One of my favorite things to do is curate experiences that bring together people who have never met before, but who can quickly become close friends. I was living over in Amsterdam, and reached out to new friends that I had met that year – along with a friend I met years prior in Ios, Greece who was traveling around Europe – and asked them if they would be keen to explore Mallorca for the week. We all worked in creative fields, and so we packed up our laptops, cameras, and best linen (jk, I wore the same thing every day like usual) and headed to Spain.
Sóller
The Garden House
We rented a house in Sóller and this became our base for the rest of the adventure. I eyed this place for months and was thrilled when it happened to be available. Locally owned and run, the ‘In My Garden Sóller ‘ spot is unlike any vacation rental I’ve stayed in. Beautifully and eclectically decorated, it felt like we were actually staying in a friend’s home. Each room and piece of furniture told a story and allowed us to sink into the experience in a deeper way, feeling like a local.
Exploring the town of Soller
There is so much to do and see in the town of Sóller. We often strolled right out of the villa and found delicious restaurants, authentic shops, and places to people watch.
Tip * There’s an adorable trolly in the center of town that will take you to the Port where you can swim and enjoy food and drinks overlooking the water.
re Organic
One of our favorite coffee and breakfast spots in Sóller was re Organic. It was perfect for a healthy meal and relaxing in their beautiful garden. It also doubles as an organic general store.
Restaurant Tip
The Red Fort II – Indian Restaurant in Sóller
Unfortunately (well, fortunately) I was so enamored by this restaurant that I didn’t even take photos. It was one of the best Indian restaurants I’ve ever been in. Very casual – you can grab a table outside and watch the world go by while digging into the tastiest meals. I got the butter chicken with garlic nan – yum!
Estellencs
If you’re looking for an authentic, local experience, Estellencs really did it for me. It’s located on the coastline of the Tramuntana mountains. It’s quiet, peaceful, and allowed us to connect into the slow pace that we were searching for.
We stayed in an old village house right in town for two nights called Ca Na Miret.
The restaurant at Maristel Hotel is delicious! We ended up dining there both nights because it was that good. They have local selections of wine from Mallorca (our favorite was from 3.10 Celler) and a wide array of options for dinner. I recommend making a reservation in advance for their outdoor deck seating. You can look up at the stars while you dine!
As you’re heading out of Estellencs and going towards Sóller, there’s a coffee shop with the most amazing view of the water; Cafè Bellavista.
Deià
The drive from Estellencs to Deià was absolutely magic. The mountains and terrain made it feel otherworldly. It’s the perfect place to walk around and explore different restaurants and shops while still feeling connected to nature.
Cala Deià
I was most excited to explore this beach, Cala Deià. We parked up near the La Residencia hotel (in a parking lot about 5 minutes away) and it was about a 20 minute or so walk down the hill. There is parking closer to the beach if you can snag a spot. The beach has two restaurants on the water and the seafood looked delicious! We were saving our tastebuds for La Residencia, but having lunch over looking the water would be an incredible experience and both spots had great reviews.
Valldemossa – Barbaflorida Cafè
Before heading back home to Amsterdam, we stopped at the town of Valldemossa. It was quaint, charming, and had a local feel.
I love supporting small businesses, and so when we came across this cafe decked in my favorite color scheme, wooded accents, and scents of roasting coffee we knew we had to go in! It’s a great place to hang out and a good jumping off point for checking out the adorable town of Valldemossa.
Restaurant II Paradiso
This was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever had lunch at, and so I felt like it needed its own mention. We went into Palma for the day to swim, eat, and relax – this spot is perfect for a delicious pasta lunch with a view. We brought a change of clothes because you do need to dress up a little. We didn’t make a reservation, but it never hurts to book in advance.
Shoutout to Anne, Max, and Zach for the best trip! Grateful for each of you!
