Frankie Goes To… Palma de Mallorca

Just like Frankie’s unique creations, Frankie likes to travel to unique places. Discovering gems off the beaten track to find inspiration from local cultures and that much needed nourishment for the mind, body & soul. With the world open again and adventures at our fingertips, we want to share with you our favorite spots in hope that you will seek as much pleasure there and stumble upon your own secrets.

Palma de Mallorca

A little slice of Spanish heaven. Palma is home to some of the most magnificent landscapes, beautiful beaches, rocky swimming coves, quirky shops and delicious restaurants. While the bustling city can be enjoyed over a few days visit, we had an express stay unearthing the coolest of places. First stop was the cities unmissable gothic roman cathedral, Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma. Standing tall and golden in the heart of the city, the beauteous exterior can be studied for hours, taking in every small detail, especially whilst enjoying the cool soft breeze from the coast.

From here, you can walk along the top from the cathedral walls and down to a lake with a charming palm tree garden and playground for kids. Enjoyed most when the sun is setting and the shadows from the palms create a mystical feel. Going further afield towards the bay you’ll find Platja de Can Here Antoni, a long sandy beach ideal for a quick dip or picnic after raiding local shops for delicious local produce.

Nestled opposite the beach is a new landmark art gallery, 2b Gallery, showcasing original and powerful work from prominent artists across the world, among them some of the biggest names in street art and Frankie’s significant, creative other Nerone. A great place to find unique provocative artwork.

Delving into the city from here, are an abundance of quirky shops, vintage and new alike. A firm favorite of Frankie’s is Tot Vintage 16, a treasure chest with a riot of colour and great selection, there is a lot to browse but you’ll certainly have fun doing so. Another is Quint, where they have fruity Hawaiian shirts aplenty, bag a more unusual holiday souvenir.

After working up a hunger from exploring you’ll probably want to dine al fresco, being close to the Mediterranean sea there’s no setting quite like it. We had to keep it local in the Old Town getting lost in the labyrinth of narrow lanes and leafy squares, sampling some of the best and freshest tapas the city has to offer. El Bar Dia and El pillon in the Old Town do it best with a huge range of dishes from dates wrapped in Serrano to pulpo a la plancha. Understated, no fuss, just quality food done superbly.

Now we’re talking beaches, if you want turquoise shores and golden soft sand, 20 minutes outside the city is Portal Nous. This paradise is prime to saunter, slow down the mood and observe the more luxurious side of the island. It’s pretty postcard perfect but it can get busy so make sure you plan your day well, get there early and at least get a hike in Valldemossa and Deia afterwards.