Casa Maruka

Away from the old-town bustle, on Carrer de la Reina Maria Cristina, Casa Maruka is one of those places Palma recommends by word of mouth, where people come back for their celebrations. It calls itself market cooking, and the label fits: a short menu with Mallorcan roots and a personal touch, plenty of off-menu specials depending on the day, and produce that matters more than presentation. The restaurant is split into several old-fashioned little dining rooms, one overlooking an inner courtyard, plus some high tables by the entrance.

The meal starts before you order, with the pâté and bread the house offers and a small seasonal soup. The cannelloni — poularde, or beef shin with foie — is the dish the place is known for, alongside game rice served in the paella pan, venison or partridge, and fideos de Porreres (Mallorcan noodles) stewed with pheasant. Artichokes stuffed with pig's trotters, tuna tartare and a Russian salad with a hint of heat show the kitchen's more personal side; for sharing, frito mallorquín, croquetas and anchovies on crystal bread.

The must-have finale is the apple tart, wafer-thin, almost crêpe-like, with butter and sugar: it's baked to order, so ask for it in good time, before you finish your mains. Prices are those of a good restaurant, not a canteen, and the attentive service can slow down when the room is full. Come to eat well without ceremony, as a couple or round a long table.

Reviewed in November 2026