Esment: Cafè Palmanova

The name says it all. Esment is a genuine Mallorcan word. It means doing things with care, attention and tenderness. While in most restaurants it’s the chef who matters most at Cafè Palmanova it is everybody working there. And everybody who comes to this wonderful place in Palmanova. Workers take their coffee in the morning, kids and their parents come for lunch after school, couples enjoy the secluded patio.

There are many more places in this bright and spacious building, a favorite one for every guest. Mine is the wooden terrace under the blue sky. Sometimes I just have a coffee in one of the deckchairs on the lawn. Or I meet friends for breakfast. The buffet at Cafè Palmanova offers homemade bread and pastries, fruit salad or coca. You can even take the extraordinary bread from Amadip Esment’s own bakery home.

I will never forget my visit at Amadip Esment’s bakery in Palma, together with Montserrat Fuster. In my interview with the wonderful president of Amadip she told me about the history and the current projects of the unique organisation. Amadip works with and trains young people with mental disabilities. For almost 60 years now the foundation is providing professional apprenticeships, accommodation and support. Today, Amadip Esment has its own vocational school and training facilities. And it cooperates with more than 850 companies on the island.

Maybe you also know their popular restaurants at Plaça Es Pes de Sa Palla or Can Balaguer in Palma. They all use fruit and vegetables from their own eco-garden Can Weyler. And all three got beautiful terraces. While Cafè Es Pes de Sa Palla and Cafè Can Balaguer* are located in Palma’s medieval old town Cafè Palmanova got a luminous and modern new building. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming nonetheless – unmistakably Esment.