Mallorca's Restaurant Crisis 2025: Empty Tables and Frugal Tourists

Mallorca's gastronomy is experiencing a difficult summer: fewer guests, rising costs, and changing consumer behavior weigh on the industry.

The Crisis Facing Mallorca's Restaurants

Mallorca is known for its diversity of restaurants—from traditional tapas bars to chic venues with sea views. But this summer shows a different side of the island's gastronomy. While tourists fill the beaches, many tables in restaurants remain empty.

A Difficult Start to the Season

May and June were disastrous for Mallorca's gastronomy. In July there were first signs of improvement, but figures remain well below expectations. Juanmi Ferrer, president of the regional restaurant association, reports a sobering balance: "We see more guests than at the start of the season, but revenues are significantly lower than in the previous year." These words reflect the uncertainty of many restaurateurs.

Frugal Tourists Shape the Picture

The reasons for the crisis are manifold. Higher flight and hotel prices have forced vacationers to cut back. Instead of a lengthy meal with appetizers, main courses and wine, many opt for the essentials—or they turn to cheaper alternatives like supermarket sandwiches. Regions particularly affected include Port de Sóller and Sant Elm, where guest numbers have fallen by as much as 40 percent.

Even Palma is not spared. At the popular Paseo Marítimo, restaurateurs had to accept a revenue drop of around 20 percent—despite the completion of construction works that had created additional hurdles the previous year.

Rising Costs Add to the Burden

The economic difficulties are compounded by rising rents, higher food prices, and new wage agreements. Juanmi Ferrer warns: \"For many businesses, the bottom line no longer adds up.\" In 2024 alone, more than 370 restaurants closed; this year this number could rise even further.

A frightening sign of the crisis is that some restaurants grant their staff vacation in the middle of the peak season—something completely unusual on Mallorca. Lunch service is off in many venues, and in the evenings occupancy remains far behind previous years.

Inevitably a Structural Change

The gastronomy is heading towards a transformation: lower-priced venues could benefit, while more expensive restaurants face a difficult autumn. The once-renowned diversity of Mallorca is at stake.

It remains to be seen whether the industry can reinvent itself or whether a gastronomic purge looms. One thing is certain: the golden summer of Mallorca's gastronomy seems to be over for now.