Who says gourmet dining and family outings don’t mix? At Café Poupette, nestled beside the playground in Palma’s Sa Feixina Park, parents can indulge in a flavorful double smash burger or Leon’s grilled bikini while the kids happily snack on crispy local fries. It’s the perfect spot where relaxed park vibes meet delicious eats, making it a go-to destination for families and food lovers alike.
Café Poupette (Plaça de la Feixina, 1) is conveniently located next to a children’s playground in Sa Feixina Park. Children happily devour local French fries with tomato sauce, while their parents enjoy ordering double smash burgers or Leon’s grilled bikini.
Pros:
– the charming veranda, shaded by trees, is always full of happy-faced visitors;
– you won’t be seated at a free table until it’s completely cleared of dirty dishes and set again;
– in the center of the terrace stands an olive tree in a pot, around which a whirlwind of activity revolves: waitresses rushing back and forth, moms greeting each other with kisses and smiles, cute dogs trying to find the best spot to watch tables full of food. Adorable children constantly try to touch the tails of other people’s dogs, hoping their parents won’t notice. The lively bustle resembles Brownian motion, and only the olive tree remains still in one place;
– the concise menu is designed to make you happy, especially after a long walk. All the poached eggs with avocado and toast, with crispy bacon or smoked salmon, are waiting to ambush their victims in the Brunch section. However, I find the sandwich menu more interesting, where Leon’s grilled bikini with a heap of golden potato waffles caught my attention;
– the crispy, hot Leon’s grilled bikini (€18) is made with slices of excellent toasted bread, and inside are luxurious Cecina de Leon with a melted cheese mix, where Swiss Gruyere takes the lead. If you’re craving umami, this is the dish for you. Spicy jalapeño peppers and half a pickled, slightly sweet cucumber are on the plate, ensuring you don’t float off into the clouds and can comfortably land back on earth, all while crunching on tiny potato waffles fried in pork fat.
– quick service with smiles, speaking all the island’s languages.
– a worthy Caesar salad (€18) with vibrant romaine lettuce leaves. Juicy pieces of grilled chicken are appetizingly seasoned with black pepper and thyme. Flawless croutons and plenty of cheese. The sauce has perfect proportions, and the anchovy fillets are also proudly present. A large portion, enough for two or even three people to share.
– on the Daily Sourdough RAF Tomato (€16) plate, you can admire the inner beauty of the RAF tomatoes – dark green on the outside and red-orange inside. Their sweet, summery freshness is enhanced by good olive oil and sea salt flakes.
– round marble tables and communal wooden tables, combined with benches and woven chairs, set a casual dining tone without any dress code. However, there’s an unspoken dress code at Poupette – the local crowd looks chic and clearly loves to flaunt their shopping bags after a Saturday spree.
Cons:
– if your water glass has too much ice, the waitress will wink conspiratorially and suggest you just toss the excess into the garden (don’t worry, passersby are far from any falling ice trajectory).
– there are too many jalapeño peppers for one Leon’s grilled bikini.
– the Daily Sourdough RAF Tomato dish, if you overlook the RAF tomatoes, turns out to be a complete disaster. The toast with burrata and anchovies is awful. It feels like you’re eating runaway milk, with fish oil thrown in for no reason.
– dirty plates are cleared promptly, but ashtrays are not replaced. Is it laziness or part of a campaign against smokers, humiliating them even on basic cleanliness at the table?
Text by Lana Kesoyan
