As October comes to an end, Palma starts to feel totally different. The crazy summer rush is over, the air’s cooler, and the city finally slows down a bit. Markets smell like roasted chestnuts and some good sweets, locals are back in their favourite cafés, and there’s this calm, cosy vibe all around.
Halloween here isn’t about scary costumes or plastic pumpkins, it’s more about the mood. The soft lights in the old town, the narrow streets, the smell of something sweet baking somewhere nearby. Palma just feels magical this time of year.
It’s the perfect moment to skip the typical tourist stuff and really taste what the island has to offer, local flavours, hidden spots, and stories that make this place feel alive. No tricks, just proper treats!
Halloween traditions with a local twist
Halloween in Mallorca isn’t about ghosts, costumes, or endless sweets. Instead, it’s a heartfelt time marked by tradition, remembrance, and as always on the island: food. Each celebration brings its own flavour, its own story, and its own connection to the Mallorcan way of life.
Nit de les Ànimes (Night of Souls)
Forget jump scares, Mallorca’s Night of Souls is way more meaningful. On October 31, locals light candles and leave small offerings to guide the spirits of loved ones back home. It’s peaceful, kind of spooky in the best way, and super atmospheric.In Palma, you might see candlelit processions, live music, and even fiery “correfocs” (Correfocs are Catalan street festivals where people dressed as devils dance through fireworks and firecrackers in a fiery celebration). Street parades filled with dancing demons, sparks and drums. If you’re around, head to Parc de Sa Riera around 5PM where the celebrations usually start with kids workshops and a fire show later in the evening.
Tots Sants: A day of remembrance and family
On November 1st, Mallorca celebrates Tots Sants (All Saints’ Day), one of the most meaningful and heartfelt days in the local calendar. Across the island, families visit cemeteries to decorate the graves of their loved ones with colourful flowers, candles, and small personal tributes. The whole island seems quieter, there’s a calm, respectful atmosphere, filled with the soft flicker of candlelight and the scent of fresh blooms drifting through the air.
Afterwards, the day takes on a warmer tone. Families head home or to countryside houses to share comforting, seasonal meals that reflect the island’s autumn flavours. Tables fill with roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes, panellets (small almond sweets), and homemade desserts made from pumpkin or almonds. Conversations with the family, stories are told, and memories are shared. This keeps the spirit of loved ones alive through food and togetherness.
Tots Sants isn’t just a religious holiday, it’s a beautiful moment that captures the heart of Mallorcan culture, reflection, warmth, and togetherness. It’s about slowing down, appreciating the people around you, and feeling connected to the stories that came before you.
La Castanyada: the chestnut festival
As the evenings get cooler, the smell of roasted chestnuts starts taking over the streets of Palma. It’s called La Castanyada, and it’s one of those cosy autumn traditions that instantly makes you feel like a local. Around the end of October, you’ll spot little street stalls popping up everywhere, with smoke in the air and people lining up for warm paper cones full of roasted chestnuts. They’re basically the ultimate hand warmers, and honestly, such a good snack too.
Locals usually pair them up with a glass of sweet moscatel wine, and that just hits different on a cool night. The vibe is super chill, friends hanging out in plazas, music playing in the background, everyone just enjoying the season. You’ll also spot panellets and roasted sweet potatoes everywhere, which completes the whole autumn mood.
Panellets: sweet bites of tradition
No Mallorcan Halloween is complete without panellets. These bite-sized almond and pine nut pastries are deeply rooted in the island’s culinary history and symbolise family and remembrance.
Every bakery in Palma proudly displays trays of colourful panellets, and many families still make them at home using recipes passed down through generations. Crunchy on the outside and soft inside, they’re the kind of treat that captures the island’s sweet soul.
Bunyols – The local street snack everyone loves
In the days around Tots Sants, Palma’s markets and street corners come alive with the smell of freshly fried bunyols. These small, fluffy doughnuts, usually dusted with sugar or sometimes filled with pumpkin or sweet potato, are sold piping hot from pop-up stalls.
They’re simple, comforting, and absolutely addictive. Locals say you can’t eat just one, and they’re right. It’s the kind of street food that connects generations. Everyone on the island has their favourite bunyol memory.
The tricks? Knowing where to find the real treats
Here’s where things get a little spooky, not because of ghosts, but because of tourist traps. Palma is packed with restaurants that look authentic but serve the same “local” dishes you’ll find in every busy square. That’s the trick, the illusion of authenticity.
The real treats, however, are tucked away in the backstreets: the cellars (traditional bars), family-run bakeries, and market stalls where locals actually eat. These are the places where food isn’t just served; it’s shared. Where a simple sobrassada on bread tastes better than any fine-dining version because it’s made with pride and tradition.
Finding these spots takes time, curiosity, and sometimes a local tip or two. One of the tips could be our self-guided Wine & Dine Tour where you’ll visit 4 different restaurants in Palma with each restaurant a different dish. Perfect to explore some of the best local gems in Palma!
How to experience Palma’s food scene the authentic way?
It’s simple, go where the locals go!
Skip the glossy restaurant strips and wander into Palma’s cellars, the rustic bars where recipes haven’t changed in decades. Start your morning at Mercat de l’Olivar or Mercat de Santa Catalina, where you can taste your way through the island’s produce, from freshly caught seafood to delicious cheeses.
If you’re new to the city, joining a Food Tours Balearics experience is the easiest way to find your feet. Along the way, you’ll not only taste the dishes, you’ll meet the people who make them, hear the stories behind them, and understand why food here is so much more than just a meal.
If you’ve just arrived in the city, joining a Food Tours Balearics experience is honestly the best way to get settled in and feel like a local. Instead of just wandering around trying to figure out where to eat, you’ll dive straight into the city’s food culture. You’ll taste traditional dishes, chat with local chefs and market vendors, and hear the real stories behind the recipes. It’s not just about eating, it’s about discovering how food connects people, traditions, and the island’s lifestyle. By the end of the tour, you’ll feel like you truly belong here.
You can’t really fake authenticity, you just know it when you taste something that’s truly local!
Why Halloween is the perfect time to taste Palma
Late October is a special moment in Palma. The summer rush has faded, the weather is soft, and the streets glow with the calm energy of locals enjoying their city again. Add the smell of roasted chestnuts, cosy candlelit shops, and the calm vibe of Tots Sants, and the whole scene feels like a movie.
Exploring Palma during this time is like stepping into another version of the city, slower, warmer, and more genuine. It’s when you see what Mallorca is really about: connection, flavour, and community.
So this Halloween, forget the gimmicks and tourist tricks. Follow the taste of something real instead. Join our self-guided Wine & Dine Tour and discover the true treats of Palma! One dish, one story, and one unforgettable bite at a time!
