If you’ve ever stepped inside Rata Corner, the hip yet cosy book store located just off Blanquerna, you’ll know that it is much more than your average book shop. Founded by the cultural powerhouses that are Edy Pons and Miquel Ferrer, Rata Corner isn’t a place to simply buy a book, it’s a place to truly immerse yourself in a book. Case in point, you can curl up in an armchair, order a glass of wine, and while away hours within the pages of their carefully curated books. But fear not, it’s not just all about books. Rata Corner also offers a great selection of artwork, gift cards and vinyls for the most discerning of shoppers. It’s the perfect place to acquire a stylish gift, or to attend one of their regular in store events.
Rata Corner is partly known for being an independent bookshop which first opened back in April 2016. However, it has now grown to now host cultural and literary events on both the island and beyond. The FLEM festival (Festival Literatura in Magaluf) is the brainchild of Rata Corner in association with INNSiDE by Melia. it’s not an exaggeration that it’s success and popularity is growing year and year. The most recent festival played host to the bestselling author, Dolly Alderton, which shows the huge allure that both Edy and Miquel have worked hard to create.
For English speakers on the island, Rata Corner has a great selection of classics and current bestsellers for those who prefer to support a small business, rather than reach for Amazon yet again. And not a business to leave out little ones, in December 2020, Little Rata was born. Just a few doors down is a haven of children’s books and toys, that will have parents reaching for their purses and pockets. Edy and Miquel have cornered the market where what adults and their offspring what to be reading.
Never a brand to miss out on an event of cultural importance, every ‘Dia de Sant Jordi’ (the festival where women typically gift man a book, and in return men return the favour with a rose), Rata Corner always boasts a presence at the beautiful book markets that fill the streets of Palma; even producing a custom made tote bag to keep all your libros safe. (I personally own two, and won’t be parted with either of them). Whilst I would never encourage anyone to mindlessly scroll on the ‘gram (not when there’s books to be read), I implore you to go ahead and give @ratacorner a follow if you’t already. If you consider yourself to be somewhat of a culture vulture, you don’t want to miss out of whatever Edy and Miquel have up their sleeve. A true force to be reckoned with on the literary scene, and let’s face it, when you open a book, you open your mind.
“Supporting local bookstores and shops may seem like a small gesture for individuals, but it is vital for preserving the essence and cultural diversity of our island. Together, we can create a brighter future for Mallorca,” — told me Miquel Ferrer.
Text by Cat Powell
