Mallorca's small pubs and sports bars - once the soul of the neighborhoods and a meeting place for residents and holidaymakers alike - are under enormous pressure. Their future is uncertain. The challenges are manifold: rising rents, high operating costs and a changing eating and drinking culture are putting a strain on the businesses. What used to be the heart of the neighborhoods is increasingly in danger of disappearing.
More than just a meeting place: the importance of local eateries
Mallorca's sports bars and restaurants were never just places to watch a game or have a tapa. They were lively communities. This is where people would meet up for an evening of soccer, discuss the latest news over a café con leche or meet neighbors and friends. But many of these places are now empty. A bright "Se alquila" (for rent) sign has replaced the once lively entrances.
The reasons for the decline
One of the main factors is economic pressure. "Costs are rising faster than income," explains a bar owner from Palma, who does not want to give his name. Electricity prices, which have risen sharply in recent years, and the high cost of rent are killing many. Another factor is the changing clientele. Many visitors, especially in tourist centers such as Palma or Sóller, prefer to dine in trendy cafés or international chains. The typical Mallorcan bars can hardly compete with these modern offerings.
In addition, more and more locals are spending their free time at home. The boom in streaming services means that fewer people are flocking to sports bars to watch soccer together. Where once full rounds of big games ensured sales, many seats now remain empty.
A glimmer of hope for tradition and authenticity?
But there are also those who are hoping for a renaissance. Some younger restaurateurs are consciously focusing on the traditional in order to preserve the island's heritage. They are modernizing the menus without forgetting the roots and creating a mixture of nostalgia and contemporary ambience. "It's a question of concept and adaptation," says restaurateur Miguel Cañellas, who has just reopened an old sports bar in Manacor. "People are looking for authenticity - and we give it to them."
How politics could help
While the government is trying to support the island's food producers with subsidy programs, many bar owners see little support for themselves. Demands for tax relief or special subsidies for small restaurants often go unheard. Yet industry representatives argue that it is precisely these establishments that characterize the image and charm of Mallorca and should therefore be protected.
What could be lost
With the extinction of the sports bars and small restaurants, the island is losing more than just economic units. It is the stories, the people and the atmosphere that could disappear irretrievably. Every closed business is a piece of the Mallorcan way of life that is slowly disappearing.
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