Renzo hands over: Almare becomes Ovest al Mare – Uncle steps back, nephew brings a Berlin heart

Renzo hands over the licorice tin: a new chapter for a familiar restaurant in Ciudad Jardín

An innkeeper steps back, his nephew brings Berlin energy to the terrace

The morning sun falls through the fan palms along the Passeig edge of Ciudad Jardín, a light breeze carries the smell of espresso and freshly grilled fish across the terrace. Here, where guests order their aperitivos with a view of the harbor bay, Lorenzo "Renzo" Fricchione set the pace for almost three decades. Now the man from Casamicciola hangs a key on the hook: he is retiring, a farewell echoed in stories like Werner Wiedemann hands over Rancho La Romana in Peguera.

Renzo is an island child in a double sense. Born on Ischia, he packed his bags as a teenager and moved to Berlin with an aunt. His career in hospitality began in the German capital, with stations that later earned him the reputation of a reliable host. At the end of the 1990s, a stay for health reasons brought him to Mallorca. What started as a cure became a new beginning: after a few months on the island he recovered, settled in Palma and opened the restaurant in Ciudad Jardín that many here simply know as the "Almare".

The Almare quickly became more than an address for good pasta and fresh fish. It became a part of the neighborhood, a place where regulars have breakfast, couples celebrate the end of the day and families sit together on Sundays. Renzo often stood at the counter, poured Spritz, knew people's preferences and sometimes ordered for guests even before they sat down. His signature can also be felt in small gestures: the plate that stays longer when someone needs to talk, or the anchovy that suddenly becomes the subject of conversation.

The management is now taken over by his nephew Maurizio Fricchione. The 52-year-old has run several venues in Berlin and is present in the capital, among other things, with an Italian concept at KaDeWe. Maurizio's decision to choose Palma is not a sudden adventure: the family has roots on Ischia, and his life path links islands and cities. Maurizio says he does not want a rapid overhaul but to carry the venue forward sensitively – with classic Italian cuisine, good fish and a service that creates closeness.

With the change also comes a new name: Almare becomes Ovest al Mare. The terrace furniture stays, the location remains, and many familiar faces as well. And Renzo? He remains part of the house, not as head chef, but as a link between past and future. He will still be seen on the terrace, with his calm and his stories when the evening breeze comes off the sea.

For Ciudad Jardín and the island, this is more than a change of sign. Such transitions are moments to take a breath: what exists is preserved, and new impulses are added. Maurizio's plans to commute between Berlin and Palma bring an exchange of guests and ideas – which can help extend the season and secure more local employment, a movement similar to the German‑Austrian couple who put down roots in Palma in My Heart Pulled Me to Palma.

Anyone walking past the corner in the coming weeks will discover familiar scenes: the waiter bringing the first croissants, the bottle opened at midday, and the laughter at the neighboring table. This is the everyday life that counts here. For many Mallorcans and regular German guests it is good news because a piece of lived hospitality remains – just under new management, and the island continues to host personal celebrations such as the wedding of footballer Rocco Reitz in Mallorca 2025.

A quiet summer lies ahead for Ovest al Mare: fresh vegetables from the markets, fish from the boats in the bay and recipes carried by two generations. The combination of Renzo's experience and Maurizio's Berlin practice promises a cuisine that remains down-to-earth while being open to new notes. And who knows – perhaps a new classic will soon appear on the menu that will be loved and cherished just as much as the dishes that made the Almare famous.

For Ciudad Jardín, the change above all means continuity with heart. The morning coffee tastes the same, the chairs creak in the same way and the sea remains, as always: a good address for the next stories.