Fira del Variat in Pere Garau: An Evening of Tapas, Music and Neighborhood Atmosphere

Fira del Variat: Neighborhood Festival in the Heart of Pere Garau

When the street lamps along Plaza Pere Garau light up and the scent of fried croquetas drifts into the alleys, you notice: something is happening here. Tonight the square becomes a small street festival. Nine bars and restaurants have put out tables and offer a jumble of tapas — from ensaladilla rusa to the classic pica-pica.

I arrived around 7:00 p.m., the sun was still warm, but the sea was already thinking about the evening breeze. People with shopping bags, young families, students with backpacks, and retirees with time — a colorful mix. The stalls line the Plaza, some crouch at the corner to Calle Argentina, others fill the small promenade toward the market. Everywhere small plates, glasses, and the occasional clink of cutlery.

What’s on the plate

The selection feels honest and unpretentious: crispy croquettes with a slightly smoky filling, well-seasoned olives, fried mushrooms, and tasting boards with Mallorcan bites like sobrassada or local cheeses. I keep hearing the phrase: try one — and then you try. Importantly: come hungry, portions are small but plentiful.

Kids' program and live music
Between tapas tables there are two small stages. On one, an acoustic band plays; on the other, street performers rotate, and there is a children's program with painting and face-painting stations. Around 9:30 p.m., a children's song was sung that half the square sang along to — very charming, very chaotic.

Why a visit is worthwhile

The best thing about such festivals: you meet people from the neighborhood, chat with the hosts, and discover places that would otherwise go unnoticed in everyday life. A hostess at a stand beside me laughed and said: Today we are selling five times as many croquettes as usual. You feel that the scene is alive. It’s not a polished big event, but a sense of home with lots of flavor.

The Fira runs until 11:00 p.m. So if you drop by spontaneously: bring small change, wear comfortable shoes, and be patient for a short queue at your favorite stand. And yes, come hungry — otherwise you’ll miss the best bites.

In conclusion: Such evenings show what Pere Garau is about. No big frills, but honest plates, a murmur of voices, and that very Mallorcan mix of neighborhood and small fiesta. I personally, around midnight after two tapas, a glass of wine and a spontaneous chat with the band, was happily tired. This is how neighborhood culture should look.