La Rosa Vermutería is Palma's pioneering address for Spanish vermut culture – a vermutería and tavern in the heart of the old town, just off Plaça Weyler in the Sant Jaume district. Opened in June 2015 by Nacho Velasco, Uvete Conde and Álvaro García, the small bar on Carrer de la Rosa is regarded as the first vermutería of its kind in the Balearic capital.
What Makes La Rosa Vermutería Special
Nacho Velasco, a Valladolid native, arrived in Mallorca in 1987, worked as a DJ and record importer, and opened the Brondo restaurant with his brother in 1992. La Rosa, named after its street, was conceived as a classic from day one – "a place that stays with you," as Velasco puts it. In 2025 the house celebrated its tenth anniversary.
Today La Rosa is the heart of the La Rosa Troupe, a gastro collective with venues such as La Rosa Catalina, La Carpintería de La Rosa, the legendary Garito, a catering service and the Vagón de La Rosa. The concept combines the soul of a northern Spanish taberna with a colmado, a classic grocery store full of preserves and delicacies.
Drinks & Menu
The name says it all: over fifty carefully curated vermut labels wait at the counter, alongside a house vermut and a whole cocktail line built on vermut. The vermut is served the classic way – over ice with a slice of fruit – often side by side with a cold beer. With it, Velasco deliberately revives the old Spanish "hora del vermut," the convivial pre-lunch aperitif ritual that had all but vanished on the island.
The kitchen sends out honest, flavour-led classics: the obligatory gilda, crispy croquetones of matured beef, creamy allioli potatoes, boquerones in vinegar and deep-fried calamari. Newer dishes such as prawn tartare and market plates round out the menu. Guides single out the garlic prawn croquettes and chargrilled artichoke with jamón, plus heartier plates like pork cheeks braised in vermouth or rice with smoked mushrooms and tetilla cheese.
Atmosphere & Location
The décor strikes the perfect balance between vintage and modern, unpretentious and full of character. Counter seating downstairs invites you to stand and chat, while proper tables sit upstairs. The crowd is largely local – Palma's regulars mix with curious visitors.
The bar sits right in the old town, just a few minutes' walk from La Seu cathedral; the surrounding lanes are mostly pedestrian. By day and by night the room fills up fast, Sundays get especially lively, and there is often a queue – with over a thousand Tripadvisor reviews and a rating around 4.2 stars, the wait is worth it. Reservations are recommended for the evening.
