Not long ago, an ice cream in Mallorca meant a choice between vanilla, chocolate, lemon and strawberry. Today, Palma’s ice cream parlours look more like dessert boutiques, with carefully designed counters and flavours that would once have seemed unthinkable.
Flavours to try
Limoncello spritz. At the German chain Giovanni L., this flavour combines the zest of limoncello with the fizz of a spritz — a taste of an Italian terrace in a cone.
Diablito. Iceberg’s chocolate ice cream with a touch of chilli, for those who like the contrast of sweet and heat.
Strawberry and matcha. Another Giovanni L. creation, pairing sweet strawberry with the earthy, slightly bitter notes of Japanese green tea.
Mascarpone and figs. At Fiordilatte, creamy mascarpone meets the natural sweetness of figs — rich, but not heavy.
Bariloche chocolate. Che Gelats brings an Argentine touch with a deep chocolate flavour inspired by the chocolate shops of Bariloche, in Patagonia.
Veneno. Despite its name — “poison” in Spanish — Filippo’s veneno is a smooth, buttery caramel ice cream.
Where to go in Palma
Rivareno. Near the Llotja, the old maritime exchange, Rivareno describes its flavours in Italian, almost like little poems, with options ranging from tiramisu to cheesecake and mint chocolate. Its elegant interior invites customers to linger.
Fiordilatte. Also in the Llotja area, Fiordilatte offers favourites such as forest fruits, cookies and the Italian classic zuppa inglese, with an emphasis on quality ingredients.
Why the change?
Several trends are behind the transformation: the arrival of Italian and international artisan ice cream brands, customers willing to pay more for quality, and the influence of social media, where colourful, unusual flavours are made to be photographed and shared.
And the classics?
Traditional Mallorcan flavours have not disappeared. Gelat d’ametlla — almond ice cream, often served with a slice of gató, the island’s almond sponge cake — remains a local favourite, and many parlours across the island still make it to traditional recipes. For many residents, it is still the taste of summer.
