Restaurant closures loom in Mallorca, with over hundreds of eateries facing the brink, due to the gastronomic predicament unfolding in the region.
Mallorca, once a paradise for gourmets, is currently grappling with one of its most severe gastronomic crises. This summer, numerous restaurants across the island face permanent closure due to reduced visitor numbers.
Even in Palma, on the usually bustling Paseo Marítimo, turnover has plummeted by 20 percent compared to last year. The situation is particularly dramatic in tourist hotspots like Port de Sóller, Sant Elm, and Port d'Alcúdia, where visitor numbers have dropped by up to 40 percent.
The crisis in Mallorcan gastronomy is linked to a combination of factors. Tourist dissatisfaction with local cuisine experiences, loss of traditional agricultural practices, shift towards industrialized tourism, and social tension connected with tourism are all contributing factors.
Many tourists leave Mallorca and Spain with poor opinions of the cuisine due to "scams" like overpriced or low-quality dishes in tourist hotspots. This damages Spain’s culinary image internationally and deters gastronomy-focused visitors. The decline in traditional farming practices also reduces the availability of authentic, high-quality local ingredients essential to true Mallorcan cuisine.
The mass influx of tourists has led to an environment favoring quick, cheap food rather than careful culinary craft, which undermines the value of local gastronomic culture and distorts visitor expectations. Broader anti-tourism protests across Spain in mid-2025, including Mallorca, highlight resident pushback against overtourism’s negative effects on community life, environment, and cultural authenticity, which includes gastronomy.
The impact on the tourism industry is significant. Poor tourist experiences with local food reduce Mallorca’s appeal as a gourmet destination, limiting the growth of higher-spending, experience-oriented visitors. Economic challenges for local producers and traditional culinary businesses also threaten the supply chain of quality local products.
If the island cannot preserve and promote authentic culinary experiences, its competitive advantage in attracting culturally and gastronomically interested tourists may diminish. The limitation of visitor numbers in the city center is a demand made by protesters seeking a more sustainable tourism model.
The different areas of the tourism industry are interconnected, and a decline in one can cause a chain reaction threatening the entire economic stability of the island. Bus companies, discotheques, and tour guides also report losses of up to 20 percent due to the decline in gastronomy.
Hundreds of restaurants on Mallorca could close, according to Juanmi Ferrer, president of the Mallorca CAEB restaurant association. Local groups like "Less Tourism, More Life" organized a large demonstration in Palma in June 2025, calling for a more sustainable tourism model and a limitation of visitor numbers in the city center.
Many tourists are saving on restaurant visits and opting for cheaper alternatives like self-catering, affecting the gastronomy industry further. The increasing burden of overcrowded streets, rising rents, and the overexploitation of resources were main reasons for the 2025 protests against mass tourism on Mallorca.
In 2025, protests against mass tourism on Mallorca reached a new peak, with participants criticizing the social and ecological consequences and calling for a more sustainable tourism model. The current gastronomic crisis in Mallorca is a stark reminder of the need for change.
[1] The Guardian [2] Euronews [3] The Local [4] The Independent [5] CNN
In an attempt to diversify the impact on Mallorca's economy, some tourists are turning to alternative activities, such as engaging in sports like cycling or hiking, rather than dining out. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Moreover, the decline in locally owned eateries might be counteracted if the tourism industry actively promotes sports events, attracting athletes and their supporters to the island. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
