TaPalma 2025: Five Evenings of Tapas, Cocktails and Strolling in Palma

TaPalma 2025 is here: When Palma smells of paprika and citrus

If you stroll through Palma these days, you notice immediately: something different is in the air. Between the rustle of boats in the harbour and the distant cries of seagulls, the scent of garlic, roasted paprika and fresh herbs now drifts through the streets. TaPalma has begun — for five evenings the city turns into a tasting mile.

How does it work? The festival spans the city centre, from the congress palace to the lanes around La Lonja. A festival map or the app shows the participating bars and restaurants. My tip: come in the early evening. The sun still casts warm light on the cobbles, the terraces fill up and queues are usually still pleasantly short. A light Tramuntana breeze from the sea provides the typical Mallorca cool-down.

Tapas, cocktails — and a little more

TaPalma is not just about indulgence, but also about trying new things. Over 30 venues in Palma present specially created tapas and drinks. Some focus on classic Mallorcan flavours with a new twist, others experiment with smoky notes or spirit infusions with flowers. There is both a public vote and a jury award — a great opportunity for young chefs to showcase themselves and for regulars to vote for their favourite by ballot.

The nice thing is: many dishes do not disappear from the menus right away. Favourites often remain on regular menus for several weeks, usually at small tasting prices. That way you can test three different concepts on one evening in a few streets and return the next day if one bite left you curious.

How to plan the evening

Pack comfortable shoes. Cobblestones and winding lanes are pretty, but hungry feet won’t thank you. Take some cash — in the smaller, family-run bars it is still often appreciated. Plan breaks: an espresso on a plaza, a quick look at the sea or a brief bench interlude does good.

Small portions are the secret. Tapas should arouse curiosity, not fill you up. Share more, taste more and talk to the staff — they often reveal which combination fits the respective bar. Cocktail fans should definitely head to the mixology stations. There you’ll find ingredients rarely seen in Palma: local herbs, surprising sweetness, smoke or floral aromas.

More than a festival: a chance for the city

For the neighbourhoods, TaPalma is a small promise: more attention for quiet streets, a boost for new venues and an invitation for locals to rediscover their city. The clink of glasses, the soft chatter on a terrace, a child laughing — such scenes belong to it. And yes: sometimes a playful music snippet leads the way from bar to bar with a sense of humour.

The distribution of visitor flows has a positive effect — away from the loud Ballermann sameness, towards lively squares with character. Young chefs get a stage, long-standing bars get new guests. For the city this means more sustainable evenings that present Palma as a city of culinary pleasure, not just a party destination.

So: bring an appetite, stay curious and walk slowly. Between the clatter of plates, the murmur of voices and the sea breeze you will learn more about Palma in five evenings than in some travel guides. Bon profit — or as they say here: bon profit!