1 luxury hotel & 2 fine dining Michelin restaurants in Mallorca’s capital of Palma:

Last but not least in my mini-series about Mallorca, some info about where to go for staying and dining in style in Palma de Mallorca, the island’s capital. This after I reported on luxury hotels and (Michelin) restaurants in three other spots on the Balearics’ biggest island. The start was an a look at Mallorca’s tourism gone amok. This was followed by a 15-day itinerary pointing out high-end lodging in four different places. To each and every spot, I provided details, beginning with the southwest, continuing with the north and the northeast and ending with Palma in this post.

Before plunging in medias res, some lines to Palma, Mallorca’s capital.

Palma de Mallorca, the island’s capital 

Whereas it might be a good idea to give an island’s capital a pass in other places, this is definitely not the case for Palma de Mallorca.

While Palma’s old town was once a no-go zone, it has been spruced up in recent years and has become a tourist attraction.

 

Now, it truly is an atmospheric place where winding alleys are lined with mansions adorned with wrought iron balconies. And the whole is dominated by the colossal cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Palma is not only worth going to because of its sights, but also has an impressive offer for discerning travelers. This both in terms of high-end lodging and gourmet dining.

Luxury hotel & Michelin restaurant scene in Palma

Palma de Mallorca’s top-tier luxury hotels and superlative gastronomy are a real draw. You are spoilt for choice when coming here as lover of fine accommodation and dining.

I, for myself, took a practical approach to where to stay in Palma. When doing research about the most sophisticated hotel of our Mallorca trip, Castell Son Claret (my post), I made an interesting discovery. This accommodation used to host the former one and only two-star Michelin establishment on the island, Restaurant Zaranda.

In the meantime, the dining spot moved to Palma, and this to a recently opened luxury hotel in Palma’s old town, Hotel Es Princep. This was reason enough for me to stay here – as I absolutely wanted to dine at Zaranda. And the hotel reviews were favorable too. Plus, my husband and I had only two nights to spend in Palma. So, we made it easy for us, two in one.

High-end hotels in Palma

As I explained before, Hotel Es Princep was the perfect choice for us in Palma (details on the accommodation follow below). Yet I came across a handful of other luxury hotels that seemed appealing. Check out the following ones in case you care for staying in style in Mallorca’s capital:

• San Francesc Hotel Singular
• El Llorenc Parc de la Mar
• Can Bordoy Grand House & Garden
• Palacio Can Marques

Michelin fine dining spots in Palma

Once again, I had made the decision where to dine in Palma – we had something to celebrate – before doing a more elaborate research on Michelin fine dining in Palma. But this “duty” was not cancelled, just postponed. And when I finally managed to have a more thorough look at the island’s capital, I was astonished to learn that there is a myriad of foodie hotspots in town. And that made it not easy for me to choose a restaurant for our second dinner. We finally opted for the one-star Michelin Adrián Quetglas

(more about it later on). But there are many more venues that might be good choices:

• Marc Fosh: modern cuisine, one-star Michelin
• La Vieja Palma: regional cuisine/tapas, Michelin listed
• Quadrat: modern cuisine, Michelin listed, at San Francesc Hotel Singular
• Sumaq: Peruvian cuisine, Michelin listed
• DINS Santi Taura: modern cuisine, one-star Michelin, at Hotel El Llorenc Parc de la Mar
• Stagier Bar: modern cuisine, Michelin listed

Our choice of staying and dining in style in Palma 

As outlined above, I had established a favorite for a Michelin starred fine dining experience pretty fast. And when I found out later that it was located at a luxury hotel, we booked a room here as well.

Staying in style in Palma de Mallorca at Hotel Es Princep

As you know by know, my husband and I decided to lodge at Hotel Es Princep for our Palma stay. Find some information about it in the following.

Location

It is situated at the edge of Palma’s old town, in a quiet corner not far from the capital’s famous cathedral (a bit more than 10 minutes by foot). The area dates back to before the Romans. The narrow winding cobblestone streets behind the hotel have not changed much over the centuries.

Es Princep is just by the old city walls that have been restored recently. In addition, you can overlook the Bay of Palma from here.

An another plus is that the airport is only ten minutes away by car. And if you want to go to the beach, the nearest one is less than 15 minutes by foot away.

Ambiance/Staff

Although Es Princep is a new hotel (it was opened in 2018), it has a historic relevance. It was built on a spot where a medieval tannery was located. Exposed excavations from it are preserved under glass at Restaurant Zaranda

(see below).

Otherwise the hotel has an uncomplicated urban feel. It is chic, airy and lively. The ambiance in the spacious open-plan lobby/restaurant area is always busy. Staff is friendly, helpful and accommodative. And it is a member of the prestigious The Leading Hotels of the World.

Rooms/Pricing

The hotel has 68 rooms in different categories, most of them with sea view and some with small balconies. Rates start at 240€ (low season). The accommodations are of clean-lined elegance, the decor kept in natural hues.

As my husband and I had a special occasion, we had opted for the best room category, the Signature Suite Sea View. These accommodations are large (55 sqm), feature a bedroom with a bath tub

and a separate sizable living-room.

The only thing I disliked was the rather small bathroom with impractical doors.

On our stay in mid April this suite was competitively priced (657€ including breakfast).

Other facilities

Onsite you find two restaurants, the signature Michelin-starred restaurant Zaranda (see below) and an all-day dining spot just by the lobby. There are two bars, Gremium

on the ground level and a Rooftop Bar. Apropos roof, it is one of the old town biggest,

with a pool and fabulous views of sea and cathedral.

And of course there is a spa too, with a second pool.

After this info to staying in style in Palma, here are details to two culinary hotspots in town.

Dining in style in Palma de Mallorca

As mentioned, we had booked at Hotel El Princep’s signature restaurant, Zaranda, and a further fine dining restaurant, Adrián Quetglas. Here is how it was.

1. Restaurant Zaranda (1 star Michelin, Hotel Es Princep)

As chef Fernando Pérez Arellano fell out with his former host (Klaus-Michael Kuehne at Hotel Castell Son Claret) – where he had received two Michelin stars in 2016 – he needed a new one. After a year of searching, he finally found a home for his Zaranda (means sieve), and this at Hotel Es Princep in Palma. He started in August 2022 and within three months he regained one of his two Michelin stars.

The born “Madrileño” knows how to present himself and his cuisine. Dining at Zaranda is not a simple affair but an immersive experience. 14 chefs are at work here in an open kitchen where you can watch all the action throughout the day.

And if you make a reservation here, you are in for dining in three different locations. This when going for the Dermis Second Skin Menu (145€) or the Epidermis Collagens (165€). You may also choose the Hypodermis Essentials (125€), where you can devour the chef’s “evergreen” dishes (in bar and dining room). The former menus are more on the “adventurous” side with newer creations (especially Epidermis). You get the snacks at the bar,

the prelude at the open kitchen’s bar (the chef himself prepares food in front of you)

and the main act in the dining room.

My husband and I opted for the the whole she-bang. It was one hell of a ride, a feast for all the senses!

In case you are wondering about the somewhat extraordinary menu labelings, they are not without reason. Fernando Pérez Arellano’s menus are based on the history of his new location, the Roman ruins of Palma’s former tanners’ quarter. Skin is present in his creations all the time. And he really managed to integrate this theme in a way that amazes you.

2. Restaurant Adrián Quetglas (1 star Michelin)

While I was still a bit overwhelmed by the extraordinary dining experience at Restaurant Zaranda from the previous day, I was looking forward to a “more mundane” dinner. Though, this is admittedly ot the accurate expression for dining at Adrián Quetglas. His cuisine may be more down to earth yet it is also on a high level.

The chef was born in Buenos Aires. When he was  a teenager, his family moved to Mallorca (his father comes from here). In his professional career, he also worked with Marc Fosh, the famous local chef – and his friend. Later on he was lured abroad. After ten long years in Russia, Adrián Quetglas returned to Mallorca in 2015.

His mission is it “to democratize haute cuisine”. So, he serves high-end food at affordable prices. On offer is market cuisine, and he combines tradition with avantgarde. When having dinner here, there is no choice, you get the seven-course tasting menu “only”. Though, it is very reasonably priced, at 75€. On our visit, you could replace the main course (pork) with pigeon (additional charge of 8€) or add a cheese course (plus 14€).

I liked what I got and felt well at ease in the restaurant’s relaxed setting. Service was hospitable, warm and efficient. We enjoyed our evening at Adrián Quetglas. And I find it nice that he pursues a “democratization approach” as to gourmet cuisine!

Looking back at my Mallorca posts

My first trip ever to Mallorca brought me to four different places on this Balearic Island, the southwest, the north, the northeast and Palma, the capital. Here on this blog, I let you know about where to go for staying and dining in style in each of these parts. And this very post was about Palma de Mallorca, my last stop on the island and also my last blogpost about this island in the Mediterranean Sea. A 15-day itinerary preceded this detail reports. And the beginning made an insight into Mallorca’s (excessive) tourism.

Date of stay: April 2022

Pin it for later

The post Staying & dining in style in PALMA DE MALLORCA/Spain first appeared on Swiss Traveler