„Is Mallorca Europe’s best island for foodies?“, a popular British newspaper asked recently. My answer is: Yes, definitely. And it’s no longer a secret that Mallorca has a fabulous gastro scene. Next to the 10 Michelin stars that will illuminate the island this year, the renowned restaurant guide also awards a smaller prize: the Bib Gourmand. Bib, short for Bibendum, is the name of the popular Michelin Man. And whereas the starred restaurants are often quite pricy and formal, Bib prefers local food and value for money in a more relaxed atmosphere.
The five restaurants he chose in the nomination for 2017 belong to my very favorites and have (almost) all been introduced on Palmallorcastyle: the two newcomers, Ca na Toneta, and Santi Taura, as well as Joan Marc, Patrón Lunares and Son Tomás, who have been on Bib’s team before. Congrats!!
Whether you come for lunch or have dinner, somehow it’s like eating at a friend’s house: you talk to the chef, or you share a table with other guests, but either way you really feel at ease and spend a long evening full of culinary surprises. Next to the great food it’s definitely the atmosphere that makes these places so special.
Coming from Palma, it’s a little ways to Ca na Toneta in Caimari, but it’s always worth the trip. Maria and Teresa Solivellas are wonderful hosts and I love to sit in their beautiful backyard, among the Albert Pinya’s fancy Tramuntana characters. Just like Santi Taura in Lloseta, they cook with local and seasonal produce only, passionately reinventing traditional recipes. The same goes for Joan Marc and his beautiful restaurant in Inca, where you can watch him carefully preparing the food in an open kitchen. In Palma, Patrón Lunares, takes you back in time when the place was a community center for the fishermen and sailors of Santa Catalina. Accordingly, the menu focusses on fresh fish and seafood.
Of the five, only Son Tomás, the highly acclaimed family-restaurant on the cliffs of Banyalbufar, is still on my wish list – high time to check it out, now. 
