Destination Mallorca, Ready to Return
If you’ve caught a glimpse of Mallorca on Instagram, it very well might have been one of its coves, or calas, with their semi-secluded locations and unbelievably clear, turquoise waters. Most of these spots are on the southeastern side of the island, like the popular Calo des Moro (watch out for crowds in the high season); Cala d'Or, which has five beaches of its own; S'Amarador, which is located on a nature reserve; or Cala s'Almunia. There’s also Cala Pi and the white and sandy Es Trenc in the south, as well as Cala Mesquida in the northeast. Other beaches worth checking out are Illetas to the west or Playa d'Alcúdia on the north side of the island. Why not try every one of them? All beaches in Spain are public.
The capital city of Palma is easy to overlook, especially for those coming to Mallorca for the famed beaches. However, this charming and surprisingly robust city offers an array of cute cafes and cultural experiences. Because of the way the roads are built, you often have to drive through Palma to get from one town to another, so basing yourself here is a good idea if you plan to explore the entire (larger than you think it is) island. We live in Palma, and our favorite way to start the morning is with a trip to Mercat de l'Olivar, the largest fresh market on the island. Expect beautiful produce, handmade pasta, and a sprawling fish market here. We love stopping by Fornet de la Soca, famous for its Mallorcan baked goods with a twist, and the Swedish bakery, Palma Bread, for its homemade sourdough (they fly their flour in from Sweden — seriously).
The weather in Palma is always warm and beautiful, even more so than other parts of the island, and there are gorgeous hikes and bike rides just outside the city. Rapha can set you up with a bike (and green juice).
For lunch, we often head to Cafe Riutort. Owned by a sweet Mallorcan couple, Riutort serves up a different vegetarian menu each day, based on what's freshest at the market (don't leave without trying the pistachio sea salt cookies). Another favorite is Bar des Mercat in the Santa Catalina market — a modest grill and counter where the chef will prepare anything you see at the market (go for the fresh squid and some artichokes).