Cheap eats in Palma de Mallorca — eating well without overspending

Palma Food Guide

Cheap Eats Palma de Mallorca: 6 Ways to Eat Well Without Overspending

Cheap eats in Palma de Mallorca are more abundant than most visitors expect. While the city has no shortage of expensive waterfront restaurants charging tourist prices, it also has a thriving culture of affordable, high-quality food — in its markets, bakeries, tapas bars, and the Turkish restaurant that has become one of the best value meals in the city.

This guide covers six honest ways to eat well on a budget in Palma de Mallorca — no tourist traps, no compromises on quality.

1. Turkish Food — The Best Value Meal in Palma

For cheap eats in Palma de Mallorca, Maka Istanbul on Carrer de Francesc Suau is the standout. The dürüm — Angus beef döner in homemade lavash bread with fresh vegetables — delivers extraordinary quality at a price that makes it the best value meal in the city. Everything is made from scratch: the bread baked that morning, the meat roasted on the day.

This is not cheap food that cuts corners — it is honest food made properly, at a price that reflects genuine commitment to value. Open every day, lunch and dinner. Halal-friendly.

2. Mercat de l'Olivar — The Smartest Way to Eat in Palma

Mercat de l'Olivar is Palma's central covered market — and one of the best places for cheap eats in the city. The market's stalls sell fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, cured meats, and prepared food at prices significantly below what restaurants charge. Buying food at the market and eating on the terrace outside is one of the great Palma experiences.

For a sit-down meal in the market, Olivar Bistro offers excellent value for Mediterranean cuisine — particularly at lunch, when the market atmosphere is at its best.

3. The Menú del día — Spain's Greatest Budget Meal

The menú del día — Spain's traditional set lunch menu — offers three courses plus bread, water, and a drink for a fixed price, typically between €10 and €14 in Palma. It is the best way to eat in a proper restaurant on a budget. Look for handwritten blackboards outside restaurants in the old town and the streets around the market — these are invariably better value than the printed menus.

4. Tapas Bars

Palma has a lively tapas culture — particularly in the bars around the Plaça de la Reina and the streets of the old town. A round of tapas and a glass of wine or beer can constitute a full meal for two for under €20. The key is to follow the locals rather than the tourist signage.

5. Bakeries and Pastry Shops

Palma's traditional bakeries (forn in Mallorcan) sell ensaïmada, cocarrois (savoury pastries filled with vegetables), and other baked goods at very low prices. A fresh ensaïmada for breakfast costs around €1.50 in a local bakery — and it will be better than anything you eat in a tourist café at three times the price.

6. Supermarkets for Self-Catering

For visitors staying in apartments, Palma's supermarkets — particularly Mercadona and Lidl — stock an excellent range of local products including sobrassada, ensaïmada, local cheese, and fresh produce from the island. Buying local ingredients and preparing them simply is often the cheapest and most satisfying way to eat well in Mallorca.

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