Finding somewhere to eat in Palma at lunchtime isn’t difficult. Finding somewhere you can feel relaxed about taking small children with you is perhaps a little harder. Santosha organic cafe and kitchen definitely ticks the family-friendly box, but there’s a lot more to like about this great little find in central Palma.

It’s located just off the street known as Bonaire which, in turn, is off Jaime III – one of the more upmarket shopping streets. Santosha, despite its location, is not expensive; we thought it was excellent value for money.

The front area of Santosha – with a mix of seating.

Martin at the counter.

A relaxing space at the rear of Santosha.

Behind the business

Ursula, who’s from Ireland, told me that Santosha is “the fruit of years of planning for our family.” She and her sister Ruth (a former yacht chef who cooks here), their mother, and Ruth’s husband Eran “care deeply about slow food, family, community, and our planet.” It shows.

Most of the food they serve is based on local organically produced and seasonal ingredients. “Coffee, tea, sugar, chocolate, and other ingredients that can’t be grown locally are all sourced from small companies who treat their employees with the same respect we endeavour to treat ours. Any animal products we serve come from animals who have enjoyed a good life and been treated humanely,” she adds.

What’s on offer:

Lunch items on the board. Order at the counter.

• A brunch menu, including omelettes, toast with various toppings (including yummy mashed avocado), and other brunch dishes.
• Lunch dishes usually include a soup of the day – ours was a scrumptious beetroot – served with good bread (5€), salad of the day, dish of the day, and veggie dish of the day, served with two salads. A variety of homemade cakes and desserts is offered.
• Kids’ menu of individual dishes, such as pasta with tomato sauce and cheese (3,50€), or a set menu with savoury dish, glass of juice, and cookie or fruit, for 5€.
• Drinks include coffee, fair-trade organic teas, mulled wine, Golden Milk, and soft drinks, as well as wines and beers (including some craft beers from Mallorca).
• Friendly service and no language problems if you don’t speak Spanish.
• Small boys (and some larger ones too) will love the old Ossa Spanish motorbike displayed under a glass floor.

The old Ossa motorcycle was already in situ – under a glass floor!

Santosha is a Sanskrit word conveying the idea of contentment, satisfaction and gratitude for any given moment, regardless of what that moment has to offer – joy, sadness, wonder, pain. The family has created a positive and welcoming space for “food lovers and art lovers, readers and day-dreamers, coffee addicts and yogis, for worn-out parents and lovely loners … and everything in between,” they say, believing that by sharing lovingly prepared food and drink, they are doing their bit to spread contentment.

Well we certainly felt contented after our lunch at Santosha …

OPENING HOURS FROM NOVEMBER 7TH, 2018: Sunday to Wednesday 10:oo-15:30h

Jan Edwards©2016 Updated 2018