Bar Dia: One of the Best Spots for Affordable Tapas in Palma de Mallorca, Spain

If there’s one thing I love about travelling in Spain, it’s having an excuse to eat my way through all the tapas bars I come across.

During my time in Palma de Mallorca, I came across Bar Dia, a casual tapas bar that turned out to be worth remembering for one particular dish. I’m usually someone who likes to try somewhere new every time I travel, especially when there are so many restaurants to explore, but the garlic prawns here were so good that I actually went back a second time before my trip ended. That probably tells you everything you need to know about how much I enjoyed them!

If you’re planning a trip to Palma and looking for somewhere to enjoy Spanish tapas without committing to a fancy sit-down dinner, Bar Dia is one to keep on your list. Here’s why.

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About Bar Dia, Palma de Mallorca

Bar Dia is located on Carrer dels Apuntadors, in the La Llotja-Born area of Palma de Mallorca. This part of the city is a nice area to explore when you’re looking for somewhere to eat, with plenty of restaurants and bars to consider as you wander around the historic centre. Its central location also makes it a convenient option to fit into a day of sightseeing, whether you’re exploring Palma’s old town, admiring the architecture or simply enjoying a relaxed afternoon of shopping and walking around the city.

Tapas are all about enjoying smaller plates, and I always find this style of dining particularly fun when travelling because you can try a little bit of everything. Bar Dia keeps things casual, with an affordable menu and prices that make it easier to order several dishes without feeling like you’re splurging on every meal.

What Is Bar Dia Known For?

Bar Dia is known for its casual tapas-style dining and relatively affordable prices, which make it appealing if you’re looking for a laid-back meal in central Palma.

For me, though, the garlic prawns are what really make Bar Dia memorable. While there were several dishes on the menu worth trying, this was easily my favourite and the one that convinced me to return. I think that’s always a good sign when you’re travelling. You can eat at plenty of restaurants that are perfectly fine, but finding a dish that genuinely makes you want to come back is a different story.

Alongside the garlic prawns, the patatas bravas are another dish I’d recommend ordering, especially if you’re keen to try some classic tapas staples. Together, these two dishes would be my starting point for anyone visiting Bar Dia for the first time.

What Is the Experience Like at Bar Dia?

We visited Bar Dia at around 7:30 pm on a Thursday night, and we managed to secure a table once we arrived there. The atmosphere was casual, which suited the kind of meal we were after. There are options to sit at the bar or dine inside, so you can choose whichever setup suits you best.

One thing I’d suggest is thinking about how many dishes you want to order before going overboard with the menu. It’s easy to get carried away when everything sounds tempting, but some tapas plates can be more filling than you expect. I’d start with a couple of classics, add the garlic prawns and then see how hungry you are before ordering more. That way, you’ll have room to enjoy the dishes without ending up with far more food than you can manage.

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What Is the Food Like at Bar Dia?

We ordered patatas bravas, garlic prawns, meatballs in tomato sauce and fried Padrón peppers, along with a basket of bread. It was a nice mix of classic Spanish tapas, with a combination of potatoes, seafood, meat and vegetables. While I enjoyed trying everything, there were definitely a couple of dishes that stood out more than the others.

Garlic Prawns (€14.90)

If there’s one dish you absolutely have to try at Bar Dia, it’s the garlic prawns. Honestly, these were my favourite thing we ate, and I enjoyed them so much that I went back to Bar Dia a second time just to have them again before leaving Palma. I’m not usually someone who revisits restaurants on holiday because I’d rather use the opportunity to explore somewhere new, so the fact that I made an exception for this dish says a lot!

The prawns arrived sizzling in garlic sauce, and the aroma alone was enough to make me excited to dig in. They were flavoured well, with the garlic complementing the prawns without overpowering them, and the texture was spot on. They tasted perfectly cooked, which is so important with seafood because prawns can easily become tough or rubbery when overcooked.

I loved was that the prawn heads were left on. I know this might not be everyone’s thing, but if you’re someone who enjoys getting every bit of flavour out of your seafood, you’ll understand why I loved this. You can suck out all that delicious flavour from the heads, which makes the whole dish even more enjoyable.

And please, don’t skip the bread! The garlic sauce left at the bottom of the dish is too good to waste, and having bread to soak it all up is an absolute must. If I were to recommend just one dish from the entire menu, this would be it without hesitation.

Potato Bravas (€6.90)

Patatas bravas are one of those classic Spanish tapas dishes that I feel you should order at least once when visiting Spain. They’re simple, comforting and usually a good way to start a tapas meal. At Bar Dia, the potatoes were crispy, which is exactly what I want from this dish.

Meatballs in Tomato Sauce (€7.90)

The meatballs in tomato sauce were another dish we tried since so many people raved about it on Google reviews, although these weren’t quite as memorable for me. They were fairly straightforward, with the tomato sauce providing the main flavour. There’s nothing particularly surprising about this dish, but sometimes that’s exactly what you’re after when you want something hearty and comforting.

If you’re in the mood for a meat-heavy dish, these should satisfy that craving. However, I personally found them a little too much, especially when eating alongside several other tapas plates. They were quite filling, and I think I would have enjoyed them more if we hadn’t ordered so many other dishes.

That said, this really comes down to personal preference. If meatballs are something you tend to order whenever you see them on a menu, they’re worth considering. I’d just recommend keeping the rest of your order in mind, as tapas portions can add up quickly when you’re trying several different dishes.

Fried Padrón Peppers (€8.50)

When you’re in Spain, Padrón peppers are one of those dishes that people often recommend trying, so naturally, we had to order them. They’re usually served fried with a sprinkling of salt, allowing the flavour of the peppers to shine through without too much fuss.

They were nicely seasoned and made a good addition to the table, especially alongside the richer dishes. I can see why they’re a popular Spanish tapas choice, as they offer something a little different from the usual potatoes, meat and seafood.

If you’re a fan of peppers or enjoy ordering a variety of vegetable dishes with your tapas, I think you’ll appreciate having these on the table. They’re a nice way to add some variety to your meal, even if the garlic prawns remain the clear winner in my eyes.

Basket of Bread (€0.60 per person)

This might seem like a small detail, but the bread deserves a mention because I genuinely recommend ordering it alongside the garlic prawns. At €0.60 per person, it’s an inexpensive addition to the meal, and you’ll be glad you have it once you see all that garlic sauce sitting at the bottom of the prawn dish.

What Is the Price Like at Bar Dia?

One of the appealing things about Bar Dia is that it offers a relatively affordable way to enjoy tapas in central Palma. The average price is around €10–€20 per person, although your final bill will depend on how many dishes you order and whether you’re adding drinks or extras.

The dishes we tried ranged from €6.90 for the patatas bravas to €14.90 for the garlic prawns. The meatballs were €7.90, while the fried Padrón peppers cost €8.50. Bread was charged at €0.60 per person. If you’re sharing a few plates between two people, it’s worth remembering that the cost can add up depending on how much you order. The garlic prawns are the most expensive dish we tried, but for me, they’re also the one I’d prioritise because they’re what made the visit so memorable.

Bar Dia accepts card payments, which is handy when you’re travelling and don’t necessarily want to carry much cash. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that they don’t split bills. If you’re dining with a group, it’s worth knowing this beforehand so you can organise payment between yourselves rather than figuring it out at the end of the meal.

Overall, I’d consider Bar Dia a good option if you’re looking for casual tapas without committing to a more expensive restaurant experience. You can choose a few dishes to share, focus on the ones that interest you most and adjust your order depending on your budget. My advice would be to prioritise the garlic prawns and patatas bravas, then add another dish or two depending on how hungry everyone is.

Final Thoughts: Is Bar Dia Worth Visiting?

I had an amazing time eating at Bar Dia, and the garlic prawns alone were enough to make this a restaurant I remember from my trip to Palma de Mallorca. I don’t usually revisit the same restaurant when I’m on holiday, but I ended up returning before leaving because I couldn’t stop thinking about those prawns. They were full of garlic flavour, perfectly cooked and even better when paired with bread to soak up all that delicious sauce. For me, that was easily the highlight of the meal.

The patatas bravas were another favourite, with their crispy texture and tasty sauce making them a reliable choice for anyone wanting to try a classic Spanish tapas dish. The meatballs and Padrón peppers were enjoyable in their own ways, although neither stood out quite as much for me. If you’re visiting with someone else, I’d recommend sharing a few plates so you can try a variety of dishes without ordering too much of any one thing.

I also appreciated the casual atmosphere and the fact that the menu makes it possible to enjoy a tapas meal without spending a huge amount. It’s good for a relaxed lunch or dinner while exploring the city, particularly if you’re staying nearby or wandering around the La Llotja-Born area.

Would I return to Bar Dia? Absolutely, especially for those garlic prawns. While not every dish was a standout, the food I loved was good enough to make me want to come back, and that’s what matters most to me when choosing where to eat on holiday. If you’re planning a trip to Palma, I’d add Bar Dia to your list and make sure the garlic prawns are at the top of your order.

And that’s my experience at Bar Dia in Palma de Mallorca! If you’re planning a trip to Mallorca and want to try some casual Spanish tapas, this is one to consider adding to your food itinerary.

Go for the garlic prawns, order the patatas bravas, and don’t forget the bread to soak up every last bit of that garlic sauce. Sometimes it’s the simplest dishes that end up being the most memorable, and these prawns were definitely one of those moments for me.

If you’ve visited Bar Dia before, I’d love to know what you ordered and whether you loved the garlic prawns as much as I did!

Highlights of Bar Dia, Palma de Mallorca

Favourite dishes: Garlic prawns and potato bravas
Best for: Casual tapas, sharing plates and an affordable meal while exploring Palma.
Good for sharing: The tapas-style menu makes it easy to order several dishes for the table and sample different flavours.
If you’re looking for a relaxed tapas meal without spending too much, it’s a good spot to enjoy a few Spanish favourites in a casual setting without breaking the bank.