Imagine waking up to the gentle sound of the Mediterranean waves brushing against the shore, the sun casting a warm glow over the lush landscapes, and the promise of a day filled with adventure and relaxation.
Welcome to Mallorca, an island paradise in the heart of the Balearics, where self-catering holidays offer the perfect blend of freedom, comfort, and indulgence. With its picturesque villages, stunning beaches, and vibrant culture, Mallorca invites you to experience a truly unique holiday.
Our villas provide a home away from home, offering you the flexibility to explore at your own pace, savouring the local cuisine, and embracing the island's natural beauty. Whether you’re planning a romantic escape or a family adventure, self-catering in Mallorca allows you to tailor your holiday to suit your desires. Enjoy the privacy of your own villa, complete with modern amenities and breath-taking views, all while being just a stone's throw away from charming markets and historic sites.
Dive into the crystal-clear waters of hidden coves, hike through scenic trails in the Tramuntana Mountains, or simply relax by your private pool, soaking in the serene ambiance. As you wander through the vibrant streets of Palma or explore the quaint coastal towns, you’ll find countless opportunities to immerse yourself in the rich history and vibrant lifestyle of Mallorca.
With our carefully curated selection of villas, your dream holiday is just a booking away. Embrace the freedom to create your own schedule, indulge in fresh local produce, and experience the island's enchanting allure at your own pace. Mallorca awaits, promising unforgettable memories and the ultimate self-catering holiday experience.
Supermarkets
Pollensa
If you're planning a visit to the charming town of Pollensa in Mallorca, you'll find several supermarkets that cater to a variety of shopping needs. For a wide selection of local and international products, Eroski is a popular choice, offering fresh produce, household items, and more. For those seeking organic and health-conscious options, Agromart provides a delightful array of local, farm-fresh goods. If you're looking for convenience, Lidl offers competitive prices and a great selection of everyday essentials.
Campanet
Campanet, a charming village nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Mallorca, offers several grocery shopping options for both locals and visitors. For those seeking convenience and variety, Spar is a popular choice, providing a wide range of everyday essentials and local produce. Situated in the heart of the village, Spar is easily accessible and known for its friendly service. Another excellent option is Eroski City, which offers a selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, and household items, ensuring you can find everything you need in one place.
Deià
Deià, a picturesque village on the northwest coast of Mallorca, offers a charming selection of supermarkets where visitors can find a variety of local and international products. While the village is known for its artistic heritage and stunning landscapes, its grocery options reflect the area's blend of tradition and modern convenience. Supermercado Deia is a convenient spot, offering a range of products suitable for both tourists and residents. In addition to supermarkets, Deià has several local shops offering unique products such as olive oil, wine, and handmade crafts, providing a more authentic shopping experience. For those willing to explore a bit further, nearby towns host larger supermarkets like Eroski and Mercadona in Sóller, providing a wider selection of goods.
Cala D'Or
Cala D'Or, a picturesque town in Mallorca, offers a variety of shopping options for both locals and tourists. For those seeking a convenient grocery shopping experience, Eroski and Spar are two popular supermarket chains in the area. Eroski attracts customers with its wide selection of fresh produce, local delicacies, and household essentials at competitive prices. Spar, on the other hand, is known for its friendly service and well-stocked shelves, making it a reliable choice for everyday necessities. For a taste of local flavours, consider visiting the quaint, family-run store Cala D'Or Market, where you can find authentic Mallorcan products and artisanal goods.
Alcudia
When visiting Alcudia, Mallorca, you'll find a variety of supermarkets catering to both locals and tourists. For a comprehensive shopping experience, Eroski and Mercadona are excellent choices, offering a wide range of products from fresh produce to household essentials. If you're looking for local specialities, consider visiting Hiper Centro, which often features regional products and delicacies. For convenience, smaller supermarkets like Spar can be found throughout Alcudia, providing quick access to basic necessities.
Food markets
Pollensa
One must-visit is the Pollensa Sunday Market, held in the historic main square, Plaça Major. Here, visitors can explore stalls brimming with fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, local wines, and handmade crafts, all while enjoying the lively atmosphere. Another hidden gem is the Formentor Market, which takes place on Wednesdays. This smaller, more intimate market focuses on quality over quantity, offering unique goods from local artisans, including handwoven textiles and handcrafted jewellery.
Campanet
One suggestion is to visit the weekly market held every Tuesday morning in the town square. Here, you can find an array of fresh produce, including vibrant fruits and vegetables that showcase the island's fertile land. Additionally, local artisans offer handcrafted goods, providing a unique opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind souvenirs. To further enhance your experience, engage with the friendly vendors, who are always eager to share stories and insights about Campanet's culture and traditions.
Deià
Visitors should not miss the weekly market held every Wednesday, where a delightful array of fresh produce, artisanal goods, and local crafts are available. Strolling through the vibrant stalls, you'll find everything from sun-ripened fruits and vegetables to locally produced olive oils and handmade ceramics. It's an excellent opportunity to sample traditional Mallorcan delicacies like sobrasada or ensaïmada, directly from the producers.
Cala D'Or
Visitors and locals alike can enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the Santanyí Market, which is held every Wednesday and Saturday. This market is renowned for its wide array of fresh produce, handmade crafts, and traditional Mallorcan goods. Another must-visit is the Felanitx Market, taking place on Sundays, where you can find everything from fresh seafood to unique souvenirs.
Alcudia
A must-visit is the Alcudia Market, held every Tuesday and Sunday in the charming old town. Here, you can immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere as you browse through stalls brimming with fresh produce, local delicacies, and handcrafted goods. For a more intimate experience, consider visiting the nearby Port de Pollensa Market on Wednesdays, where you can find everything from fresh seafood to artisanal products.
Typical breakfasts in Mallorca
A Mallorcan breakfast is a wonderful introduction to the island's rich gastronomy, offering a blend of local ingredients, flavours, and techniques that reflect its diverse history and natural bounty.
At the heart of a typical Mallorcan breakfast is the ensaimada, a sweet, spiral-shaped pastry that is both light and indulgent. Made from a dough enriched with lard, it is dusted with powdered sugar and often enjoyed with a cup of strong coffee or hot chocolate. Ensaimadas can also be filled with ingredients like pumpkin jam or cream, adding an extra layer of sweetness.
Another staple is sobrasada, a soft, spreadable cured sausage made from pork, paprika, and spices, which is typically served on crusty bread. Its distinctive smoky flavour and vibrant red colour make it a beloved breakfast option.
Pa amb oli, literally "bread with oil," is another simple yet satisfying choice, consisting of rustic bread rubbed with ripe tomato, drizzled with olive oil, and sometimes topped with cheese, ham, or anchovies. Local cheese, such as the semi-hard Mahon cheese, is often included, offering a creamy and slightly tangy taste.
Accompanying these delights, fresh orange juice squeezed from local oranges is a refreshing way to start the day.
Mallorca's breakfast offerings are not just about satisfying hunger but also about connecting with the island's traditions and lifestyle. The leisurely pace at which breakfasts are savoured reflects the Mallorcan ethos of enjoying life's simple pleasures.
For those seeking more substantial fare, an empanada filled with vegetables, meat, or fish provides a hearty option. The influence of Mediterranean and Catalan cuisines is evident in the use of fresh ingredients, aromatic herbs, and vibrant flavours.
As the morning sun casts its golden glow over the island, the fragrant aroma of coffee and freshly baked goods fills the air, inviting you to partake in this delightful daily ritual. Indeed, a typical Mallorcan breakfast offers a delicious glimpse into the island's identity, where each bite tells a story of tradition, community, and a love for good food.
Typical lunches in Mallorca
A typical Mallorcan lunch, known as "dinar," offers an authentic taste of the island's traditions, blending Mediterranean flavours with local ingredients. Central to any Mallorcan lunch is the emphasis on fresh, seasonal produce, often sourced from the island's fertile lands and bountiful seas.
One of the cornerstone dishes of a Mallorcan lunch is “Arroz Brut,” a hearty rice dish cooked in a rich, flavourful broth with a selection of meats such as chicken, rabbit, and pork, combined with vegetables and aromatic spices. This dish is often accompanied by "Cocarrois," savoury pastries filled with a variety of vegetables, meats, or fish, providing a perfect start to a traditional meal.
Soups and stews also play a significant role in Mallorcan lunches. "Escaldums de Pavo" is a beloved local stew made with turkey, almonds, and dried fruits, simmered in a rich, savoury sauce. This hearty dish provides both comfort and nourishment.
Similarly, "Llom amb Col," a robust dish of pork loin wrapped in cabbage leaves and cooked slowly with raisins and pine nuts, showcases the island’s culinary diversity and commitment to using fresh ingredients.
Seafood is a staple in many Mallorcan lunchtime dishes, with "Gambas a la Plancha" being one of the most esteemed. These grilled prawns, often seasoned simply with sea salt and lemon, are a testament to the islanders' expertise in seafood preparation. Accompanying dishes might include a simple yet flavourful "Tumbet," a ratatouille-like combination of layered vegetables such as aubergine, potatoes, and bell peppers, all doused in a rich tomato sauce.
Salads such as "Xatonada" also frequently appear on Mallorcan lunch tables. This refreshing dish consists of escarole lettuce, salt cod, anchovies, and black olives, dressed with a savoury romesco sauce. It provides a light yet satisfying counterbalance to the more robust main courses.
No Mallorcan lunch is complete without a sampling of local wines or "Hierbas Mallorquinas," a traditional herbal liqueur that pairs beautifully with the diverse flavours of the meal.
For dessert, "Crema Catalana," a rich custard dessert similar to crème brûlée, often served with a hint of cinnamon and citrus, or "Ensaimada de Cabello de Ángel," a soft, spiral-shaped pastry filled with pumpkin jam, provides a sweet conclusion to the culinary journey.
Over time, the typical Mallorcan lunch has evolved to incorporate modern techniques and influences while maintaining its core characteristics of simplicity, freshness, and flavour.
Typical dinners in Mallorca
As twilight descends on the island, Mallorcan dining emerges as a sensory narrative, beginning with an artfully curated prelude of appetizers that whisper ancient gastronomic secrets. The evening's opening act might showcase coca de trampó - a canvas of rustic flatbread adorned with a vibrant mosaic of roasted peppers, sweet onions, and sun-ripened tomatoes. Alongside, delicate croquetas de bacalao dissolve like culinary poetry, their salt cod essence dancing ethereally across the palate.
For those craving robust flavours, pilotes mallorquinas emerge as a testament to the island's rustic cuisine - profound meatballs crafted from an intricate symphony of pork, beef, smoky bacon, and spicy sobrasada, gently simmered in a tomato sauce that speaks of generations of culinary wisdom. The frito mallorquín further celebrates this tradition - a sizzling skillet performance where lamb or pork pirouettes with potatoes and aromatic herbs, embodying the raw, untamed spirit of Mallorcan landscapes.
The island's oceanic heritage reveals itself through sublime seafood compositions. Sepia a la mallorquina transforms humble cuttlefish into a maritime masterpiece, while calamars farcits represent culinary artistry - squid meticulously stuffed with a complex choreography of breadcrumbs, herbs, garlic, and local cheese, braised tenderly in a wine-infused tomato embrace.
Seafood enthusiasts will find rapture in anfós a la marinera, a delicate white fish bathed in a sublime sauce of garlic and parsley, or rap al forn - a baked monkfish that captures the island's maritime soul. For those seeking terrestrial comfort, pollastre amb ceba offers a slow-cooked chicken symphony, caramelized onions whispering local herbal secrets.
Vegetable dishes like verdures saltejades transform seasonal produce into a light, herbaceous interlude - a colourful medley sautéed in liquid gold local olive oil, offering a refreshing counterpoint to the meal's more intense movements.
The culinary journey concludes with gató d'ametlla, an almond cake that encapsulates Mallorcan sweetness, or panades - pastoral pastries filled with lamb or vegetables that narrate stories of agricultural celebrations. Accompanied by Binissalem's nuanced wines or artisanal digestifs, these dinners transcend mere eating, becoming a profound cultural dialogue.
Your starter shopping list
Breakfast Essentials
- Ensaimada (or ingredients to make it: flour, lard, sugar, eggs, yeast)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting ensaimadas)
- Pumpkin jam or cream (for filling ensaimadas)
- Sobrasada (spreadable cured sausage)
- Crusty bread
- Ripe tomatoes
- Olive oil
- Local cheese (such as Mahon cheese)
- Fresh oranges (for juice)
- Coffee or hot chocolate
- Empanada ingredients (vegetables, meat, or fish)
Lunch Ingredients
Arroz Brut ingredients:
- Rice
- Chicken, rabbit, and pork
- Mixed vegetables
- Aromatic spices
Cocarrois (savory pastries) ingredients:
- Dough
- Vegetables, meats, or fish
Escaldums de Pavo ingredients:
- Turkey
- Almonds
- Dried fruits
Llom amb Col ingredients:
- Pork loin
- Cabbage leaves
- Raisins
- Pine nuts
Gambas a la Plancha (grilled prawns)
- Prawns
- Sea salt
- Lemon
Tumbet ingredients:
- Eggplant
- Potatoes
- Bell peppers
- Tomato sauce
Xatonada salad ingredients:
- Escarole lettuce
- Salt cod
- Anchovies
- Black olives
- Romesco sauce
- Local wines or Hierbas Mallorquinas (herbal liqueur)
- Crema Catalana (or ingredients to make it: milk, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, citrus zest)
- Ensaimada de Cabello de Ángel (or ingredients to make it: pumpkin jam)
Dinner Ingredients
Coca de trampó ingredients:
- Rustic flatbread
- Roasted peppers
- Sweet onions
- Sun-ripened tomatoes
Croquetas de bacalao ingredients:
- Salt cod
- Breadcrumbs
- Milk
- Eggs
- Nutmeg
Pilotes mallorquinas ingredients:
- Pork
- Beef
- Bacon
- Sobrasada
- Tomatoes
Frito mallorquín ingredients:
- Lamb or pork
- Potatoes
- Aromatic herbs
Sepia a la mallorquina or Calamars farcits ingredients:
- Cuttlefish or squid
- Breadcrumbs
- Herbs
- Garlic
- Local cheese
- Wine
- Tomatoes
Anfós a la marinera or Rap al forn ingredients:
- White fish (like monkfish)
- Garlic
- Parsley
Pollastre amb ceba ingredients:
- Chicken
- Onions
- Herbs
Verdures saltejades ingredients:
- Seasonal vegetables
- Olive oil
Gató d'ametlla (almond cake) ingredients:
- Almonds
- Sugar
- Eggs
Panades ingredients:
- Dough
- Lamb or vegetables
Beverages
- Binissalem wines
- Artisanal digestifs
Our favourite self catering villas in Mallorca
With stunning sea views from the house and spacious terraces, Ca’n Marina is a stylish luxury villa in Mallorca that is ultra-relaxing, close to the beach and perfect for gatherings of family and friends. With a charming al fresco area, gas barbecue and bar area; guests are fully equipped for a phenomenal self-catering holiday.
All the character of Pollensa old town is right on the doorstep, and all the contemporary comforts of a designer townhouse are within Calvario View. This villa's alfresco area holds far reaching views whilst the indoor dining area is just as pleasing.
Ca’n Llorenc is a modern and beautifully designed villa with magnificent views across the heart of Mallorca to the sea, as well as a shared tennis court and table tennis for atvie guests. Outside, the al fresco area is complete with barbecue, hob and fridge; ensuring many delicious meals can be cooked under the sun.
Our Villa Specialists are happy to book a range of experiences for you. If you're feeling inspired by these experiences and would like to speak with one of our Specialists, make an enquiry or browse our self catering collection today.