Palma's Maritime Promenade, a balcony over the Mediterranean

Palma’s Maritime Promenade extends down the avenida Gabriel Roca and continues for over five kilometres, passing by some of the city’s most emblematic buildings on one side, and some absolutely spectacular yachts, on the other. It is the perfect place to practice sports, stroll or enjoy a lovely meal with a seaside view.

The wide avenue of the Maritime Promenade offers a pedestrian area and a cycle path, where visitors of all ages can enjoy the route from Porto Pi to Portixol. The promenade’s name, Gabriel Roca, comes from the chief engineer of the Palma Port who promoted its creation and presided over the Tourism Board between 1940 and 1962.

We encourage you to enjoy this promenade and to take advantage of the many attractions found along the Bay of Palma and its broad array of restaurants.

Restaurants on Palma’s Maritime Promenade

You can’t leave Palma de Mallorca without enjoying a delicious meal on the Maritime Promenade, watching the boats in the port and savouring a delicious paella or fish meal. Here, we suggest some of the promenade’s most traditional restaurants and we invite you to discover its other culinary offerings, including Indian, Italian and American.

• El Pesquero (Contramuelle Mollet, s/n): Be sure to order seafood in this Bay of Palma classic, which faces out over the fishing boats that come to dock. It is a terrace with views of the Mediterranean where you can sample delicious fish, stews and paellas, and even some vegetarian dishes. From Monday to Friday, there are daily specials offering a great quality-price value and breakfasts served between 8 and 11 in the morning.
• Ca’n Eduardo (Contramuelle Mollet, 3): Paellas and fideuàs dishes dating back over 75 years on the fisherman’s wharf, with gorgeous views of the cathedral. You have to pass through the fisherman’s canteen to reach the first floor where the restaurant is located with its lovely seaside terrace.
• Arrocería Sa Cranca (Avenida de Gabriel Roca, 13): The wide variety of paellas and arròs a banda (rice in fish broth) offered by this local restaurant may be eaten in or taken away. Its menu also includes meat and fish dishes. A children’s menu is available and there is complete information on allergens and gluten-free options. Special tasting and promotional menus are also available.
• Baluard Restaurant & Lounge: On Palma’s wall, next to the Sant Pere bastion, we find this restaurant, where guests will enjoy a new concept in gastronomy and leisure. It also offers some of the best views of the city and the Bellver castle on its spectacular outdoor terrace. The kitchen is open until 23.30 and the bar serves until 01.00 for those having a late night out.

An athlete’s paradise

Palma’s Maritime Promenade is the perfect place for those who like to exercise while vacationing. It is ideal for a bicycle ride or some skating, thanks to the wide cycle path that borders the coast. And you should have no problem in finding a shop that rents bicycles or skates in the area. Of course, nautical sports abound in this area, especially sailing, with the fabulous Palma and Portixol sailing clubs.

Strolling down the Maritime Promenade

At the start of the promenade, in Porto Pi, you will spot the famous nightclub Tito’s, an emblem of Majorcan nightlife, which includes distinct settings and some of the best DJs of the moment. You are sure to spot it from the promenade, thanks to its magnificent façade and glass elevators, offering views of the bay.

Close by is the Palma Auditorium (internal link) where you can enjoy some of the best shows, concerts and events that Majorca has to offer. This performing arts centre was built right on the Bay of Palma in 1969 and it has nine halls for concerts and dance, theatre or ballet performances. Top artists and shows that are touring through Spain are sure to perform here. Check the calendar for the days of your visit to Palma.

Next to the Parque de Sa Feixina, we find the vestiges of the ancient walls of Palma. These are the Sant Pere and Príncep bastions, the final remaining bastions of the thirteen that were originally boasted by the Renaissance wall. These bastions date back to the 16^th century, a time when Palma required defence from the sea. For this reason, the views from the guard posts offer a panoramic 360º view of the city and the bay.

The Sant Pere (Saint Peter) bastion, the better preserved of the two, has been the headquarters of the Palma Modern and Contemporary Art Museum since 2004. The building is integrated into the walls and it contains ramps, skylights and interior balconies. Its large central patio traces a path around the wall’s perimeter. The ancient cistern, which provided water to the Puig de Sant Pere neighbourhood during the 17^th century, was recovered as a multi-functional space, thanks to its size and excellent acoustics. And be sure to stop at the viewpoint where you can enjoy one of the city’s best views of the cathedral (internal link) and the Maritime Promenade. Here, during the Winter Solstice, an amazing kaleidoscope-like phenomenon is produced when the light of the sun crosses through the central nave of the cathedral and projects over the large rose window of the façade, a show in itself.

One of the most spectacular points of the Maritime Promenade is found in front of La Seu. During the 1970s, land was reclaimed from the sea here – since back then, water reached all the way to the cathedral walls – and the Parc de la Mar was created with an artificial lake, a playground for children and an esplanade that today is the site of concerts, outdoor movie projections and craft fairs.