Where should you eat in Mallorca when you want something better than the familiar tourist favourites?

Food journalist Mia Naprta joins Vicki McLeod and Oliver Neilson to share some of her latest discoveries, from excellent-value menús del día and properly prepared Valencian-style paella to brunch, Japanese pancakes and an extraordinary three-and-a-half-hour Michelin-starred tasting experience.

The conversation takes us from Palmanova to Selva and Palma’s old town, revealing why some of Mallorca’s most interesting restaurants are found beyond the island’s usual expat dining circuit.

Mia also explains what it is really like to review restaurants and bars for a living, including the unexpected confession that she is not particularly keen on alcohol, despite being paid to write about it.

Listen for plenty of recommendations, strong opinions and a lively debate about whether paella is a Spanish masterpiece or simply a glorified risotto.

Mia Naprta is a food journalist who writes in English for the Mallorca Bulletin. Her work takes her into restaurants, hotels and bars across the island, searching for interesting new openings, excellent-value menús del día and dining experiences worth recommending.

Show notes

In this episode:

• Mia explains what a gastrojournalist actually does
• The joys of discovering an excellent menú del día
• Why affordable lunches can reveal more about Mallorca than expensive tourist restaurants
• Exploring places outside Palma and the familiar expat areas
• Beach dining in Palmanova
• What makes an authentic Valencian-style paella
• The case against paella, including Oliver’s “glorified risotto” verdict
• Brunch culture and Japanese pancakes
• Eating at Selvaj in Selva
• Special-occasion dining at Zaranda in Palma
• The theatre and attention to detail behind a Michelin-starred tasting menu
• What it is like to spend three and a half hours over dinner
• Why Mia drinks for work, despite not being a great fan of alcohol

Restaurants and places mentioned

Casa Chiringo, Palmanova

A relaxed beachside restaurant recommended for paella. Mia explains that the team learned from Valencian chefs and prepares its paella in the Valencian tradition.

The paellas discussed were priced at approximately €22 to €26, depending on the variety. Mia tried a mixed-style paella containing chicken, seafood and green beans.

Selvaj, Selva

One of the episode’s examples of the interesting restaurants that can be discovered by travelling beyond Palma and the island’s better-known international dining areas.

Zaranda, Palma

The Michelin-starred restaurant led by chef Fernando Pérez Arellano, located within the Es Princep hotel in Palma.

Mia describes an intricate, theatrical tasting experience lasting around three and a half hours, with show cooking, highly detailed presentation and a concept influenced by leather and the history of the building.