Liquid Landmarks of Palma de Mallorca
This isn’t a guide written by algorithms or sales fluff – it’s just my take on Palma’s bars, filtered through my ever-changing mood. Some nights I crave something sleek and candle-lit; other nights I want the noise, the locals, and a cold beer that costs less than a taxi ride home. Every place here made the cut for one simple reason: I actually like being there. These are my words, my taste, my hangovers. And remember – alcohol (ethanol, technically) is pure poison, so sip wisely. It’s fun until your wallet and dignity both start to wobble.
Bastian Contrari
Bastian Contrari is the kind of place that quietly outshines the louder ones around it. Family-run, effortlessly warm, it serves the kind of Italian food that makes you rethink your relationship with carbs. The pinsa is light, the pasta handmade, and the wine list smart without being smug. It’s cosy but never cramped, and the service has that rare balance of charm and ease. No gimmicks, no fuss – just handmade flavour that speaks for itself. In the neighbourhood it’s the sort of spot you stumble upon once and keep forever.
Tac & Roll
Tac & Roll serves proper Mexican food – not some European pseudo-fusion with extra lime and guilt. The place looks rough around the edges, but don’t let the décor fool you: what lands on your plate is pure craftsmanship. The birria tacos are messy genius, the tortillas taste like they’ve crossed oceans, and every bite hums with spice and pride. It’s loud, casual, and gloriously unfiltered, yet somehow the food feels like art. No gimmicks, just the real thing. Tac & Roll doesn’t play restaurant; it plays Mexico.
Arume Sake Bar
Arume Sake Bar is where Japanese tradition gets a playful twist – and people can’t get enough of it. The place is always full, and for good reason: the chefs don’t just copy classics, they reinvent them. Every roll, bite, and pour comes with a delicious surprise – something familiar turned clever. The sake list is deep and the flavours are sharp. It’s elegant without being uptight, creative without the ego. In a city full of imitators, Arume stands out by daring to experiment – it proves that when creativity meets craft, you don’t need hype – just a reservation.
La Velo Brewery
La Velo is for beer lovers. They keeps things real – small batches, very big flavours, and zero pretense. It’s where craft beer meets community without the hipster fuss. The tanks are on display, the taps rotate, and the crowd’s a friendly mix of locals and curious nomads. Expect bold brews, solid burgers, and the occasional experimental pint that actually works. It’s not polished, it’s alive – warm lights, laughter, and that steady hum of people who just like good beer done right. No slogans, no show, just honest brewing with character and heart.
El Vinho
El Vinho doesn’t shout to get your attention, really, it does not. Hidden on Carrer Joan Crespí, it’s a slice of Lisbon attitude tucked into Palma’s backstreets. The shelves are lined with Portuguese bottles you’ve probably never heard of. The food’s very simple, the mood unhurried, and the staff pour like they mean it. No glossy menus, no fake smiles – just honest wine served by the owners of the place, good company, and a quiet rebellion against the ordinary. Being unapologetically unpretentious is what makes it so authentic.
Agabar
Agabar is hitting you with that kind of bar alchemy of smoke, salt, and soul. It is a love letter to agave in all its wild forms. The busy bar glows low and the bottles line the walls like trophies. Tequila, mezcal, lime, heat – every drink feels like a story told under golden neon haze. You might get messy guac on your fingers or lose track of time on the terrace, and that’s exactly the point. Its extensive selection of tequila, agave-based spirits, and inventive cocktails makes it a magnet for anyone chasing bold, unique flavours.
Bar Flexas
Bar Flexas doesn’t follow Palma’s rules – it drinks them under the table. Born in the 1940s and still kicking on Carrer de la Llotgeta, it’s equal parts dive bar, queer haven, and time warp. The walls sweat history, the crowd’s a glorious mess of artists, locals, dreamers, and night creatures. You’ll find drag shows, mismatched furniture, and drinks poured like nobody’s counting. Nothing about it is curated – it just is. Rough, loud, alive, and beautifully chaotic, Flexas isn’t chasing cool – it invented it, then spilled it all over the floor. Come as you are, stay until you forget.
Mirall Bar
Mirall Bar, playfully elusive inside Nobis Hotel Palma’s grand, nearly-a-millennium-old palace, the Bar throws a little elegance into the mix without losing its edge. With a soaring nine-meter ceiling, stone walls whispering history and tall lamps casting low light, it’s less “snug lounge” and more “vaulted cathedral of cocktails.”
The menu reads like local produce met high ambition – seasonal ingredients, inventive drinks, and a space that morphs from afternoon aperitif to late-night scene. If you’re after style that doesn’t scream, but smolders, this is the place.
Atomic Garden
Atomic Garden hums with attitude – part rock bar, part craft-beer temple, all character. On Santa Catalina’s lively backstreets, it glows under dim lights and movie posters that have seen a few stories. The taps pour local and imported brews with punch and personality, best enjoyed to a soundtrack of guitars and late-night laughter. The crowd’s a mash-up of regulars, nerds, nomads and beer geeks who know a good pour when they taste one. It’s gritty, loud, and honest – the kind of place where time blurs, music wins, and every glass feels like a small act of rebellion.