German Society on Mallorca: Who Shows Up at the Island's Parties

German Society on Mallorca: Who Shows Up at the Island's Parties

From the Old Town to Puerto Portals: familiar faces, short stories, lots of atmosphere

Spring pushes a cool, slightly cloudy breeze over the Passeig Mallorca, the palms rustle quietly to the rhythm of everyday sounds — engines, bicycle bells, the distant murmur of the sea. In this mood you repeatedly encounter the same faces at events in Palma, Puerto Portals and Port d’Andratx: people who are known professionally from Germany and who live here temporarily, work here or spend their summer evenings. They have become part of island life without displacing the everyday life of the Mallorcans, as discussed in Between Welcome and Wariness: Germans in Mallorca — What's Really Happening.

If you stroll past a vernissage in the Old Town, you are likely to meet the artist Natalie Bernsteiner, who draws attention with colorful pop-art works under the name Ms. Marnali and attracts a small crowd of admirers. Not far away, DJs play in the VIP area — including Gitta Saxx, who in recent times has been performing as a DJ and often plays in Palma and on the west coast. Her presence sometimes gives a party that slightly quirky shine that people here accept with a shrug.

TV personalities and presenters also appear: Jana Azizi, known for sports reporting, is regularly spotted at after-work gatherings in cafés, and Jörg Dahlmann, whom many still know as a voice of sports, occasionally stands himself behind the turntables. This mingling mirrors scenes from public events covered in German Unity at the Beach: Celebrating, Remembering — and the Question of Engagement. It's the mix of professionals who do not hide and the relaxed island atmosphere: you meet them while browsing the Mercat de l’Olivar or over an espresso in a side street of Carrer de Sant Miquel.

In Puerto Portals hosts and regulars mingle: Janina and Florian Zweig run a restaurant there that serves as a meeting point for some well-known faces. Paul Janke, who comes from the reality TV scene, is among the guests you see on mild evenings along the harbor promenade. And those who know the island addresses often spot couples like Thomas and Sandro Rath: designers who attend stylish events on the island and are present at cultural evenings themselves.

Older schlager artists and stage professionals like Roberto Blanco appear at club events or at the Mallorca Country Club; they bring a different kind of audience, one that carries memories of long years on stage. Entrepreneurial couples like Alex and Britt Jolig, who combine real estate and gastronomy, and networkers like Bettina Klos and Ekaterina Meyer also mix in; they like to show up in large groups at parties and make contacts.

Actors and former TV participants are regularly seen as well: Claudelle Deckert and her partner Peter Olsson, Martin Semmelrogge with Regine Prause or Marc Terenzi — names that also provide conversation when the tapas arrive and voices get louder. Young influencers and models like Dominik Bruntner or Jolina Fust are part of the generation that mixes the image of “being a celebrity” with selfies and PR appearances; they bring fresh perspectives to cafés and beach bars.

And then there are the service providers who organise the lives of demanding visitors: pe