The Royal Palace of La Almudaina and La Seu above the lake of the Parc de la Mar

Area guide · Mallorca

Palma old town: Our Favourites

La Seu and the Almudaina, palace hotels, three MICHELIN-starred restaurants, the Born and the Olivar market.

The back story

  1. Area guide

    Palma old town: the back story

    Palma·In depth

    La Seu, the Almudaina, the Born and the markets: the island’s capital on foot.

    Explore View on map

  2. The back story

    The grand hotels of Mallorca: the back story

    Palma·In depth

    Palaces in Palma’s old town, a castle above the city, a fortress on the bay, and the great resorts of Formentor, Deià and Canyamel: where to stay, and what has changed.

    Explore View on map

  3. The back story

    Eating in Mallorca: the back story

    Palma·In depth

    Ensaïmades and sobrassada, the markets of Palma, and nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens from Palma to Canyamel.

    Explore View on map

What to see and do

  1. Gothic, by the sea

    La Seu, Palma Cathedral

    Palma old town·Cathedral

    Palma’s Gothic cathedral above the sea, with Gaudí’s interior, a great rose window and Miquel Barceló’s ceramic chapel.

    Plaça de la Seu s/n, 07001 PalmaExplore View on map

  2. Patrimonio Nacional

    Royal Palace of La Almudaina

    Palma old town·Royal palace

    The royal palace beside the cathedral, run by Patrimonio Nacional, with its Gothic halls and tapestries.

    Explore View on map

  3. In the old bastion

    Es Baluard Museu d'Art Contemporani de Palma

    Palma old town·Museum

    Palma’s museum of modern and contemporary art, built into the Renaissance bastion of Sant Pere.

    Plaça Porta Santa Catalina 10, 07012 PalmaExplore View on map

  4. Opera, music and theatre

    Teatre Principal de Palma

    Palma old town·Theatre

    Palma’s historic theatre, home to opera, concerts by the Simfònica and theatre.

    Carrer de la Riera 2, 07003 PalmaExplore View on map

  5. Cathedral, palace and plane trees

    Palma old town: La Seu to the Born

    Palma old town·City walk

    From the Parc de la Mar past La Seu and the Almudaina, up to the Born and the Mercat de l’Olivar.

    Explore View on map

Where to eat

  1. Mallorcan cooking, one star

    DINS Santi Taura

    Palma old town·One MICHELIN star

    Santi Taura’s restaurant in Hotel El Llorenç Parc de la Mar: one MICHELIN star in the 2026 guide.

    Plaça de Llorenç Villalonga 4, 07001 PalmaExplore View on map

  2. Modern Mediterranean, one star

    Marc Fosh

    Palma old town·One MICHELIN star

    Marc Fosh’s restaurant on Carrer de la Missió: one MICHELIN star in the 2026 guide.

    Carrer de la Missió 7A, 07003 PalmaExplore View on map

  3. Now in Palma

    Zaranda

    Palma old town·One MICHELIN star

    Fernando Pérez Arellano’s Zaranda, now at Hotel Es Princep: one MICHELIN star in the 2026 guide.

    Carrer Bala Roja 1, 07001 PalmaExplore View on map

  4. A Palma institution

    Celler Sa Premsa

    Palma·Mallorcan cooking

    A long-standing cellar restaurant in central Palma, serving traditional Mallorcan dishes.

    Explore View on map

  5. In a walled garden

    Botànic at Can Bordoy

    Palma old town·Hotel restaurant

    The restaurant of Can Bordoy Grand House & Garden, in the old town.

    Carrer Forn de la Glòria 14, 07012 PalmaExplore View on map

  6. In Palma since 1700

    Ca'n Joan de s'Aigo

    Palma old town·Xocolateria

    The chocolate and ice-cream house that has served Palma since 1700: hot chocolate, ensaïmades and almond ice cream.

    Carrer Baró de Santa Maria del Sepulcre 5, 07012 PalmaExplore View on map

  7. On Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I

    Bar Bosch

    Palma old town·Historic café

    Palma’s historic café-bar at the top of the Born, open from morning to midnight.

    Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I 6, 07012 PalmaExplore View on map

  8. Ensaïmades with the PDO seal

    Forn Fondo

    Palma old town·Pastry shop

    A traditional bakery and pastry shop on Carrer Unió, known for its ensaïmades.

    Carrer Unió 15, 07001 PalmaExplore View on map

  9. Old Mallorcan recipes

    Fornet de la Soca

    Palma old town·Bakery

    A Palma bakery that revives old Mallorcan recipes: ensaïmades, coques and seasonal sweets.

    Explore View on map

Bars

  1. A baroque cocktail bar

    Bar Abaco

    Palma old town·Cocktail bar

    Palma’s theatrical cocktail bar in an old town palace.

    Explore View on map

  2. On Passeig de Mallorca

    Brassclub

    Palma·Cocktail bar

    A cocktail bar on the Passeig de Mallorca, beside the old moat.

    Passeig de Mallorca 34, 07012 PalmaExplore View on map

Shopping

  1. Palma’s main shopping streets

    Passeig del Born and Avinguda Jaume III

    Palma old town·Shopping streets

    The plane-tree avenue of the Born and the arcades of Jaume III, Palma’s classic shopping streets.

    Explore View on map

  2. Feeding Palma since 1951

    Mercat de l'Olivar

    Palma old town·Food market

    Palma’s main food market, with fish, meat, cheese and sobrassada, and food bars inside.

    Explore View on map

Where to stay

  1. A 19th-century manor house

    Hotel Sant Francesc Hotel Singular

    Palma old town·Palace hotel

    A five-star hotel in a 19th-century manor house on Plaça Sant Francesc, with a roof terrace over the old town.

    Plaça Sant Francesc 5, 07001 PalmaExplore View on map

  2. Botànic restaurant and a spa

    Can Bordoy Grand House & Garden

    Palma old town·Palace hotel

    A grand house and garden in the old town, with the Botànic restaurant and a spa.

    Carrer Forn de la Glòria 14, 07012 PalmaExplore View on map

  3. Facing the cathedral

    Palacio Ca Sa Galesa

    Palma old town·Palace hotel

    A 16th-century palace a few steps from La Seu, with a rooftop facing the cathedral and the sea, and a spa.

    Carrer Miramar 8, 07001 PalmaExplore View on map

  4. Home of Zaranda

    Hotel Es Princep

    Palma old town·Grand hotel

    A hotel on Carrer Bala Roja, by the old city walls, and home to Zaranda (one MICHELIN star).

    Carrer Bala Roja 1, 07001 PalmaExplore View on map

  5. On Plaça de Cort

    Hotel Cort

    Palma old town·Boutique hotel

    A boutique hotel on Plaça de Cort, opposite the town hall, with a solarium terrace and a seasonal pool.

    Plaça de Cort 11, 07001 PalmaExplore View on map

  6. Home of DINS Santi Taura

    Hotel El Llorenç Parc de la Mar

    Palma old town·Boutique hotel

    The hotel above the Parc de la Mar that houses DINS Santi Taura (one MICHELIN star). It does not admit under-16s.

    Plaça de Llorenç Villalonga 4, 07001 PalmaExplore View on map

Share your Palma old town tips

Been there? Share your experience and tips with other visitors.

  1. Loading the conversation…

House rules: keep it about Mallorca and the topic; off-topic political slogans and campaigning on any cause will be removed. Be civil and respectful, no personal attacks, no links or advertising. Comments are public and moderated, and we may remove any that break the rules. Please don’t share personal details such as phone numbers or emails.

The ULTIMATE letter

Mallorca in your inbox

An occasional email with new places, events, island guides and our latest in-depth articles. No spam, ever.