Exotic fare in Mallorca´s coolest market

The Santa Catalina district is keeping alive its commercial spirit which started many centuries ago, as this is where all trade with overseas colonies such as Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines took place. For the past 70 years there has also been a wholesale food market on working days. However, what we explored for Islandlife is the daily market hall known for the quality of its fresh fish and vegetables that supply the local restaurants.

Santa Catalina market is based in Navegación Square, which is surrounded by narrow streets, full of bars, restaurants and little shops. Situated in an old, round building with entrances from two sides of the square it is a sunny and very cosy area of Palma town. It looks like a separate village with its own life marked by the sea. Most inhabitants are people working on the boats, young and international ‘yachties’. No wonder that walking through the rows of the market stands you can hear all different languages and find more foreign products than in other classic market. The coastline is just five minutes walk away and at night Santa Catalina is a very popular area to have a delicious dinner in one of the various restaurants or a first drink before going clubbing.

Take your Mallorcan shopping basket made of palomito and come to Santa Catalina market, Saturday morning is the best moment and the coolest one. You will find there everything you need. The vegetables and fruits of the season are mostly from local producers. However, there are also products typical from France or Germany as the Spanish are not the only ones who visit this market hall.

Fish and seafood are the speciality of Santa Catalina market. Each day you have fresh products directly from the Mallorca waters: shrimps and lobsters are just mouth-watering.

You can also find fresh plants and flowers to decorate your home or give as a present to the one you love.

We went looking for radish that is not really used in Mallorcan cuisine and we found it fresh and delicious on one of the vegetable stands. You cannot miss as well the stall with locally produced wines or typical spices. The Mallorcan favourite sobrasada can be bought at the meat stands where you can choose among many cured sausages or various patés. 

For those who suddenly get hungry looking at all that food, you can stop at the small tapas bar that is inside the market where you can have tortilla, Russian salad or albondigas (meatballs).

Santa Catalina market is not just about stalls, clients and products. It is a synonym for quality and a springboard for healthy food promotion. From the initiative of the Association of the Restaurants of Santa Catalina and the market itself, the culinary hall was created with the main objective of promoting and supporting local bars and restaurants and simultaneously the importance of a healthy and well-balanced diet. In the culinary hall we can participate in culinary workshops, wine tasting and cookery demonstrations held by different restaurants.

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