Palma has become a heavyweight in the map of gastronomy. Currently, it is possible not only to eat traditional cuisine of Mallorca in an ancient cellar, but also to experiment with innovative ideas of combining Asia, Mexico, and Mediterranean regions on one plate.
These recommendations should assist you in choosing the place to have dinner in Palma if “fast food” is not what you are looking for. Here we suggest restaurants for romantic dinners, for food lovers who are tired of conventional Spanish dishes, as well as for travelers who want to feel the history of the island.
Emilio Innobar: Innovative Fusion Right in the Old Town
Certainly, if you seek for something unique, then Emilio Innobar is the restaurant for you. Being located near Jaime III in the very heart of the old town of Palma, this restaurant is truly the place that you decide to visit, rather than happen to walk in.
Identifying itself as fine fusion, the menu here is based on Mexican, Asian, and European ideas and has a strong accent on the preparation of seafood in sashimi and tataki forms. Famous among the locals, the sashimi dish with fish cut with the surgical precision takes one of the first places in ranking of best restaurants in Palma.
Being a relaxing place to have dinner, Emilio Innobar has an open kitchen and a service that invites you to share all the dishes you order. It is perfect place for:
- Romantic dinners, especially if you don’t want too many clichés;
- Foodies who would like to have a fresh idea of eating;
- Those who want something more than just typical dishes of Mallorca.
Tip: Don’t forget to book a table. Since this is an upscale place, expect quite high prices.
Botànic (Can Bordoy): Healthy Cooking with a View in La Lonja
Walking from the Cathedral, you will soon find the place for a sophisticated dinner in the luxurious surroundings – Botànic restaurant located in Can Bordoy Grand House & Garden. It is the first restaurant of Palma to be called “plant forward” and offer the meals made of fresh vegetables, sustainable seafood, and chosen organic meat.
Surrounded with a cozy atmosphere, the restaurant looks luxurious due to velvet sofas, book-lined walls, lights dimmed just enough, and plants making an impression of a small oasis in the historic center of Palma. Recommended dishes include cauliflower with chickpeas and tabbouleh, Iberian pork letuces tacos, and steamed fish.
Botànic is ideal when:
- You seek for creative cuisine that won’t make you feel overloaded after a meal;
- You value elegant appearance of the place as much as the dishes themselves;
- Your priority is the abundance of healthy vegetarian or vegan food.
Los Rafaeles: Typical Foods of Mallorcan Cuisine in the Center
For a dinner that reminds you of the spirit of Mallorca and not tourism, we recommend Los Rafaeles. Located on Paseo Mallorca 28, it is the best place for lovers of traditional food in the center of Palma. Founded in 1969, the restaurant is a real treasure of typical Mallorcan cuisine.
Since the location allows walking through the streets of Palma in order to spend some time in nearby Santa Catalina or Paseo Marítimo areas, it’s a great option if you are planning to have dinner and then go for a party.
Good choice when:
- You wish to introduce Mallorcan dishes to your first-time visitor;
- You enjoy classic but not pretentious restaurants;
- You like traditional dinner followed by going out in the evening.
Celler Pagès: Authentic “Celler” in La Lonja
If you love the atmosphere of an ancient cellar, where wooden tables and benches create a cozy environment, then Celler Pagès will become your favorite place. Usually, celler was a place to keep wine bottles, but today such places are known for the comfort food of Mallorcan cuisine – sopas mallorquinas, frito, snails, meat, and fish.
Celler Pagès is one of the best locations for experiencing such culinary heritage, which makes it a perfect spot to have dinner in the very center of Palma.
Best suited for:
- Romantic dinners for a couple of friends or families with kids;
- Travelers who want to try heritage-based food;
- Combination of dinner and nighttime stroll through La Lonja area.
DINS Santi Taura & Marc Fosh: High-Cuisine Restaurants of Palma
Finally, for those who seek to experience the level of “Fine Dining” in the city, DINS Santi Taura and Marc Fosh restaurants have gained wide popularity in the last years.
DINS Santi Taura can be described as the benchmark of Mallorcan cuisine that combines innovation with high research about traditions. Marc Fosh is dedicated to the contemporary high cuisine in the city center and focuses on international menu but still offers technically faultless dishes.
Good for:
- Long dinners that usually mean ordering a tasting menu;
- Celebrations, anniversary dinners, and other significant dates;
- Allocating some part of the budget to one impressive dinner.
Rooftop Restaurant at El Llorenç: Dinner with Panoramic View
As for having dinner in a beautiful place, you shouldn’t miss Rooftop Restaurant at El Llorenç located in the hotel El Llorenç (Plaça de Llorenç Villalonga, 4). Being adults-only (+16 years) place with an amazing view over the Bay of Palma, this restaurant offers international cuisine with an average price of €40 per portion.
The place to have dinner when you want:
- To see the Bay while enjoying sunset dinner;
- To start the evening with dinner and finish it with cocktails on the same roof;
- Romantic date with additional visual sensations.
Choosing Your Restaurant Depending on Plans
In order to better suit your needs, here’s the brief summary of each restaurant:
- If you want something unique and creative: Emilio Innobar offers you a chance to enjoy gourmet fusion and raw bar;
- For an aesthetic, light dinner in a stylish place: Botànic restaurant;
- To taste the “real” Mallorcan cuisine: Los Rafaeles or any “celler”;
- Fine dining for your celebration: DINS Santi Taura or Marc Fosh;
- For spectacular view: Rooftop Restaurant at El Llorenç combines refined cooking with a panoramic view of the bay.