Cappuccino Opens Bistro in Casal Solleric: New Café on Passeig del Born

Cappuccino opens bistro in Casal Solleric: New café on Passeig del Born

French notes, Mallorcan street – a café brings the old town to life

If you stroll along the Passeig del Born in the early afternoon, you now hear something different again: the clatter of cups, the soft murmur of guests on the central promenade and the occasional ringing of carriage wheels. These days the Cappuccino Group has opened the doors of its new venue in the historic Casal Solleric. The space, which had been closed since 2020, has been transformed into a bistro after an extensive renovation, blending French influences with everyday life in Palma.

The Casal Solleric Bar covers almost one hundred square metres indoors, complemented by a generous outdoor terrace on the central strip of the Passeig del Born. Inside, pictures hang on the walls; on a sunny afternoon you can see people in jackets, some with a light tie, others with sunglasses – a mix of regulars, tourists and neighbours. The interior recalls a small Parisian spot without obscuring the historic setting of the building.

The menu is dominated by French-inspired dishes: entrecôte with a Café Paris note, steak tartare, a classic duck liver pâté and a cooling vichyssoise for warm days. There are also cocktails, selected wines and champagne. Opening hours are from 12 pm to 11 pm, and prices fall into the upscale range. Those sitting on the bench at the Born watch the lively comings and goings – office workers on their lunch break, pensioners enjoying afternoon coffee, visitors with cameras.

The operation was awarded last August; since then the group has modernised and adapted the premises for business, as detailed in Cappuccino Group revives the bar in Casal Solleric — opportunities, risks and open questions. Municipal data shows the lease is well above the minimum price set by the city – specifically around €250,000 more per year, as noted in €300,000 for the Bar in Casal Solleric: Cultural Value vs. Highest Bidder. For the neighbourhood this means another dining spot that creates jobs and enlivens the museum area outside guided-tour hours.

The Cappuccino Group is no stranger to Palma. In addition to the new venue at Casal Solleric, it already operates branches nearby, including at Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I and on Conquistador street, and local coverage reported an offer of €300,000 a year for the bar in Casal Solleric. With the new bistro at the Born, the company aims to link culture and gastronomy: an espresso before visiting a museum, a glass of wine after an exhibition.

The café's revival comes at a time when the Born is gaining momentum as a shopping and promenade area. Shops and restaurants are taking advantage of the relatively central location; at the same time the question arises how to balance tourist appeal with residents' quality of life. So far the Born presents an image of everyday coexistence: suppliers, sidewalk cafés and families taking a break under the shade trees.

For Mallorca's city centre the new bistro is a positive sign: a historic place brought back to life, jobs being created and another option for visitors and locals alike. Those who visit the Born now find a place where French flavours and Mallorcan street life come together – with open windows, the smell of coffee and the calm rhythm of a late afternoon in Palma.

A small tip to finish: those who come at the opening at noon will still find some quiet; after 7 pm the terrace fills up and strolling on the Born takes on the festive tone of a mild evening.