Discover Mallorca Through the Eyes of 8 Local Creatives

After Gertrude Stein uttered her now-famous words to Robert Graves: “Majorca is a paradise – if you can stand it,” the British poet moved to the island’s small village of Deià in 1929. “I found everything I wanted as a background to my work as a writer,” Graves wrote: “Sun, sea, mountains, spring water, shady trees, no politics, and a few civilized luxuries such as electric light and a bus service to Palma.” He wasn’t the only one who fell under Mallorca’s spell; other artists and writers, such as Joan Miró and Anaïs Nin, have also called Mallorca their home. As mass tourism picked up in the 1950s and beach resorts began to develop in busier parts of the island, Mallorca became a popular tourist destination, but surprisingly—if improbably—local businesses didn’t change to accommodate them.

 Mallorca’s allure isn’t rooted in fancy Michelin starred restaurants and full-service beaches; it’s rooted in its soul: the hole-in-the-wall bars, the centuries-old weavers, ceramicists, and glass blowers, and the wild coves, or calas, only reachable by sea or hikes. Today, the Mallorca of the 1920s and ‘30s has returned in a sense, with creative expats from all over the world finding contentment in the slower pace of the Balearic’s largest island, and Spaniards returning to their hometown after several years in bigger cities to find Mallorca just as inspiring as when they left it. “I have been living in Mallorca over 30 years now, and what was a quiet, very traditional island has turned into a very lively cosmopolitan hub,” says artist Tatiana Sarasa, “where people from all over the world mix with locals and fill the cities and landscape with colors and revolving energy.” This young crop of creatives is not imposing itself on Mallorca, but rather immersing itself within the communities that already exist there, finding inspiration through age-old crafts and traditions against the backdrop of an ever-inspiring natural landscape, all with a deep-rooted commitment to preservation. We asked eight local creatives to share their favorite hidden gems on the island. 

“My favorite beaches are in the southeast, like Cala Mesquida, Cala Agulla, and Caló des Moro. One of my favorite restaurants is Patiki in Port de Soller; it’s very good, locally sourced food, and the chef is amazing. I get my coffee at Mistral and Cafè Riutort, both in Palma. The artist residencies and exhibitions hosted at Casa Balandra are really cool too; if you’re lucky enough, you can go to one of their open-door studio visits. There’s also this hotel called Hotel Corazón in Soller is about to open and looks pretty beautiful. For longer stays and expats, there’s a social club called Làila in Palma’s Plaça de Santa Eulàlia that is slated to open this summer.”

“One of my passions is looking for treasures in antique markets, so every Sunday I try to go to Consell Market in search of treasures. I also really enjoy spending time in my workshop in Costa de Can Muntaner in Palma, a picturesque street in the center of the city full of little designer shops. Mallorca is a place that continues to surprise me every day and allows me to explore incredible little-known places such as the town of Arta with all of its crafts, or the east coast of the island with its paradisiacal beaches like Platja d’es Carbó and Cala Sa Nau.”

"There aren’t many secret beaches in Mallorca anymore, unfortunately, but the island has many traditional spots, like Llanaturain Inca, pioneers of processing Mallorcan wool, Ben Calçatin Soller for traditional handmade shoes, Cuchillos Campinsin Consell for traditional handmade knives, and Olleria Can Ventin Portol for ceramics made with local clay. I love Bodega Son Vell Vinyesin Felanitx, which sells locally made wine. These people really contribute to preserving the island's traditions."

"My favorite places and people are the ones that transport you to the essence of old Mallorca, which I find so magical. Basket weaving with Antic Mallorca and La Escuela Artesana, glass blowers like Lafiore and Gordiola, textiles by Teixits Viçens, Artesania Textil Bujosa, and Riera, ceramics by Terra Coll, Joan Catala Roig, and Jaume Roig. For art and architecture, I recommend visiting the Miro Foundation in Palma, Can Monroig in Inca, Museo Sa Bassa Blanca in Alcudia, and other historic attractions like the Raixa estate and Jardines de Alfabia. As for restaurants in Palma, both Mercado del Olivar and Santa Catalina have a great selection. Fornet de la Soca in central Palma is a fantastic old patisserie. I also love Ca Na Toneta in Caimari, Terrae in Puerto Pollença, and De Moniö in Deià.”

“If you are in the city and looking for a little bite, I love going to the local Mercat de Santa Catalina on my lunch break, where you can eat one of the best Spanish tortillas in town at La Tapita inside the market. For those who have a sweet tooth, there is a traditional bakery outside the market, Ca Sa Camena, where you can buy an ensaïmada, a very traditional Mallorcan pastry in form of a spiral, or if you prefer a delicious Apfelstrudel from Vienna, head over to Thomas Bakeshop which sells them on Fridays and Saturdays. If you are a knitter or natural dye lover, come to my atelier, where I offer hand-dyed yarns at my little yarn corner at Open Studio 79. As you see, Mallorca is full of tastes from here and there for people from here and there.”