Lost and found: Don Pedro

A friend recommended Don Pedro when we talked about Port de Sóller last year. While he usually gets there by boat in the summer I love the picturesque bay any season. For a stroll along the sunny promenade, an ice cream at Fet a Sóller, or a dip into the water at the end of a hiking trip. But strange enough, whenever I headed for Don Pedro it was a Wednesday, their only day off.

Last week we hiked up the Puig de l’Ofre, once more excited about the vast panorama of Puig Major, the Northern Tramuntana and the Alaró mountains. And about the deep blue of Cúber and Gorg Blau. Both reservoirs are completely filled this spring so the water supply for the summer on Mallorca should be secured. On our way home we decided to take another chance at Don Pedro’s and stop at Port de Sóller for a late lunch. This time we were lucky and got a table right at the waterfront of Platja d’en Repic.

The sandy beach, busy during the summer, was still quiet this time of year. Only a group of kids playing soccer and a few fearless women swimming in the still chilly sea. We chose a salad and a burger. And simultaneously experienced déjà vu. The hamburguesa pampeana as well as the ensalada de espinaca clearly reminded us of a small burger joint just a few steps further down the road. We never knew its name but a couple of times we relished the food, the relaxed atmosphere and the friendly staff. Until one day it was suddenly gone.

We expected it had closed for good. To be all the more surprised now to find that Don Pedro was exactly that place we had lost. Last summer Natalia and Marcos took the chance to grow. The young couple from Argentina proudly reopened their restaurant, named after Natalia’s grandfather, in a much bigger and brighter space just two houses away. Marcos’ burgers, salads and tapas are as good as ever, the perfect refreshment for hungry kids, families and hikers. We finished our meal with a cafe solo while only our eyes kept wandering along the sunny bay of Port de Sóller. What a day!