Bread, snacks & small dishes
Pa amb Oli: Mallorca's honest cooking on country bread
Bread, oil, tomato and a pinch of salt – that is all it takes for the Mallorcans' national dish. But the secret lies in the quality of the local ingredients.
The short answer
Pa amb Oli: Mallorca's honest cooking on country bread
Pa amb Oli literally means “bread with oil” and in its basic form consists of toasted country bread, grated Ramallet tomato, olive oil and salt. In this simple version the dish is completely vegan, but it is usually topped with cheese, ham or sobrassada. The preparation follows a fixed principle: the tomato is grated, not laid on in slices.
What does Pa amb Oli mean? (Bread with oil)
The name already describes the basis: toasted or fresh bread drizzled with olive oil. From this simple foundation, an established culinary standard has developed in Mallorca, found in bars, restaurants and home kitchens alike and often served as a small starter or snack.
The 3 sacred ingredients: pa de xeixa (country bread), Ramallet tomato & D.O. oil
Traditionally, pa de xeixa is used, a rustic country bread made from an old variety of wheat, whose firm crust is ideal for toasting. Then comes the Ramallet tomato, a thick-skinned variety with an intense aroma that ripens hanging in bunches. The third central element is high-quality olive oil, ideally with the protected designation of origin D.O. Oli de Mallorca.
Classic toppings: Mahón cheese, jamón serrano, sobrassada & fonoll marí (rock samphire)
Typical toppings are semi-cured cheese, jamón serrano, sobrassada or pickled rock samphire (fonoll marí). The cheese often used in Mallorca is frequently referred to as Mahón cheese, but note that D.O.P. Mahón-Menorca is a product of the neighbouring island of Menorca and does not belong to Mallorca.
The right preparation: why the tomato is grated, not sliced
The Ramallet tomato has a thick skin and juicy flesh. When it is rubbed over the bread, the flesh soaks straight into the dry crust while the skin is left behind. This technique creates an even, juicy base before the oil, salt and your chosen toppings are added.
The best pa amb oli bars in Mallorca (Palma & inland)
Pa amb oli is a fixture on the menu of many bars and bodegas, both in Palma and in the island's interior. For specific restaurant and bar recommendations, take a look at the Food & drink section, as this page focuses on product knowledge and preparation.
Practical tips
- For an authentic taste, use pa de xeixa or a comparable rustic country bread.
- Grate the Ramallet tomato instead of laying it on in slices, so that the flesh soaks in.
- Choose olive oil with the D.O. label if you want certified quality.
- For a vegan version, skip the cheese and sausage toppings and try rock samphire instead.
Good to know
Price ranges, opening times and airline rules change. We only give verifiable features and orders of magnitude – check details directly with the seller or your airline before buying or flying.
Product knowledge
The specialities on this topic
Oil & salt D.O. Tramuntana / Sóller
Oli de Mallorca
Mallorcan olive oil
Extra virgin olive oil with a designation of origin – often from Arbequina, Picual and Mallorquina olives.
- Ingredients
- Olives (Arbequina, Picual, Mallorquina)
- Diet
- vegan · gluten-free
- Price range
- D.O. oils cost considerably more than standard supermarket oils
- Where to buy
- Mercat de l'Olivar (Palma), Sóller farmers' market
- Flying
- Liquid: only up to 100 ml in hand luggage. Pack bottles in your suitcase so they cannot break.
Last checked: August 2026
Price ranges, opening times and airline rules change. We only give verifiable features and orders of magnitude – check details directly with the seller or your airline before buying or flying.
| Product | Hand luggage | Suitcase | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oli de Mallorca | no | yes | Liquid: only up to 100 ml in hand luggage. Pack bottles in your suitcase so they cannot break. |
Frequently asked questions
Why is the tomato rubbed onto the bread for pa amb oli?
The special Ramallet tomato is used. It has a thick skin and extremely juicy flesh that soaks straight into the dry bread.
Is pa amb oli vegetarian or vegan?
In its basic version with bread, tomato, olive oil and salt it is completely vegan. Only toppings such as cheese or ham make it vegetarian or non-vegetarian respectively.
Is the cheese on pa amb oli a Mallorcan D.O.P. product?
No. D.O.P. Mahón-Menorca comes from the neighbouring island of Menorca. Mallorcan cheese is usually sold as formatge de Mallorca without protected status.
More topics
-
Olive oil
On centuries-old gnarled olive trees on the terraces of the Tramuntana, the olives ripen for one of the best olive oils in the world. Find out all about the protected D.O. Oli de Mallorca.
-
Sobrassada
Bright red, spicy, spreadable and full of Balearic tradition: sobrassada de Mallorca is a sausage tradition with protected origin. Find out how to recognise genuine top quality.
-
Cheese from Mallorca
If you ask for 'local cheese' in Mallorca, you are often served Mahón cheese – which actually comes from the neighbouring island of Menorca. What Mallorca itself has to offer in cheese is less well known, but just as good.
Related
- Restaurants serving pa amb oli Bars and bodegas serving the classic
- Food & drink in Mallorca More classics of island cooking
- Weekly markets Buy Ramallet tomatoes and country bread
Next steps
Image credits: Sobrassada de Mallorca: Photo Juan Emilio Prades Bel, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons