Santa Catalina Market

The Market is the heart of Sta. Catalina. It contains stalls with fresh local produce; fish, meat, as well as flowers, newsagents and food stalls. It is open from 8:00 until 14:00, Monday to Saturday. The Apartments at StayCatalina are just around the corner from the Market and are accordingly designed to make the most of this opportunity. Our kitchens are well equipped with an extensive range of good quality homeware and utensils, where staying in for a meal is not a make-do solution for a lazy night but one of the highlights of your stay.

Supermarkets

If you are staying at StayCatalina Boutique Hotel-Apartments, the closest place for your supermarket goods is either of the locations of Eroski; either on Calle Fabrica across the street from the pedestrian section, or the smaller basic Eroski City, across from the southern entrance to the Market. All supermarkets are open from 9:00 to 21:00, Monday to Saturday. Britvid International Supermarket on Calle San Magin has an international range of products, and is open on Sundays and public Holidays as well. Organic produce and products can be bought from the EcoIlla stall in the market, and for wider range as well as Vegan products the LoVegano store on C/Cotoner.

Bakeries and Cafes

The neighbourhood is full of delicious Bakeries and Cafes offering pastries, sandwiches and salads for breakfast, snack or a light lunch. Most can be found surrounding the market, Chantilly and La Madeleine de Proust offer French baked treats, Fibonacci bakes exceptional bread, and Ca Sa Camena offers traditional Mallorcan bread and sweet or savoury pastries. Also by the market, Café El Isleño offers simple but tasty sandwiches and a very friendly service, and El Perrito offers light lunches and salads while next door at Cafe El Trotamundos coffee making is treated with particular reverence by its Italian owner. Cafes open early at around 07:00 and stay open throughout the day until approximately 18:00.

Restaurants

Calle Fabrica has recently been turned into a pedestrian zone, and old and new restaurants alike have sprawled into the street. The main advantage in this case being able to eat outside, which is especially popular on summer nights. For local and Spanish cooking, across from the market, Monolisto serves up quick, simple but hearty meals. Patxi, on Calle Espartero, as well as being a serious “meat” restaurant has an exceptional tapas bar in their front room. Tartaro on Calle Cotoner offers good quality tapas and specialities from around Spain. Patron Lunares, just across from the pedestrian zone on Calle Fabrica, boasts a fantastically atmospheric setting as well as a great brunch on Saturday mornings.

For a more international taste, Some restaurants in the area worthy of mention are Duke on Calle Soler which offers delicious pan-pacific Asian food in an informal surf-styled setting. Appetite Bistro on Calle San Magin has southeast Asian cuisine with a twist, and on Calle Fabrica, la Bottega de Michele offers fine Italian fare while sitting out on the terrace.

Catering more specifically for vegetarians and Vegans, ZIVA next to the Market is a Raw Healthy Cafe offering, amongst other things, its famed smoothies, Simply Delicious on Calle Servet offers middle eastern vegetarian and organic food dishes. Just by StayCatalina Boutique Hotel-Apartments you will also find La Golondrina, boasting a 100% vegan kitchen as well as cultural events including a live music stage in its premises.

The Market hall also offers many options for eating and soaking up its wonderful atmosphere at the same time. You can buy your own fresh produce and bring it to Bar Es Mercat, where they will cook it for a small fee and the price of your drink. The crowds of people standing at midday by the corner bar Can Joan Frau are a testament to its traditional homemade dishes and casseroles, as well as paella, served by the dish in a very informal setting surrounded by tradesmen and market stall holders.

Most restaurants open their kitchen from 13:00 to 16:00 and 20:00 to 11:00.

Midday Menu
The Spanish tradition of having a midday menu offers a good chance to try the kitchen at reasonable prices. Most restaurants in the area offer these menus priced between 10€ and 15€ for three courses including a drink.

The following are recommended:

Take Away

Another great advantage to staying at StayCatalina Boutique Hotel-Apartments are its fully equipped kitchens giving you the possibility of taking some different readymade food to enjoy at “home”.

Some of the best Neapolitan Pizza in Palma is baked in the wood-fired oven just around the corner in Il Tano on Calle Mir. Horapa Thai Kitchen on Avenida Argentina does exactly as its name suggests and very well.
The Diner on Calle San Magin is famous for its burgers and American dishes, and you will not find a time when it is not open. Other options for take away cooking include rotisserie Chicken at Pepe’s on the corner of Calle Cotoner and Annibal, or if you prefer your chicken to be free-range and corn-fed at Mr. Poulet in the Market.
The aforementioned bar Can Joan Frau also offers any of its food ready to be taken away. Last but not least, a take-away paella in its famous pan is a great way to enjoy a long afternoon lunch, Trens on Calle Annibal offers varying versions of this famous dish.

With Children
Children are generally welcome in Spanish restaurants. Kid’s meals are not always available, but simple rice or pasta portions are eagerly accommodated. Evening opening times can make it a bit tricky for younger children. A few restaurants which open sooner are: Monolisto on Calle Annibal opens at 19:00, Bianco e Rosso on Calle Fabrica offers Italian food and Pizza from 19:00 and Horapa Thai opens at 19:30 although there is only outside seating.

The answer is obvious! StayCatalina Boutique Hotel-Apartments has been specifically designed to make the most of this enchanting area of the city. Unfortunately our availability is limited so we advise you to book early! If you would still like to stay in this most welcoming area of Palma we can recommend Hotel Cuba and Hotel AC Marriot, both close by. Please be aware that the short term letting of residential apartments to tourists is banned due to its negative effects on rent prices and community relations, always ask to see a tourism licence before you book alternative accommodation.

Palma has one of the largest medieval quarters in Europe, and fragments of its walls can be seen around town. All areas of Palma are very safe and one can lose oneself in its narrow streets without any worry. Keep your handbags and cameras close by to prevent temptation from opportunists and ignore the “Claveleras”, ladies who offer a carnation or a sprig of rosemary and some blessings in exchange for a “donation”. They then might try to run off with your wallet!

There are many galleries and museums dotted around the old town. Most are free entry and offer a welcome air-conditioned respite from the shopping masses. Centre Cultural Sa Nostra on Calle Concepción is a smaller venue but always seems to have something interesting, Fundació Joan March near the Cathedral has a great sculpture garden overlooking the old town, Caixa Forum on Calle Unió has many exhibitions and a great bookshop. Casal Solleric on the Borne mainly has a contemporary art exhibition and the recently refurbished La Lonja offers an incredible setting under the Moorish vaulted ceilings of this medieval corn exchange.
Es Baluard just across the river from Santa Catalina draws the biggest names in contemporary art, but its main attraction is its outside bar terrace overlooking the harbour.

All Beaches in Spain are public, the nearest to the apartment is the sandy beach of Can Pere Antoni, in walking distance from the centre towards the west along the seafront, at either of its ends you will find the beach clubs of Anima Beach and Nassau Beach Club, offering sun loungers and bar service on their terraces by the sea. Other Beaches are reachable by bus or car. There are some naturist beaches left on the island, and you are free to wear what you want in most service-free bathing spots, among these the pebble beach of Lluc Alcari near Deya and the rocky shore known as Playa Delta by Mhares Sea Club.

In the summer there is a stage setup on the lake by the Cathedral where outside Cinema and spectacles are shown at night, and close by on the rooftop Bar of Hotel Saratoga on the Paseo Mallorca there is Live Jazz on Thursday and Weekend nights. Most nightlife is based in the areas of Paseo Maritimo and the bars of La Lonja, as well as some late night bars on Calle San Magin in Santa Catalina, where you will find a great view at the Sky-bar in Hotel Cuba.

For more information, the “Youthing” free pamphlet is available in cafes and shops as well as our reception and has monthly listings of all live shows and venues in Palma and around the Island.

Wellness and Beauty

A wide range of Yoga Studios, Masseurs and Fitness studios are nearby.
The Gym Illes in Calle Caro offers day passes or weekly passes for the use of its installations.
Earth Yoga in Calle Despuig can be recommended for all your yoga needs. For Massages and other treatments, there is Soul Massage on Calle Annibal, a Japanese Massage Centre on Calle Servet and Ayurveda Healing at Lotusoma on Calle Cotoner.
For Beauty treatments and Hairdressing we recommend Eden on Calle San Magin and Stefan on Calle Pou.

Shopping

A large role in the shopping scene of Santa Catalina is taken by BConnected Concept Stores, each of their 5 locations dotted around Santa Catalina specialises in fashion, furniture, accessories, and design items.
Very close to Stay Catalina Boutique Hotel-Apartments you will find Mozaic, stocking furniture, accessories and fashion and its wilder sister store Tony Malony, with Resto-Junk items full of character.
Cronopios on Calle Pou has a quirky selection of fashion and items you won’t find anywhere else, and AKAknits make their accessories and clothing of highest quality Cashmere in their workshop on Calle San Magín.
If you are after traditional Mallorcan objects, baskets and pottery, you will find these across from the market in Calle Pou at the Magatzem de Santa Catalina.

Buses number 3 and 45 go into the centre of town and Plaza España (Main Transport Hub) from Plaza Progreso. Bus number 3 in the other direction goes to the beaches Cala Major and Illetas on the west coast of Palma. Buses to resorts further along the coast (Palma Nova, Santa Ponsa, Andratx) can be taken from Paseo Maritimo. The Airport Bus is number 1, and stops in Avenida Argentina.

Palma Taxis operate on a metered service, with special surcharges to selected destinations (castle, airport). The phone number for bookings is 971 76 45 45, you will find it already programmed in the contacts in your free room StayCatalina iPhone.

Trains and Bus Services to other parts of the island go from Plaza España. The Soller Railway is a privately operated antique train to the town of Soller with its own station in Plaza España.

All major Car Hire companies have offices along the Paseo Maritimo to the west towards the Auditorium, as well as local ones who may offer better rates. Remember that Parking in the Blue Zones in Sta Catalina requires a pay and display ticket, from 9:00 to 14:30 and 16:30 to 20:30, on weekdays and Saturday mornings. Parking across the road from Calle Espartero about (50m away from StayCatalina) does not require a ticket but may be busy at certain times.

Bikes

At StayCatalina Boutique Hotel-Apartments we have Free-to-Use bikes which are available whenever you want. We aim to guarantee at least one days bike riding per booking, allowing our guests to enjoy the ride along Palmas promenade and to the areas of Portixol and Molinar with their wonderful cafes and beaches towards the east. Our Bike room is available for you to store your hire bikes safely at night free of charge. Bikes can be rented for the day or longer from Palma-on-Bike, who have locations on Avenida Antonio Maura or Paseo Maritimo, both in walking distance from StayCatalina Boutique Hotel-Apartments. The Bicipalma public bike initiative has recently been opened up to non-residents via a previous online registration and these sturdy city bikes can be hired and dropped at thirty-two locations across Palma with two locations in Santa Catalina very close to StayCatalina Boutique Hotel-Apartments, on Calle Fabrica and Plaza Pont.