Room to chill?
- TEXT REINHARD KECK
- PHOTOS MALTE JÄGER
Mallorca expects over 13 million visitors this season – a record number. So where to go for a little peace and quiet? Follow us to some remote spots, mellow bars and local restaurants
1
Seaside bliss
Chill-out music and frappuccinos?
No, the most important ingredients for a good beach bar are sunshine, waves, and a fridge full of ice-cold drinks. Proprietor Adriano’s purist ambience and friendly attitude make Sa Punteta in Cala d’Estellencs Bay the place to go. Here, you can jump straight off the terrace into crystal-clear waters and listen to the best lounge music ever: the sound of the sea.
Bar Sa Punteta, Tel. +34-661/26 81 18
PMI
2
Mountain getaway
In the northeast of the island, near Alcúdia, the mountains fall sheer away into the azure waters of the Mediterranean. The hikers’ shelter here, Refugi des Coll Baix, has a table, benches and space for six. Guests should bring their own sleeping bag, camping mat and provisions. Stillness reigns at night, and is broken in the morning by the bells of mountain goats grazing nearby.
Reservations at the Institute Balear
de la Natura, Tel. +34-971/17 76 52
3
Deep water soloing for the dauntless
Climbing cliffs without a rope is also known as psicobloc (psyche and rock) on Mallorca. One of the best routes runs along Cala Varques Bay. Anyone attempting their first cliffhanger in a swimsuit should take an experienced climber along.
4
Discover stillness
Cabrera, an islet to the south of Mallorca, is hardly more than 15 square kilometers in size. Once a smugglers’ hideaway, it was later declared a military zone. Today, the “island of goats” is part of a national park and offers guests the luxury of solitude and hidden bays. The former barracks of the Spanish military provide accommodation for visitors today.
5
Cave adventure
There are roughly 4300 caves on Mallorca, and Cova des Coloms is one of the most spectacular. Patrick John and Britt Weykam, both from Germany, take visitors equipped with neoprene suite and headlamp to some of the most interesting caves. Bolder spirits can jump off a cliff into a subterranean lake up to eight meters below.
6
Lunchtime locale
If you’re looking for some lively company, go to Patron Lunares, Palma’s current hotspot. Paintings of worthy fishermen adorn the wood-paneled walls beneath its high ceiling. The best action can found Saturday mornings when people from the market next door stop by for a beer and tapas. There might even be a band playing, if you’re lucky.
7
Hearty local food
The El Bungalow is exactly the kind of restaurant the Spanish love: cozy, rustic, with a family atmosphere. No one dresses up here, and most patrons are locals – especially on Sundays. One item on the menu definitely not to be missed is grilled razor clams with garlic.
8
Organic and fair
The Cachao chocolate factory in Palma’s hip Santa Catalina district creates exotic flavors, like apricot-lavender and rosemary-walnut.
9
Bar beneath the branches
The Bosque des Bellver woods in the middle of Palma conceal a beautiful secret: a bar tucked away in the inner courtyard of the Corona guesthouse. Enjoy a mojito beneath the mighty palm trees, play table tennis or a game of chess by candlelight as the summer’s evening draws to a close.
10
Lonely peak
Wie eine Nadel ragt der Penyal Bernat de s’Illeta in den Himmel, der Ausblick von der Bergspitze ist fantastisch. Die 35 Meter bewältigt man mithilfe fester Seile, mit einem Guide schaffen es auch Kinder und Ungeübte bis nach oben.
1 Bar Sa Punteta, Cala d'Estellencs | 2 Refugi de es Coll Baix | 3 Cala Varques | 4 Cabrera Island | 5 Cova des Coloms | 6 Patron lunares, Palma | 7 El Bungalow, Palma | 8 Cachao, Palma | 9 Corona, Palma | 10 Penial Bernat de S'Ileta
© Cristóbal Schmal