigo (palma) - the oldest café in the city, and you’re really here for three things: a warm ensaimada, a cup of properly thick hot chocolate, and a scoop of the almond ice cream
fika farina (palma) - a swedish-leaning bakery and café that works at basically any hour
la molienda (palma) - island-roasted specialty coffee down a quiet side street; good gluten-free and veg bites too
★ de moniö (palma) - equal parts coffee shop, little vegetarian kitchen, and ceramics store; and the attached shop is the cutest, I couldn’t leave their jewelry alone
café sóller (sóller) - an artisanal bakery-café for pastries and a proper coffee before you catch the tram
horet deià (deià) - a mostly-vegetarian café with homemade cakes and artisanal ice cream
bites
el camino (palma) - the tapas spot everyone piles into, and for good reason
la rosa vermutería (palma) - pull up for vermouth and small plates; the patatas bravas are famous
la sang (palma) - a low-key natural wine bar with great tapas; get the burrata and anchovy tostadas
toque de queda (palma) - mallorcan-italian small plates in an old converted bakery; the charcuterie is the move
54 beachclub (port de sóller) - med and italian plates right on the sand at the sóller promenade
mercat de l’olivar (palma) - the big covered market; weekday mornings are when it’s actually good
sea club at cap rocat (south) - perched on the cliffs and made for sunset; reserve ahead, order the sea bass
★ ca’s patró march (cala deià) - hike down or come by boat, and book before you go
nama (deià) - southeast asian plates with a terrace view worth the reservation; the duck pad thai especially
ca na toneta (caimari) - a michelin-listed spot two sisters run out of a village kitchen; seasonal set menu, book way ahead
es taller (valldemossa) - lunch inside an old converted garage, and better than that sounds
el olivo (deià) - belmond la residencia’s restaurant, if you want the full deià splurge
bar bodega biniaraix (biniaraix, above sóller) - a hikers’ café and natural wine bar up the hill; leave the car in sóller and walk
drinks
sa pedrissa (deià) - hillside finca with a sunset-cocktail terrace over the mountains and sea; open to non-guests, come for golden hour
abaco (palma) - a wildly over-the-top cocktail bar set in the courtyard of a 17th-century mansion; you're paying for the spectacle as much as the drink, and it's worth it
sunset lounge (port de sóller) - clifftop cocktails at the jumeirah, panoramic sunset over the bay; book the terrace ahead
beaches
cala llombards (santanyí) - soft sand and gentle water with a little bar on hand
caló des moro (santanyí) - the postcard one; small, tucked between cliffs, and the water is almost cartoonishly blue
cala mondragó (southeast) - actually two linked coves inside a protected park, pine trees right up to the sand
cala s’almunia (santanyí) - right around the corner from caló des moro, and quieter
cala deià (deià) - the swimming cove tucked under deià village, then lunch at ca’s patró march right there
cala formentor (north) - stunning enough to justify the long drive up
es trenc (south) - the big white-sand stretch!
cala blava (south of palma) - the quickest cove to reach from the city
to do + wander
★ valldemossa - mountain village; go early before the day-trippers
santanyí market (santanyí) - wed + sat mornings in the town square; produce, crafts, easy wandering
deià - tiny cliffside village; wander, then down to cala deià (loved it so much!)
sóller - take the old wooden tram down to port de sóller
pollença (north) - the 365-step staircase + a good weekly market
sa foradada (tramuntana) - sunset viewpoint
calma pilates (palma) - if you want to get a class in
shopping
buckle up for this one
palma old town
★ rialto living - concept store: home, books, clothes, art + a café
cortana (carrer de montenegro) - rosa esteva’s dreamy, museum-like store
paula’s room (carrer paraires) - multibrand womenswear (anine bing, ganni, samsøe)
folklorious (carrer paraires) - “cool-hunted” accessories + ready-to-wear
thinking mu (carrer sant nicolau) - the barcelona eco-label’s own shop
isso mallorca (costa d’en brossa) - slow concept store; fashion, design + wellness
the cave (pas d’en quint) - isabel marant / ganni / ami; the big-night-out shop
the summer archive - newer, near the cathedral
oysho (palma) - the spanish activewear + swim brand; good basics + suits
vintage (all a few minutes apart in the old town)
piel de gallina (costa d’en brossa) - two floors, vintage + streetwear
rita’s house (calle monges) - the one for real digging
la simo (carrer catalunya) - curated vintage, buy + sell
seattle vintage - denim, suede, 70s/80s US workwear
unico - another old-town vintage stop
homeware + scent
bazaar palma (costa d’en brossa) - ceramics, linen, candles in an old bookstore
★ arquinesia (carrer de sant gaietà) - mallorca-inspired perfumes; the soaps + candles are easy gifts
santa catalina
villa vintage (carrer de sant magí) - designer secondhand across five rooms
deià + the villages
cassera 71 (deià) - matthew williamson’s new deià shop; part boutique, part home + art space
datura studio (deià) - womenswear in soft natural fabrics; lots of linen
de haan gallery (deià) - contemporary ceramics + workshops
obsolete (santa catalina, deià + valldemossa) - antique + new furniture and decor
mimosa (valldemossa) - clothes + jewelry
There we have it folks, my quick guide to Mallorca, one of the most magical places in the world. Please let me know any places I missed! Would love to hear your favorite spots. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday - thank you all for reading, xoxo.
Love Always,
Su
PS — did you know paid subscribers get access to a google map with every single place I've written about on my substack? it's the easiest way to have all my recs in your back pocket
TTYL!!!
If you had 3 top spots for meals where would you say? I’m in soller and Palma for 3 nights each