Bodeguita Picador, Palma
A smart new tapas bar with tasty food, cool music soundtrack, and designer interior, in the heart of Palma
2019, May 6th
Palma’s newest tapas bar is alongside, and belongs to, Hotel Mamá in Palma’s iconic Plaza de Cort. As with the adjoining hotel, the look of the place was created by the famous French interior designer Jacques Grange.
Bodeguita Picador is narrow inside but the clever use of mirrors and reflective surfaces in the design gives the illusion of more space. The most noticeable thing about this eatery is the striking geometric black-and-white ceiling, which took a month to paint by hand.
The bar takes its name from an unmissable colourful sculpture of a picador which was crafted, surprisingly, from cardboard.
Seating is on stools at the bar but there are also tables available on the terrace at the front, for those who prefer to eat alfresco. If you do eat outside, you’ll miss the cool music – curated by DJ Pepe Link especially for Bodeguita Picador.
At the far end of the bar, chefs produce the food in an open-kitchen area. The rest of the area behind the bar is dominated by smart wine storage units.
Choose from 19 Spanish tapas on the menu, which is printed in Spanish and English. It’s displayed outside on a board, as well as on the placemats on the bar counter. Prices range from 4,50 € for a glass of flavourful gazpacho to 18€ for a plate of Iberian ham (which was excellent and plenty for two to share). In addition to these tapas, we tried tomato-rubbed farmhouse bread and battered squid.
Bodeguita Picador doesn’t serve only tapas: the menu includes some specialities and two rice dishes (one a ‘blind’ mixed paella). We didn’t try the latter, but saw a neighbouring diner eating it and it looked good value for just 10€. From the specialities, we enjoyed a tartar of salmon (16 €) and ravioli of foie and duck (14,50 €).
Wine enthusiasts will appreciate the large choice here – and the opportunity to enjoy some exceptional wines by the glass, thanks to the bar’s wine-preservation equipment.
Our server, Toni, was efficient and friendly and – like all Grupo Cappuccino staff – easy on the eye too!
Photos: Picador / Jan Edwards
Prices were correct at time of writing