Macao Café Sta Gertrudis — Restaurant in Santa Eulària des Riu

So close to perfect but the imperfect was shocking.

Parking in the charming village of Santa Gertrudis can feel like a mini treasure hunt. So, by the time you arrive at Macao Cafe, there’s already a sense of accomplishment—and hunger! The restaurant welcomes you with a large, tree-covered terrace, enveloped by a halo of bamboo. Inside, it’s an upcycled haven of Italian flair; spacious but unmistakably noisy.

The atmosphere is charged with enthusiasm; this is clearly a gathering spot for foodies and friends, and in an ideal world, all patrons would be both. And oh, the food! The Italian cuisine here is nothing short of exceptional. From antipasti to hearty pastas, the culinary adventure at Macao Cafe is well worth the journey.

The drink menu complements the dining experience nicely. An excellent wine list, simple yet delectable cocktails mixers (G&T etc), and a decent selection of beers make it a place where you’d happily raise a toast. Clientele leans towards monied groups of multinational friends and family, making it a melting pot of cultures with one common love—great food.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: the service. As much as I aim to be positive, it’s hard to ignore the unfortunate interactions we had. The staff, apart from Eliza, was disappointingly inadequate, bordering on rude and arrogant. Service errors were glaring, and the attitude was inexcusable, even accounting for end-of-season fatigue. But let’s give credit where it’s due: Eliza was the saving grace, preventing us from abandoning ship before the mains arrived - and we seriously considered it; embarrassed for our guests.

As for value, be prepared to shell out a bit more; Macao Cafe is on the expensive side. Yet the stellar food and charming ambiance could justify the expense if the service were up to par.

Macao Cafe offers a mixed bag. The setting is idyllic, and the food is marvelous, but the (less than - off the cliff) lackluster service leaves an indelible stain on what could otherwise be a perfect outing. So if you’re considering a visit, weigh the pros and cons carefully—because this is one restaurant that leaves you with...

I usually give a second chance to any place I visit, and so I did with this restaurant. To my surprise my reservation was not on the list when I arrived (a similar thing happened the first time), nevertheless I was able to get a table because we were only 2 pers. Not something the party of 6 in front of us can say. We ordered 2 pizzas and 2 Coca-Cola. 7€ for a 250 ml tiny bottle of Coca-Cola?? I have to say the pizza was good, as good as you would expect from a pizza made by a Napolitano chef in a wooden fire oven. But is it worth €25 for a normal pizza of ham and cheese?? While you get the same in a good restaurant in Italy for literally half the price? The service was appalling. Waiters running around looking like they are just winging it. Needless to say, as much as it is a charming place with a good location, we are not...

I’ve never written a negative review but I’ve also never been thrown out of a restaurant.

The food here is amazing, no complaint here. We came here as a family of seven, with a 12 months old baby. At one point my baby started crying, his cries intensified quite quickly and it seemed he didn’t digest something he ate well.

The owner came furious towards us and yelled at us that he has other guests and that the baby had to leave the restaurant.

I would have left on my own accord after checking that my baby was safe. I understand that a crying baby is a nuance to other guests but there is a way to ask me politely to...