Where to Eat in Mallorca: From Brilliant Menús del Día to Michelin-Star Dining

Where should you eat in Mallorca when you want something better than the familiar tourist favourites?Food journalist Mia Naprta joins Vicki McLeod and Oliver Neilson to share some of her latest discoveries, from excellent-value menús del día and properly prepared Valencian-style paella to brunch, Japanese pancakes and an extraordinary three-and-a-half-hour Michelin-starred tasting experience.The conversation takes us from Palmanova to Selva and Palma’s old town, revealing why some of Mallorca’s most interesting restaurants are found beyond the island’s usual expat dining circuit.Mia also explains what it is really like to review restaurants and bars for a living, including the unexpected confession that she is not particularly keen on alcohol, despite being paid to write about it.Listen for plenty of recommendations, strong opinions and a lively debate about whether paella is a Spanish masterpiece or simply a glorified risotto.Mia Naprta is a food journalist who writes in English for the Mallorca Bulletin. Her work takes her into restaurants, hotels and bars across the island, searching for interesting new openings, excellent-value menús del día and dining experiences worth recommending.Show notesIn this episode:Mia explains what a gastrojournalist actually doesThe joys of discovering an excellent menú del díaWhy affordable lunches can reveal more about Mallorca than expensive tourist restaurantsExploring places outside Palma and the familiar expat areasBeach dining in PalmanovaWhat makes an authentic Valencian-style paellaThe case against paella, including Oliver’s “glorified risotto” verdictBrunch culture and Japanese pancakesEating at Selvaj in SelvaSpecial-occasion dining at Zaranda in PalmaThe theatre and attention to detail behind a Michelin-starred tasting menuWhat it is like to spend three and a half hours over dinnerWhy Mia drinks for work, despite not being a great fan of alcoholRestaurants and places mentionedCasa Chiringo, PalmanovaA relaxed beachside restaurant recommended for paella. Mia explains that the team learned from Valencian chefs and prepares its paella in the Valencian tradition.The paellas discussed were priced at approximately €22 to €26, depending on the variety. Mia tried a mixed-style paella containing chicken, seafood and green beans.Selvaj, SelvaOne of the episode’s examples of the interesting restaurants that can be discovered by travelling beyond Palma and the island’s better-known international dining areas.Zaranda, PalmaThe Michelin-starred restaurant led by chef Fernando Pérez Arellano, located within the Es Princep hotel in Palma.Mia describes an intricate, theatrical tasting experience lasting around three and a half hours, with show cooking, highly detailed presentation and a concept influenced by leather and the history of the building.