Mallorca's fishing harbours and where to eat seafood

An island that still fishes

For all its tourism, Mallorca has kept a fishing tradition alive in many of its smaller harbours. Colourful wooden boats called llaüts bob at their moorings, and in the early morning or late afternoon you can watch nets being mended and catches being unloaded. These ports are also among the best places on the island to eat seafood.

Visiting them gives a different view of Mallorca from the resort strips, and many have small beaches or swimming spots nearby.

Cala Figuera

On the southeast coast, Cala Figuera is a narrow, fjord-like inlet lined with traditional boathouses, their doors opening straight onto the water. Fishing boats still work from here, and the scene is a favourite with painters and photographers.

There is no beach in the village itself, but the coves of the Mondragó nature park and the town of Santanyí are close by, so it fits neatly into a day exploring the southeast.

Portocolom and Port de Sóller

Portocolom, on the east coast, is set around a large natural harbour and has kept a relaxed, local feel. Its waterfront restaurants are a good place to try fish of the day, and the village is surrounded by quiet coves.

On the northwest coast, Port de Sóller is known for its red prawns, a local delicacy prized for their sweet flavour. They are often served simply grilled. With the mountains rising behind the harbour, it is a spectacular setting for a long lunch.

What to order

Menus in Mallorca's seafood restaurants commonly feature fish of the day grilled or baked with potatoes, rich seafood rice dishes, and a lobster stew known as caldereta, a speciality of the Balearic Islands that is often priced as a special treat.

Ask what is fresh and local that day. Smaller restaurants may have a short handwritten list rather than a full menu, which is usually a good sign. As in much of Spain, lunch is the main meal, and many kitchens close in the late afternoon before reopening for dinner.

Getting around

Many of these harbours are an hour or less from Palma by car. A rental car collected at Palma airport is the easiest way to combine a fishing village lunch with a beach afternoon. Buses connect the main towns, though services are less frequent outside the summer season.

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