Restaurante El Barquero — Restaurant in Palma

🌟 El Barquero – Palma de Mallorca: A Seafood Lover’s Dream 🌟

Tucked away in the heart of Palma, El Barquero is a true culinary treasure for anyone who appreciates honest, impeccably prepared seafood. From the first bite to the last, every dish reflected the freshness of the Mediterranean and the chef’s passion for flavour.

The standout of the evening was, without a doubt, the mussels — the best I’ve ever had. Plump, perfectly tender, and bathed in a sauce so rich and aromatic it begged to be savoured with a piece of crusty bread. Each mouthful captured the essence of the sea in the most exquisite way.

Service was attentive yet unpretentious, and the atmosphere struck that perfect balance between local charm and refined dining. With its excellent wine selection and a menu that celebrates the simplicity of top-quality ingredients, El Barquero delivers an unforgettable gastronomic experience.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A must-visit in Palma de Mallorca — for the mussels alone, it’s...

We went to this restaurant specifically because we were looking for a traditional paella. It had great reviews (around 4.8 stars), so we were excited to try it.

When we first walked in, the place was almost empty and it was uncomfortably hot inside. Still, we stayed and ordered an appetizer — the chicharrón — which was absolutely delicious. That gave us high hopes for the main dish.

Unfortunately, the seafood paella was a complete disappointment. There were maybe four shrimp on top, no clams or calamari that I could find, and the mussels were tiny — most of them didn’t even open. We felt like we were searching for the seafood. The crab legs were thin and overcooked, the shrimp were rubbery and gooey, and overall the dish was badly overcooked.

The only positive was the service. Our waitress was incredibly kind, and because of that we didn’t want to complain to her directly. But I have to be honest — this was the worst paella...

We went to El Barquero, while on a girls holiday in Palma, on the back of the previous reviews and were not disappointed. The waitress was very helpful and welcoming despite our lack of Spanish and we had no difficulties communciating our orders. The warm breads, olives and fabulously garlicly aioli hit the spot on arrival. Four of the party shared the seafood paella, which was really well flavoured and had a good amount of seafood to share between us. Tackling the crab and prawns from their shells isn't for everyone but the size of the prawns cannot be denied. It arrived as pretty as a picture! The other two girls ordered sea bass which they thought was beautiful (although there could have been a touch less oil) and enjoyed the vegetables accompanying it. A thoroughly great meal and a lovely lively atmosphere. We would definitely go back on any...