Cris Odriozola, founder of Palma’s beloved healthy dining spot La Mesa, has built her success on a foundation of passion, perseverance, and purpose. For Cris, success isn’t measured in rave reviews but in the joy of waking up each day eager to go to work. In this candid Q&A with ‘Humans of Mallorca’, she shares how she found her way into the culinary world and how she’s striving to balance running her restaurant with quality family time — all while advocating for a more sustainable future for Mallorca.
Where were you born?
I was born in Palma de Mallorca
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to do something related to sports. Physiotherapy.
Who are your parents?
My two biggest supporters. Jordi and Pilar, a perfect mix of Barcelona and Seville.
What have they given you in life? What are you grateful for?
A set of values that I want to pass on to my children.
Where do you live now and why do you like it here?
I live in Mallorca. I think it is a special and unique place. Maybe a bit crowded but with a special charm.
How did you choose your profession?
My best friend helped me. I started three different careers and none of them convinced me. I tried cooking and I was happy from the very first day.
What was your first professional success?
For me, the true measure of success is waking up every day with enthusiasm about going to work in my own business.
How and when did you open La Mesa? What is the basic concept?
We opened two years ago. The concept is to offer fun, healthy food on a daily basis. And combine that with a series of activities such as workshops and themed dinners to bring cooking closer to more people.
What difficulties did you face?
Opening a business is not easy. We were faced with the fact that the initial concept had to change so that people would start coming. We knew we were cooking well but people were not coming.
How did you overcome this challenge?
By totally believing in the concept, in us and in what we were fighting for every day.
What are you most proud of?
Of having overcome every single challenge. Of having kept soldiering on and believing.
What do you think about the protests against mass tourism in Mallorca?
I think we should make an effort to be more selective and opt for quality tourism that does not exhaust the limited resources of the island.
In what way is Mallorca better than Barcelona or Madrid?
I don’t see it that way. I think Mallorca is a great destination without having to compete with any other city in Spain or the world. Each place is unique and has an infinite number of things to discover and offer.
What is your goal in life?
To be able to combine my profession with quality family time.
How do you see Mallorca in 2030? What changes would you like to see?
I would like to see an island that is more caring, more conscious, and more committed to the scarce and finite resources we have. We need to be able to manage these coherently and we may need to impose measures to manage tourism in a more sustainable way.
Text by Anastasia Barysheva
