Happy place: Cafè Es Pes de sa Palla

Slightly off the beaten track of Palma’s old town, Cafè Es Pes de sa Palla is a true happy place. Time seems to pass more slowly here on the large, slightly elevated terrace. It’s a meeting point for family and friends. For a coffee in the morning, an extended lunch or a few tapas in the afternoon. And with the special atmosphere and the unique history Cafè Es Pes de sa Palla not only makes foodies happy.

The menu consists of local dishes that are also largely seasonal. Vegetables are home-grown in the Esment huerta near Son Ferriol. Bread, pastries and cakes come from their own bakery. The restaurant itself is run by Amadip Esment. A foundation that works with and trains young people with learning difficulties. It provides apprenticeships, jobs, accommodation, support for their families, and much more.

Even if you weren’t aware of the background, the food would be reason enough to come to Cafè Es Pes de sa Palla. I love to start with a few croquetas or a coca. And my all time favorite main course is the grilled hake with vegetables. Although it’s tempting to go for an arroz brut or one of the other typical rice dishes. In any case, leave some space for dessert, it is just heavenly. All desserts, that is. The tarta nins y nines, for example. Children’s cake, literally. But it also melts nicely in the mouth of adults. Or mousse de limón, the perfect contrast to the dark chocolate of the cake.

Of course, you can take everything home. But then you would miss the wonderful people who work here. When the café opened some 25 years ago it was a pioneering initiative in Europe for social and labor market insertion. It’s still going strong, even growing with similar restaurants like Cafè Palmanova and Cafè Inca. More happy places on Mallorca!