A town of barely 3,000 people has no business having a food scene this good. But having stayed in an old mill in the town for 17 nights in the summer of 2026, I can attest that the food scene really is ‘that’ good, which made my job of compiling the 9 best restaurants in Santanyi, a pretty easy (and enjoyable) job.
If you’re yet to experience Santanyi, think honey-coloured stone streets, walled gardens full of citrus trees, and restaurant after restaurant that had no right being that good in a town this small.
You’ll find a bit of everything restaurant wise – plates you’d happily pay Palma prices for, courtyard tapas, and healthy brunch spots for the morning after. If you’re visiting and want to make a day of it, then time your trip around the market on Wednesdays and Saturdays if you can. That’s when the town really comes alive, stalls spilling through the square and every café table taken by ten.
But, there’s also something very special about the quieter days in Santanyi, and for us staying in the town, these were the days and nights we loved the most.
Right. Let’s do the list.
1. Es Molí de Santanyí
Dinner in a 300-year-old windmill
The setting is the story here: a converted windmill, three centuries old, with a candlelit courtyard out the back. Fountain, fig tree, vines overhead. On a still August evening it’s ridiculously romantic and it’s probably the most Instagrammable restaurant in Santanyi. It was so good it was one of only two places we ate at twice in 17 days.
It was quite funny for us, as we were staying in a 600 year old mill at the other end of town, but this one had an even prettier courtyard than ours.
The menu is mostly tapas, available in small or large portions, which means you can try far more dishes than you should. The dates wrapped in bacon are the one I’d go back for – sweet and savoury in a way that shouldn’t work but absolutely does.
The cod au gratin was also a standout hit for us and one we ordered on both ocassions.
Two honest warnings from experience. Book early if you want the courtyard, because everyone wants the courtyard. We did manage to book on the day both times by calling them and it was no issue – even in August.
Service is generally very good here, although it can be slower at peak times. Food is brought out as it is cooked, the way it should be, and the dishes here are really delicious.
My only criticism here is that they add some odd dishes in to the mix such as asian flavoured dishes, which don’t really make sense if you are ordering mediterranean food, but we stuck to the traditional dishes and all were amazing!
2. Restaurant Manique
The one I now book before my flights
I’m not exaggerating with that heading. Flights first, Manique second, hotel third. That’s the order from here on in.
It’s a Brazilian–Mediterranean fusion spot run by chef Marcos Lee, and nearly everything comes off a huge open grill you can watch while you eat. The bread with truffle butter arrives first and nearly ruined my appetite the first time… worth it, zero regrets. The octopus is the best I’ve had anywhere on the island, and the tomahawk steak we shared between two still gets brought up in our house weeks later.
There’s usually live music too, and the outdoor terrace is lovely once the evening cools off.
One thing about Manique – it isn’t cheap. Our bill crept past €150 for two (about £130), though in fairness that involved wine. Quite a lot of wine.
Book ahead in summer. Weeks ahead, not days.
3. OCRE Restaurant & Bar
Date night, sorted
OCRE sits inside Hotel Can Ferrereta, which holds two Michelin Keys, and the restaurant itself has a Michelin Guide listing. Sounds intimidating. It isn’t and the staff put you at ease within about a minute.
We ate on the Mallorcan patio under the stars, and the cooking is the seasonal, quietly confident sort. Ingredients left alone to do the talking rather than buried under foam and theatre. My sea bass came with almost nothing on the plate beside it, and it didn’t need a thing.
My favourite discovery here happened by accident. Turn up on a Saturday lunchtime and there’s a “Menú de mercado” built from whatever the chefs bought at the Santanyí market that morning. It changes weekly, which I love and it makes eating here a lot more affordable.
It scores 9.2 out of 10 on TheFork, and that feels about right. Pricey when eating al a carte, yes… but the kind of pricey you don’t sit in the car afterwards regretting.
4. Can Gelat
Classic Spanish done right and the most affordable lunch stop in Santanyi
Can Gelat lives in a beautiful rustic townhouse just off a narrow street near the main square and does the classics in a proper classic way: tapas, meats, stews, serious meat cookery. No gimmicks, no squid ink foam, just proper Mallorcan grub.
We almost left here before ordering as we looked at the menu and were all a little tired and struggling to decide what to eat. Luckily, my 11 year old announced she was ordering the guacamole nachos and so we had no choice but to stay.
What a great decision that was, because not only was the guacamole with the nachos plentiful and incredibly fresh, the rest of the more classic food we ordered was amazing.
The highlight for me was the stewed beef, which was super tender and packed with flavour. Not what I thought I’d want on a super hot August day, but something I really enjoyed.
The ice-creams here are also delicious. The price is about as good value as it gets in Santanyi with a meal for 4 of us at lunch, plus drinks and ice-creams coming in at €65.
The staff were super welcoming in that unforced way you can’t fake, and there’s seating indoors and out on the street.
5. Retroway
Brunch worth skipping the beach for
Retroway is a flexitarian café where everything is homemade and locally sourced. No additives, no added sugars, and a serious vegan and gluten-free selection. We decided to drop in here as a last minute decision after doing a day trip to Soller through the mountains.
We were tired and hungry and there was parking right outside on the street so we dropped in here for dinner.
What a great decision it was as the kids had poke bowls and I went for a burger.
Laura the beetroot ravioli and the courgette tartare on the plant-filled terrace, with a kombucha, and it was exactly what we needed after a day of siteseeing. That fatigue is real, however much nobody on holiday wants to admit it.
It holds a 4.8 on Tripadvisor from hundreds of reviews, which for a café is remarkable going.
One gripe – portions lean small for the price, especially the desserts. Order the mushroom balls as well as whatever else you fancy. You’ll thank me later.
The only mistake we made here was sitting outside. We were still hot from our day out and should have sat inside where they had amazing air-con! But that’s on us, not them.
6. Brasserie Flor Santanyi
BBQ and tapas in the square
If you are looking for somewhere to eat in the old town square (and you totally should) then Brasserie Flor is probably my top recommendation. This place is pretty small compared to the other eateries on the square so booking a table in advance is highly recommended in peak season, but it is well worth the effort of doing so.
This was one of only two restaurants in Santanyi that we visited twice. The first time we shared tapas between four of us, all of which were authentic and delicious. The second time we opted for their BBQ menu, and although I didn’t personally see the BBQ, you can taste the flavour so it must be cooked over coal or wood, and the meat was exquisite.
On my second trip here I opted for the entrecôte steak and I am not exaggerating when I say this was one of the best steaks I’ve eaten, and one of the best meals I had during this 17 night visit.
The staff are delightful. There’s a lovely Spanish lady who enjoyed correcting our improving Spanish, and a German lady who I think thoroughly enjoyed watching our quirkiness as we did hers.
This is a stop that offers high quality food and drink without breaking the bank – and allows you soak up the atmosphere right in the centre of town.
7. Alchemy
Wide menu choice and good quality on the square
We took a chance on Alchemy towards the end of our time in Santanyi as we needed somewhere to eat and hadn’t booked – how dare we I know!!!
They didn’t have a table when we arrived but asked us if we’d like to have drinks in their seriously well air-conditioned inside area which we happily took them up on.
We tried tapas options here and were not disappointed. The pan y aioli is one of the best we tried and the food that came later was equally good. This a great place to bring kids as they have an extensive menu and they also offer pizza, which was one of the best we saw in the town.
All in all, we enjoyed Alchemy.
8. Anoa
The creative wild card
Anoa is cosy and stylish, with a stone-walled courtyard and a sunny terrace, and it’s owner-run in the truest sense – the owners come out and chat between courses, and they clearly love what they do. They are a husband and wife team and having spoken to the husband at the end of our meal we learned that he used to work in the restaurant, before buying it over a decade ago.
To still be in business after 10+ years the food has to be good. We ate here once and walked past it most days when walking in to town, and it was always busy with a mix of families, couples and groups of all ages.
The kitchen takes swings here. Pear carpaccio to start, then pork with a chilli-coffee crust – fusion style combinations that sound wrong on paper and work completely on the plate. It’s the sort of cooking that makes ordering feel like a small adventure.
Not everything lands, though. The ox cheeks in red wine sauce were too greasy for my liking – I’d stick with the pork. But give me a kitchen that takes risks and mostly wins over one that plays it safe every time. Especially when you’ve had enough of tapas and want something different.
The numbers back the risk-taking up: 4.7 from over 1,500 reviews and prices that don’t make your eyes water.
9. Restaurant Laudat
Fine dining under a lemon tree
Laudat occupies an old Mallorcan house right next to the Sant Andreu church, with a patio-terrace shaded by a lemon tree. Another Michelin Guide entry, and the setting alone would have won me over before a single plate arrived.
The five-course tasting menu is the thing to order – a run through fish, poultry, beef and vegetables, all traditional Mallorcan cooking given a light modern shake-up. I still think about it, which is the only test that matters. And the veal tongue carpaccio is my “trust me on this one” dish. I know how it sounds. Order it anyway.
Two small notes. It’s on the expensive side, and when the place is rammed the service slows right down. We waited a fair while between courses one busy evening. Nobody at our table minded much (lemon tree, wine, warm air), but if you’re in a rush, this isn’t your night.
If you’ve got more than a few nights:
Three more worth your time:
- Sa Placa – tapas right on the main square. Good brunch/lunch menu and quality traditional foods.
- L’Aurora – rustic newcomer with a fun little bar and a seafood-leaning seasonal menu. One to watch.
- Pambolieria Es Pontàs – down in Cala Santanyí, seafood tapas with an Italian accent. Combine it with a swim and a wander out to the Es Pontàs rock arch.
A few practical bits:
Market days are Wednesday and Saturday – on these days book lunch tables ahead, because everyone has the same idea by noon. The fine-dining trio (Manique, OCRE, Laudat) need reservations in July and August, sometimes well in advance.
Most kitchens here close between lunch and dinner service, so don’t wander in at 5pm expecting to be fed unless it’s high season. that mid-afternoon gap catches British visitors out constantly. And if you’re vegetarian, you’re spoilt in Santanyí — Cal Reiet’s Table, Gra and Retroway lead the pack, but nearly everywhere has decent options now.
Ready to eat your way round Santanyí?
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So, which table are you booking first?