Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza

Things to see in Mallorca

Portixol

The former fishing village of Portixol lies at the end of the promenade running along Playa de Palma. The charming little village has recently moved from "up-and-coming" to cool in it's own right and the sea front properties, former fisherman's cottages, have become highly sought after. Contemporary bars and restaurants line the sea front.

The ring road behind Portixol and one way system in the village itself has kept motorised traffic to a minimum and most people tend to cycle, skate or run along the seafront where a number of cafes and bars offer an ideal place for those who prefer to take it easy. The small beach in the bay is far calmer and more sheltered than the huge, neighbouring Palma beach and although the sand is not as light or fine it is often cleaner. Visit the beach during the Nit de Foc (23rd June) and see it lit by candles and tea lights.

Either side of the Portixol harbour, the village has two distinct identities. The little beach on the eastern side of the harbour is lined with cafes, and brightly coloured houses. On the western side, at the end of the beach in front of Parc de la Mer in Palma, the waterside promenade is home to some beach front apartments, a few restaurants and a couple of little bars built under the old windmills.

Although the former of these is prettier, it is just ever so slightly further from my house and after work I didn't want exercise, I wanted rum, sugar, mint, crushed ice and a splash of lime. Fortunately the Portixol Corner and El Molino offer just that. Unfortunately when we went, that was all Portixol Corner offered as the night before someone had stolen their cocktail fridge and all of it's contents. I was unperturbed by this as a mojito was all I wanted but it did make the Canadian's Cosmo a little difficult to shake together - the only ingredient available was the glass. Nevertheless we put on a brave face that turned to smiles-all-round when we realised that two mojitos would cost €8 and came with free nachos and there was still gin and tonic on offer.

The drinks were brought over whilst we relaxed in the comfy sofas listening to the chilled sounds of Air and the Sneaker Pimps drifting from the hidden speakers. The drinks were freshly made, just the right side of sweet and some of my favourite mojitos so far this summer. The gin and tonic was equally good, served in a large fish bowl with plenty of ice.

Although the bar is on the water front, it sits below the sea level with the promenade above. This means you can't look out over the water but it's also quieter and you don't have to watch sweaty keep-fit enthusiasts puffing and dripping as they run past.

After we had enjoyed our drinks we wandered along the front to find something to eat. There are four or five restaurants here offering Japanese, smart Italian and American dining options. Having eaten more nachos than was necessary we opted for a Pizza at Diablito's. Friends of mine had recommended the Diablito's down in Puerto Portals and I thought that this was a good time to see if their advice was worth following. It's a fun place for pizza and American style dining with ribs, burgers, fajitas and other Tex-Mex favourites on the menu. We enjoyed the pizza which come in huge sizes so that two or four people can share one all with different toppings. Cheese covered finger-fun for the whole family.

There are plenty of other options for both food and drinks in Portixol, before you even get to the harbour. As I mentioned there is Sushi and Italian food available as well as the Nassau Beach Bar which has an enviable position right on the water front.

Portixol is a great place to go for a drink and some food if you're staying in Palma, there aren't many bars here but the one's there are here are cool and funky and there's a good selection of drinks and food available. The walk along the water front as the sun sets is very pretty and the promise of mojitos and food at the end makes it well worth while. Added to this, the 20 minute walk back makes the food and drink guilt free. Winning all round.

Source: SeeMallorca