Ánima Beach up for new lease: Opportunity for a beach classic in Palma

New opportunity for a seaside classic

If you walk along Palma's city beach in the morning, you know the scene: joggers with headphones, dogs sliding in the sand, and the first coffee guests securing their spot on the promenade. In the middle stands the beach bar Ánima Beach – a place that repeatedly attracts life, voices and sea air. Now the site is being re-let, as noted in a Mallorca Magic report seeking an operator for Ánima Beach, which means fresh ideas for a familiar spot.

What is being offered

The building including the outdoor terrace is being leased – together just over 1,200 square metres. That's enough space for tables, sunbeds, a small stage or even beach sports offerings. According to the Mallorca Magic article on the concession conditions at Punta del Gas, the concession is set for a maximum of 18 years. A classic café and restaurant operation is expected, but additions are expressly welcome: cultural evenings, sports or family programmes, anything that enlivens the public space.

The small print in numbers: Annual fee €80,000 plus a 4% turnover share. No summer dreams without calculation – but for a sea-view location with strong foot traffic the conditions are realistic for many operators.

Why this matters for Palma

The stretch of the city beach is an interface between locals and visitors, between early risers and evening crowds. A well-run Ánima Beach can be more than a beach bar: a meeting place where neighbours meet again, musicians play short sets and tourists experience genuine Mallorcan atmosphere. The port authority emphasizes that the location should be enlivened – with better opening hours, clean facilities and offers that go beyond coffee and tapas.

I know the corner well: in summer the promenade crackles by 6 pm at the latest, voices get louder, children play, and on some evenings the scent of grilled fish drifts over. In autumn, however, a mild calm settles over the palm promenade; the air smells saltier, benches fill with people waiting for the sunset. An operator with a sense of timing can turn this into a regular fixture.

What applicants should bring

Practically, this means a well-developed gastronomy concept, clear numbers, proof of financial capacity and an idea of how the place can be used both day and night. Important topics will be sustainability, noise protection and accessibility – sensible measures against litter and noise as well as barrier-free access for residents and guests.

A few concrete tips: cooperation with local suppliers and fishermen, seasonal menus, waste reduction and a coherent lighting concept for mild evenings. Planters with native plants, sun sails instead of heavy structures and flexible furniture solutions create atmosphere without great effort. And: start the dialogue with neighbours early – it pays off when the first guests stay late.

Ideas that could work here

Ánima Beach offers room for hybrid concepts: coffee and workspaces for remote workers in the morning, family-friendly meals at lunchtime, small concerts or film nights under the stars in the evening. Sports offerings like sunrise yoga or beach volleyball tournaments bring people at times when it is usually quiet. Pop-up markets with local artisans or culinary partners would strengthen the connection to the neighbourhood.

What remains important: consideration for residents. Music may create atmosphere, but it must not overwhelm the neighbourhood. Technical solutions – good speaker orientation, fixed end times for loud events, dimmed pathway lighting – are often more effective than blanket bans.

Application checklist and outlook

For prospective operators the message is: get your file in order, have a business plan, hygiene concepts, staffing calculations and proof of financing ready, as highlighted in A New Bid for Ánima Beach: Who Will Get Palma's Harbor Beach?. And: sit on site once – 7 pm is the best lesson. Observe how seats are occupied, where the walkways are, when the neighbourhood reacts critically.

Palma needs places with character. Ánima Beach already has that character – now it's up to the applicants to sharpen the profile and make the spot a meeting place that welcomes locals and visitors alike.