Majorca Mallorca

Vicki and Ollie discuss the Omega Loop heatwave gripping Spain and Europe, their neighbour's house catching fire from a short-circuiting electrical cable, the total solar eclipse coming to Mallorca on August 12 (where to watch, traffic chaos, boat safety, and why not to trust ChatGPT for viewing locations), fire safety warnings, Port Andratx fiestas including the boat procession of the Virgin Mary, Mallorca's fiesta culture, viral bars in Deya, a listener question about honeymoon spots (recommending Fornalutx and the Soller Valley), and a reminder for visitors to slow down.
Key takeaways
The August 12 eclipse requires a clear west-facing sea view, meaning only the Tramuntana coast, parts of Calvia (El Toro/Malgrat), and the south-east coast from Arenal to Campos will work. More info to come in a forthcoming episode with Nick Brown.
Roads will be closed or gridlocked; boat charters are selling at extreme premiums and many lack after-dark licences.
Mallorca is in maximum forest fire alert: no barbecues, no glass, no smoking in natural areas.
Port Andratx fiestas (Demonis, Nit de Cavalls, and the Virgin Mary boat procession) are a highlight of mid-July and showcase authentic Mallorcan culture tourists rarely see.
Deya is booming on social media (Barraco Bar, Nama restaurant, Korean tourist wave) but remains logistically tricky to access, especially at night.

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After a bit of a break, Vicki and Oliver are back behind the microphones.
In this episode they discuss the latest developments in Mallorca, including new direct flights from Canada and Abu Dhabi, why cycling tourism continues to be so important to the island, the evolution of Mallorca Live Festival, the upcoming San Juan celebrations, and the tragic fire at the Trianon 2 apartment block in Magaluf.
It's a relaxed catch-up covering life, tourism, events and current affairs on the island.
Topics covered include:
New direct flights to Mallorca
New routes from Montreal and Abu Dhabi
Growing long-haul connections to the island
How global events are influencing travel patterns
Why Mallorca continues to attract visitors from around the world

Cycling tourism
Why Mallorca remains one of the world's most popular cycling destinations
The economic impact of cycling tourism
How shoulder-season visitors help local businesses
The benefits and frustrations cyclists bring to the island

How Mallorca has changed over the last 20 years
A more international visitor profile
The rise of luxury tourism
New food and dining options
Why Mallorca now attracts some of the world's wealthiest visitors

The Trianon 2 fire in Magaluf
What happened at the apartment block in Torrenova
The impact on residents and families
Questions around building safety and fire prevention
Why the tragedy may prompt wider discussions about older residential buildings on the island

Mallorca Live Festival
First impressions of this year's event
Improvements to transport and organisation
Food, drinks and facilities
Upcoming concerts and summer events

San Juan
Mallorca's magical midsummer celebration
Night swimming, candles and traditions
Why it's one of the island's most unique nights of the year

Plus, a few celebrity sightings, a discussion about tourism trends, and a reminder of some of the fantastic guests already featured on the podcast.
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Gastro journalist Mia Naprta is back in studio (with a special guest appearance from Bert the dog) to tell us where she has been eating since we last saw her knee-deep in Restaurant Week. This episode covers the full spectrum of Mallorca's food scene: tapas at the two-Michelin-star Cap Vermell resort, a wine tasting at Richard Branson's Son Bunyola estate, Nikki Beach's season opening, and a data-driven marketing company that is changing how restaurants fill tables. But Mia's heart belongs to the village restaurants too: paella in Fornalutx for forty euros with mountain views, and lechona at a demon-themed spot in Algaida where they leave the bottle on the table. Plus: Palma Boat Show tips, what is coming up in May, and why Mia adopted herself out of corporate London.

Mia Naprta is a gastro journalist and food writer based in Mallorca. Originally from Croatia, she spent years in corporate London before moving to the island and building a career covering Mallorca's food and hospitality scene. She writes for local publications, is part of the Restaurant Week Mallorca team, and can be found on Instagram @mianaprta.

Restaurant Week Mallorca: 52 restaurants in 2026, plans for 40 next year, possible expansion to Ibiza and Barcelona
Anna Potus and Juan Fran: Restaurant Week co-organisers
Nelson (photographer) and Mars (social media): the RW team
DS Hospitality: Alex Czerveni and Alosha, data-driven restaurant marketing, 8-12x ROI
Cap Vermell Grand Hotel, Capdepera: Bravo tapas restaurant, Woro (2 Michelin stars)
Son Bunyola (Richard Branson): recovered Malvasia wine, 700 bottles first vintage
Castillo San Vida: new restaurant Esbalco opening
Nikki Beach Mallorca: chef Alex, pistachio cheesecake, Tattinger, Tricyclium bread, Trufad truffles
Esturo, Fornalutx: paella, fideua, trampo, flan, apple tart, 40 euros/person
Growing (Mesha) and Ritma by Marciano (Fricky Food) also in Fornalutx
Cal Dimoni, Algaida: lechona, gato de almendra, arros brut, Licor 43
Motorworld Palma, Cuber lakes drive
Palma Boat Show: Mark Fosh / Fosho Aces, Harlequin cocktails, Superyacht Charities fundraiser at Can Eduardo
Pura Beach Palma opening May 15
Jumeirah Soller event
Yala Magaluf: pistachio tiramisu
Europa restaurant Magaluf: cheap, cheerful, traditional
Steffi Schulz: Faces of Mallorca book


00:00 Intro / Where has Mia been?
01:15 Restaurant Week recap: 52 restaurants, what worked
03:25 Plans for next year: 40 restaurants, Ibiza, Barcelona
06:09 DS Hospitality: data-driven restaurant marketing
10:06 Cap Vermell / Bravo: elevated tapas at a Michelin resort
14:42 Son Bunyola: Branson, Malvasia, and a wish list interview
17:38 Castillo San Vida: Esbalco restaurant opening
21:50 Nikki Beach: oysters, truffles, and why the restaurant is the real draw
29:30 Esturo, Fornalutx: paella, views, and forty euros
35:57 Cal Dimoni, Algaida: demons, lechona, and a bottle left on the table
40:13 Palma Boat Show tips
47:23 What is coming up for Mia
48:23 Mia's story: London to Mallorca

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Oliver sits down with Steve Redfern, former Leicester, England and Sheffield Eagles prop, who seventeen years ago brought six teams to a beach in Mallorca and started what is now one of Europe's biggest beach rugby tournaments. This year's edition had 84 teams, six pitches, more women's teams than men's, and an estimated two million euros flowing into the Magaluf economy over one weekend. Steve talks about the pink card that stops fights, the German team that brings ham and flags, the referees who double as crowd entertainers, and why he has never introduced prize money. Plus: next year's dates are confirmed and bookings are already filling up.

Steve Redfern is a former professional rugby player (Leicester, England, Sheffield Eagles) and the founder and organiser of Mallorca Beach Rugby, one of Europe's largest full-contact beach rugby tournaments. He has been running the event on Magaluf beach for 17 years.

Steve Redfern: Leicester, England, Sheffield Eagles (late 70s/80s)
Retired from playing due to double retina detachment
Mallorca Beach Rugby: 17 years, started in Santa Ponza, moved to Magaluf year two
2026 edition: 84 teams (record), 6 pitches, 5,000-6,000 spectators
2027 dates: 1-2 May (opening party 30 April), first UK May bank holiday
Women's competition: now equal or more teams than men's
Vets tournament: 12 men's teams, 6 women's teams
Auburn: women's team from year two, still competing, won trophy this year
Bremen: German team, 12-13 years attending, tent/flags/ham tradition
Matthias: Bremen organiser
Pink card: players must kiss and hug to defuse tension
Roger Musi Memorial Trophy: named after late Mambo's DJ
Rules: 5-a-side, rolling subs, 4 mins each way, no scrums/line-outs
Sponsors: Tom Brown's, Blackbeard's, Crusoe's, Chili Lounge, the Square
Calvia Council support, Mayor (former Old Toro player) presents prizes
Pembroke: first team booked for 2027
Scottish national team once played under a fake name
Economic impact: estimated two million euros
Website: mallorcabeachrugby.com
Luna Radio: where Steve and Oliver first met

00:00 Intro / Steve's playing career (Leicester, England, Sheffield Eagles)
01:40 The retina detachment that ended his playing days
02:28 How Mallorca Beach Rugby started (Italy trip, Magaluf boys' weekend)
03:17 Year one in Santa Ponza, year two in Magaluf
04:52 From 6 teams to 84: the growth
05:18 Rules of beach rugby explained
06:13 The social side: rugby players in Magaluf
08:27 The pink card: kiss and make up
09:04 Why there is no prize money
10:19 Women's teams: from one to majority
11:50 Vets tournament and diversity of players
13:01 Bremen: the German team that defines the spirit
14:15 Roger Musi Memorial Trophy
14:46 Next year: dates, bookings, and how to enter
15:56 Economic impact: 5,000 people, two million euros
17:05 Calvia Council and the Mayor
18:25 Biggest beach rugby tournament in Europe?
19:00 Come and watch: why non-rugby fans love it

https://www.majorcabeachrugby.co.uk/
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In this episode, Vicki McLeod welcomes food writer and Mallorca restaurant reviewer Jan Edwards back to the studio for a wide-ranging conversation about food, restaurants and life on the island.
Jan begins with the new edition of the Chefs(in) guide, a restaurant and cocktail bar guide covering Mallorca and the Balearics, before she and Vicki dive into chef culture, why the restaurant industry can still be difficult for women, and how changing dining habits may make the industry more family-friendly in future.
The conversation moves through new and notable restaurants, including El Bandarra, Selvacha, Shima at Hotel Formentor, Brusca brew pub in Manacor, Blanca Terra winery restaurant near Montuïri, Molí de Sant Rafel in Llubí and Ponderosa Beach.
Jan also explains how she approaches restaurant reviews, why she usually pays for her own meals, and why honest, unannounced reviewing matters.
There is also time for wine fairs, the Mallorca 312 traffic problem, Books Uncorked, literary dinners in Valldemossa, restaurant gossip, chef moves, Protur Chef, Reserva Rotana and a mention for Bhukkad Boca.
It is a warm, funny and food-filled episode for anyone who enjoys eating out in Mallorca, or simply likes hearing two women talk honestly about restaurants, real life and where to find the good stuff.
Suggested chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:20 Jan Edwards returns to the studio
01:30 The new Chefs(in) guide
03:50 Chef culture and restaurant associations
04:40 Why are most chefs men?
07:20 Lunch, dinner and changing dining habits
08:55 Restaurants Jan wants to try
10:45 Shima at Hotel Formentor
11:30 Where to find the Chefs(in) guide
12:10 Sóller restaurants and Tuesday night closures
14:15 Brusca brew pub in Manacor
17:30 Eating out, balance and cheese
18:30 Beer tasting and flights
20:00 Traffic, cyclists and the Pollença wine fair
22:50 Blanca Terra winery restaurant
25:00 Terra Gust and farm-to-table food
27:40 Molí de Sant Rafel in Llubí
28:15 The bee museum in Llubí
30:00 Beef, barbecue and family restaurants
32:35 Why paella is a lunchtime dish
34:30 Ponderosa Beach
36:10 How Jan reviews restaurants
39:30 Books Uncorked
41:00 Literary dinners in Valldemossa
44:25 Andrés Benítez leaves Botànic
46:40 Protur Chef competition
51:30 Reserva Rotana
53:20 Aethos Mallorca in Peguera
55:00 Where to find Jan’s reviews
56:00 Bhukkad Boca recommendation
57:15 Closing thoughts