According to Yves Saint Laurent, “fashions fade, style is eternal”, and in my humble opinion he’s absolutely spot on. Trends come and go, new restaurants pop up more often than I get my roots done (you heard it here first, no I’m not a natural blonde) and seemingly zeitgeist bars can often sink without trace.
However, some places become perennial favourites that barely need an introduction. They become part of the fabric of the city, the kind of places so comfortable to visit, that they really are the foodie equivalent of popping on your favourite little black dress, you know, the one that makes you look hot to trot, but requires minimal effort.
When hosting guests, struggling for dinner inspiration or when I simply want a treat, I head to El Camino Palma partly out of sheer convenience (it’s about a five minute cycle from my flat, yes that’s a personal best in stilettos).
Fun fact, the owner of El Camino, Eddie Hart, is one of the brothers behind successful dining hotspots Fino and Barrafina in London. Having spent summers here at his families second home, he made the move. In doing so, he has created that special something which has made them a permanent fixture on the Palma food scene, rather than a flash in the (pardon the pun), frying pan.
The delectable menus are printed on simple paper sheets which adorn the marble topped counters, offering food that is made to be shared and I really can’t overstate this enough, definitely go hungry. Without fail I order padrón peppers, salty cod fritters, luscious lamb chops and their signature tortilla that’s gooey in the middle, just how I like it.
So you may be wondering at this point, ok but what makes it so different to other spots in a ridiculously crowded marketplace? Two words, the vibe. Bag yourself a table at the bar and watch the masters aka, the chefs and staff at work. There’s honestly nowhere else in the city that offers up such perfect people watching in the form of a restaurant. It’s no coincidence that when I moved here over two years ago, it’s where I went on my first night in a brand new city. I’ve spent birthdays there, I’ve sent every man and his dog there, quite frankly (and unless something fairly dramatic happens), I can’t see this habit changing. The decor is stylish not stark, the service attentive but never over bearing and the daily specials always have me salivating.
Some places just have ‘it’ – that certain je n’ais ce quoi that’s sets them apart from them competitors and sees them thriving, rather than just surviving.
El Camino is without doubt, one of my favourite places to spend payday. A place to splurge, rather than save, and trust me when I say it’s nigh on impossible to leave without wanting to book in your next visit.
Carrer de Can Brondo, 4, Palma de Mallorca
