Mahon, a foodie route throught its emblematic shops

Mahon preserves a particularly strong relationship between commerce, gastronomy and history. Its harbour, central streets, old bakeries, grocery shops and distilleries tell much of the story of the city’s economic and social development.

Of the 29 businesses currently included in the Emblemàtics Balears programme in the municipality of Maó, nine have a particularly close connection with gastronomy. Bakeries, pastry shops, food stores, a historic wine and spirits shop and a distillery create a route combining sweet and savoury flavours, traditional products and drinks closely linked to Menorcan identity.

BODEGAS FERRÉ, A HISTORIC WINE AND SPIRITS SHOP BY THE HARBOUR

Bodegas Ferré was founded in 1888 by the Ferrer family as a shop specialising in wines and spirits. In 1948 the business passed to Fermín Pons Rotger and today remains in the hands of the Pons family.

Much of its original appearance has been preserved, including different rooms that retain the atmosphere of an old harbour wine merchant and a collection of historic barrels and large wooden casks.

During the tourist season, wines and spirits are joined by typical Menorcan products such as sobrassada and Protected Designation of Origin cheese.

Foodies recommends: take your time, admire the old casks and ask for advice when choosing wines, spirits and Menorcan products.

Moll de Ponent, 39 · Maó
Tel. 971 362 190

CA’N SENYALET, A MENORCAN BAKERY SINCE THE 1930s

Ca’n Senyalet is one of Maó’s oldest bakeries. It was founded around 1935 by Antoni Ferrer on S’Arraval and, following a move in 1956, remains on the same street today.

Its specialities are artisan Menorcan bakery and pastry products. Ensaimadas and formatjades are among its most characteristic creations, together with a wide selection of traditional pastries and sweets.

Foodies recommends: ask for freshly made formatjades and ensaimadas and discover the traditional pastries available that day.

S’Arraval, 170 · Maó
Tel. 971 362 326

CA’S TIX, MORE THAN 160 YEARS OF GROCERY TRADITION

To visit Ca’s Tix, the route takes us to Sant Climent, within the municipality of Maó. Comestibles Villalonga, popularly known as Ca’s Tix, was founded in 1862 by Pedro Villalonga Pons after returning from Algeria.

The shop has occupied the same location for more than 150 years and preserves objects reminiscent of traditional grocery stores, including metal milk churns, baskets and glass jars.

In earlier times it also supplied the seasonings used during traditional pig slaughtering, linking the shop directly with one of Menorca’s most important food traditions.

Today, the fifth generation continues the business, with local Menorcan products occupying an important place on its shelves.

Foodies recommends: look for Menorcan products and ask about those most closely connected with traditional island cooking.

Carrer de Sant Jaume, 8 · Sant Climent
Tel. 971 153 417

CAN GARÍ, FOUR GENERATIONS OF MENORCAN CURED MEATS

Can Garí has more than eighty years of history. Hermínia Cardona opened a small shop in 1940 and, generation after generation, it has become one of Maó’s best-known food businesses.

One of its main specialities is the artisan production of traditional Menorcan cured meats, particularly sobrassada.

Foodies recommends: try the house-made sobrassada and ask about the other traditional Menorcan cured meats available.

Plaça d’Eivissa, 5 · Maó
Tel. 971 364 587

LA BALEAR, CROISSANTS AND PASTRIES SINCE 1955

La Balear is a bakery and pastry shop founded in 1955 by Gabriel Cardona Florit.

The house is particularly known for its croissants, produced through a demanding and meticulous artisan process. Flaons, almond cake and xuixos are also long-standing favourites.

Foodies recommends: start with the croissants, but leave room for the flaons and almond cake.

Carrer Rovellada de Baix, 76 · Maó
Tel. 971 360 878

LA CERES, ARTISAN BREAD SINCE 1898

Opened in 1898, La Ceres is one of Maó’s oldest bakeries.

The business has traditionally made bread and cakes by hand and still preserves old machinery in working condition.

Alongside its wide variety of breads, one particularly distinctive speciality is its own type of savoury biscuit, similar to traditional olive-oil biscuits.

Foodies recommends: buy some artisan bread and make sure to ask for the bakery’s distinctive savoury biscuits.

Carrer de l’Església, 8 · Maó
Tel. 971 363 856

PASTISSERIA SANDRA, SWEET TRADITIONS SINCE 1956

Pastisseria Sandra, formerly known as Pastisseria Garí, began in 1956 under Álvaro Llopis Llopis.

It specialises in traditional Menorcan pastries and sweets, including cream pastries, banyes and many other artisan creations.

At Christmas, the bakery makes miniature pastries, while Easter brings traditional chocolate monas.

Foodies recommends: ask which traditional seasonal sweets are available when you visit.

Carrer Sant Jordi, 15 · Maó
Tel. 971 360 495
Web: pasteleriasandra.es

SUCRERIA ARTESANA MAHONESA CAN VALLÉS, SWEET TRADITION SINCE 1932

The Vallès family opened this confectionery shop in 1932. After an interruption during the Spanish Civil War, José Vallès revived the business and continued making Menorcan pastries, chocolate, sweets and confectionery.

During the 1960s, Can Vallès was also a pioneer in Menorca in the use of fresh cream in pastry-making.

Foodies recommends: discover both its classic Menorcan specialities and its more contemporary pastry creations.

Carrer de Hannover, 19 · Maó
Tel. 971 363 488

XORIGUER, THE GIN THAT TELLS THE STORY OF MAÓ HARBOUR

Miguel Pons Justo founded the Xoriguer distillery in Maó harbour in 1945.

Its gin is still produced artisanally in copper stills more than 250 years old. Gin de Mahón has protected Geographical Indication status and is one of the most recognisable products in Menorcan gastronomic culture.

Foodies recommends: visit the distillery whenever possible, see the historic stills and discover gin beyond the island’s popular pomada drink.

Moll de Ponent, 91 · Maó
Tel. 971 362 611
Web: xoriguer.es

A ROUTE THROUGH MAÓ’S GASTRONOMIC MEMORY

Wine merchants, bakeries, pastry shops, grocery stores and distilleries reveal a side of Maó that cannot always be discovered from a restaurant table.

Bread, ensaimadas, formatjades, sobrassada, croissants, sweets, wines, liqueurs and gin create a journey that reminds us that gastronomic heritage also lives behind shop counters, inside workshops and among the barrels of an old wine merchant.