Those who have lived in Mallorca for some time will tell you that it takes a while to build up a strong repertoire of go-to local restaurants. It’s a sector that changes a lot in Mallorca: new restaurants pop up, chefs move on and concepts quickly adapt to new trends. It’s fast-moving so when the locals settle on a place that they really love word spreads fast within the local community.
Here, Dr Helen Cummins has curated her list of the top restaurants in Mallorca that score highly amongst those who live here – either permanently or for several months of the year. Most of the restaurants have been regarded as favourites for years, but there are also some newer entries that, despite not being open for very long, quickly warmed the hearts of the locals.
Find out below which restaurants the locals love in Mallorca and which one in particular wowed us enough to take the top spot!
22. Arrels by Marga Coll - Illetas
Located within the adults-only Meliá hotel in Illetes is Arrels by Marga Coll, an authentic Balearic culinary experience. In her approach, she prioritises delicious Mallorcan recipes using local ingredients. From the cheeses of Mahón to the vegetables from Inca market, Marga is passionate about keeping her cooking connected to the island. Her dishes arrive plated on beautiful tile boards and the cutlery is wrapped up in the ‘Cloth of Tongues’ (a traditional Mallorcan print). The tasting menu is exceptional and her 5-course breakfast (which takes over two hours) is as famous as its dinner counterpart. Read more
21. Sa Llotja - Cala d'Or
Sa Llotja in Cala d’Or brings the charm and legacy of its much-loved Portocolom sister location to Cala d’Or. Set right on the marina, with yachts gently bobbing in the water and golden hour casting its glow, it’s a place that immediately feels special when you arrive. Here, every element from beautifully plated seafood to a relaxed, refined atmosphere, has been thoughtfully curated. The restaurant prides itself on the quality and freshness of its ingredients, like their fish that comes straight from a local fisherman who carefully chooses each catch according to exacting standards of size and weight.
20. DINS Santi Taura - Palma
Situated in a historical settlement just metres from the Cathedral, DINS Santi Taura explores Mallorca’s fascinating culinary past. Island chef Santi Taura interprets old recipes and reinterprets them from a contemporary point of view. His vision and skilled approach won the restaurant a Michelin star in 2020, adding to an already impressive number of awards for El Llorenç Parc de la Mar. Diners are welcome to sit around a horseshoe bar to watch Santi Taura at work, where he brings together seasonal ingredients of local origin. Read more
19. De Tokio a Lima - Valldemossa
There are restaurants with views, and then there’s De Tokio a Lima, perched high above Valldemossa with sweeping mountain vistas and a timeless 19th-century finca setting. This serene restaurant blends contemporary design with bold, artfully plated Nikkei dishes that celebrate the high art of fusing Japanese skill and Peruvian culinary flair. It’s an unforgettable culinary journey rooted in Mallorca’s landscape but inspired by faraway lands that captures a rare balance between laid-back Mediterranean charm and refined fusion cuisine.
18. Fera - Palma
Incorporating philosophies of feng shui with sensuous design and striking contemporary art in a beautifully restored old palace, Fera scores high on aesthetics. But it’s the inventive menu of ‘Borderless Mediterranean’ fusion cooking combining the local with the exotic that takes this restaurant to the next level. Chef Simon Petutschnig combines the flavours of the East with the best ingredients from the Mediterranean. Impossible to resist and so worthy of a Michelin star. Read more
17. AmázO - Puerto Pollensa
Puerto Pollensa has no scarcity of great restaurants but AmázO on Calle de Formentor, with its striking Amazonian-themed interior and handsome gold and emerald facade, plays a welcome role in the neighbourhood. Chef and owner Raul Lopez Perez is at the reigns in the kitchen presenting a smooth South American-influenced menu with some subtle fusion undertones. He has travelled the world for years taking note of different cuisines and it shows. AmázO is a mix of various cultures, but its primary focus is on influences from South America. Insider tip: choose the Chocolate Surprise at the end for a fiery golden spectacle revealing melt-in-the-mouth carob (‘algarroba’) inside.
16. Mouna - Palma
Mouna sets itself apart as Palma’s only 100% organic dining restaurant, offering a plant-based menu with creative vegan and vegetarian dishes that are as beautiful as they are nourishing. What makes it truly special, though, is its integration with Espai Buit upstairs, a creative wellness hub hosting everything from yoga to art exhibitions. Together, they create a space that’s not just about eating well but living well, where every visit feels like a gentle reset. This is where health-conscious dining meets soulful atmosphere, making it one of the island’s most meaningful culinary experiences.
15. Cabra Blanca - Santa Maria del Camí
Although tucked just off Santa Maria’s main street, Cabra Blanca is unmissable, if you’ll only look up. Perched proudly on the restaurant’s rooftop is a white goat, the statue a lucky find by Cabra Blanca’s German restaurateur owners and clearly destined to serve as the location’s mascot. Opening on Valentine’s Day 2022, the stylish restaurant has fast become a local favourite bringing something new to the Santa Maria dining scene with an enticing menu of fresh Mediterranean flavours served in an elegant yet homely setting.
14. Neni - Port Sóller
“You are what you share,” reads the menu at NENI, the large indoor-outdoor restaurant located in the attractive Bikini Island and Mountain Hotel in Port de Sóller. The food takes inspiration from Israeli, Lebanese, and Mediterranean cuisines, with purposeful adaptions to Mallorcan ingredients. This is the place to take your time, feel free and completely switch off. At NENI, everything is fresh flair and fun.
13. Nus - Palma
Striving away from the more baroque spaces in Santa Catalina, NUS proposes a concept that revolves around honest simplicity, with quality and care for the dishes at its core. Chef Irene Martinez, with an impressive gastronomic curriculum including Arume and Santi Taura’s Dins, and an endless list of places that have served as inspiration, has now embarked on her own journey doing what she knows best: providing hearty Asian-inspired food rooted in tradition that follows the natural flows of local produce. NUS offers a succulent presentation of made-to-share food that fills the table with colour and heartfelt dishes, such as delicious red shrimp omelette, lemon fish nigiri, delicate tuna tartar or traditional Chinese sea bass.
12. El Vicenç - Cala Sant Vicenç
Situated in the 5-star Hotel El Vicenç de la Mar, Restaurant El Vicenç delivers on location and taste. A setting like this – overlooking one of the most beautiful coves on the island – calls for impeccable food, and acclaimed chef Santi Taura delivers yet again at his latest outpost. The à la carte and tasting menu focus on local produce, even more specifically from the north of the island, melding traditional Mallorcan flavours with unique and inspired twists. Taura’s menus read like a Mallorcan cookbook, and now, the recipient of two Repsol Suns and a Michelin star for his DINS restaurant in Palma, brings his ‘Santi-style’ take on traditional cuisine and international classics to the north of the island. Read more
11. Tramuntana Grill at La Residencia - Deià
Surrounded by unparalleled views over the Deià rooftops and backdropped by the high mountains and magnific sea views, Tramuntana Grill offers a true Mediterranean rooftop experience at the heart of the La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel in Deià. Overseen by Executive Chef Guillermo Méndez, it offers refined dishes elaborated with local and sustainable ingredients based on a KM0 concept. Some favourites: grilled watermelon salad and charcoal-cooked market crayfish.
10. Mar de Nudos - Palma
Located right on Palma’s glamorous Marina Moll Vell, Mar de Nudos pairs panoramic sea views with sleek terraces that overlook superyachts and the glittering marina, immediately setting the tone for something special. Whether you’re craving delicate sashimi or a rich truffle burrata, the dual Japanese and Mediterranean menu offers an elevated take on fusion done right. The atmosphere is polished, the service seamless, and the food a perfectly executed mix of refined local classics and fresh Japanese artistry. It’s the go-to spot in Palma when you want to impress, indulge, and unwind in style.
9. MOMBO - Palma
Elegance, sophistication and refined food – MOMBO brings to Palma all the elements for an utmost enjoyable experience with the feel of a big-city bistro. The classy urban style of the décor, the real-life show behind the open kitchen and the balanced selection of tapas and dishes, give MOMBO the right to be considered one of the best spots in Palma. The chef who brings this whole experience to life is Gabriel Conti, originally from Brazil, who after a career in Barcelona, is now following his vocation in his most personal project to date. MOMBO possesses a serene atmosphere, but once the dishes start to hit the table, is when the true experience of MOMBO comes to light.
8. Oliu - Andratx
Still a hotspot since its 2013 opening, Oliu dishes up a delicious take on modern Mediterranean. Everything on the menu is local and where possible, picked from their own organic vegetable garden. Chef and owner Joan Parcel Balaguer sets the creative direction, serving up a tasting menu that puts a spin on Mallorcan cooking with an emphasis on seasonal products. Oysters with passion fruit caipirinha, braised veal marrow with pickled vegetables and truffle sachets in shitake sauce are only some of their exceptional offerings.
7. Adelfas by Jens - Santa Ponsa
Jens Bräuning and wife Nicole are the driving force behind Adelfas by Jens, a gourmet restaurant in the residential area of Nova Santa Ponsa. Santa Ponsa is not where foodies usually swarm to, but Adelfas is changing that with the warm, friendly and attentive service, and the delicious locally-sourced Mediterranean menu presented on a large lush green terrace. The exquisite menu is a regularly changing delight of seasonal plates. Great ingredients sing – the strawberry gazpacho, winter cod pil pil style with Mallorca calçots (leeks) and warm lemon biscuit with milk froth ice cream were highlights when we visited.
6. Yara Restaurant - Portals Nous
Yara’s position overlooking Portals Marina, its striking decor and unparalleled dishes make this one of the best restaurants on the island. With a large tropical-looking terrace overlooking the lavish harbour, this restaurant provides the perfect upscale atmosphere at one of Palma’s most luxurious Marinas. Along with the view, their Mediterannean Asian grill is sure to impress your date on your romantic night out! Tip: Always, always book in advance. Read more
5. Ocre - Santanyí
Designed for those who appreciate the Mediterranean aesthetic, Can Ferrereta is all about serene luxury. Not at all surprising when you hear that its creators are from Hotel Sant Francesc in Palma. And while the old palace interior wows, the food is anything but an afterthought. At Ocre, vibrant young chef Carlos García spotlights the finest ingredients of the Med with a strong focus on local ingredients. Head chef Àlvar Albaladejo oversees the kitchen, but front-of-house matches in equal professionalism. Maître d’ and team work together just like a family and the chefs cheerfully greet their guests after dining – remembering each of their dishes to a tee. This is intimate dining in one of Santanyi’s most luxurious hotels. Our tip: visit on market day for a great lunchtime menu.
4. Sebastian - Deià
The German-Irish husband and wife team have been running this wonderful restaurant since 1994 in Deià, and it is still going strong. It is housed in an 18th-century former stable, which retains plenty of its rustic charm and fabulous views over the surrounding mountains. A seasonally-changing menu features mostly Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, with Asian twists adding a touch of the exotic. There’s also a menu of specials. Sebastian heads to Palma’s Mercat de l’Olivar; although he has trusted suppliers for most produce, he also likes to see what’s available on the market stalls.
3. Emilio Innobar - Palma
In the heart of Palma’s Old Town right off of Jaume III, Emilio Innobar continues to define what ‘fine fusion’ really means on the island, with flavourful dishes that successfully blend Mexican, Asian, and European culinary aspects. Chef Marcus Cardoso’s sashimi mix is the restaurant’s standout: vibrantly fresh fish sliced with surgical precision and presented as a work of culinary art. It’s this dedication to purity and balance that has made Emilio’s name synonymous with refined, international dining in Mallorca.
2. Izakaya - Palma
There’s a reason Izakaya takes its place so high on the list. Blending classical technique with a distinctly modern touch, Izakaya offers a refined interpretation of Japanese cuisine rooted in precision, seasonality, and elegance. From delicate usuzukuri to rich robata-grilled meats, every plate is a balance of tradition and creativity. A carefully crafted à la carte menu and three tasting menus guide you through a world of clean flavours, pristine ingredients, and dishes that move seamlessly from raw to flame-grilled. Add to that a beautifully curated setting and a wine list as considered as the cuisine, and you have one of the island’s best culinary destinations.
