The most popular fresh food market with products to eat in or take away
Everyone who lives in Palma or even Mallorca knows of Mercat del l'Olivar.. Shopping at a local market, rather than driving to an out-of-town supermarket, is just one way to improve your green credentials. . Now for the newbies to the island, we will explain this famous market:
Before the tourism industry became Mallorca's main source of income, agriculture was the top industry for a living. Everything from trading food, animals and handmade goods. The original market was first located in Plaza Major but for its organization, hygiene and expansion a huge building was built with plenty of space and light for the most important exchange of the city at that time: trading.
The new market was designed in 1941 and inaugurated in 1951 so it took a total of ten years to build it. The structure has an L-shaped plan and corresponds to the typical regional architecture. The building has two floors and a basement that it used for general stores, cold rooms and ice factory.
Constructed in the bright Mediterranean-style, the building consists of two huge halls that meet together in the middle. This made it perfect for the sellers to reorganise and relocate their goods into their own interconnected areas. The result of this was a well-organised market with plenty of organic food and good atmosphere that would soon become very famous in the city of Palma.
Today in this market you will find fresh and organic food from the local farmers of Mallorca. There you will find fruits, vegetables, meats, (bestseller are porc negre, from free-range Mallorcan black pig sea-food) and seafood. You will find several spots where you can have food cooked straight away, from the sushi bars, oysters stall, champagne and salmon to traditional tapas. Eating inside the market is a great way of soaking up the atmosphere.
Since it's building time, Mercat de l'Olivar has been in constant renovation and new projects are always introduced. Mercat de l’Olivar has reinvented itself to unite the best Mallorcan culinary traditions with modern cuisine. The market is home to the latest trends from all around the world that complete its diverse international selection.
The market today is no longer a place to just buy; It has become a place where you can taste tapas and wines, discover a new taste and make direct contact with high quality fresh products. You can even participate in workshops and guided tours.
Open from Monday to Thursday from 07:00 to 14:30 (partial opening on Fridays from 14:30 to 20:00) and Saturday from 07:00 to 15:00. There is a covered car park.