Some places in Mallorca need no introduction and Foradada Restaurant is one of them. Halfway between the sea and the sky, on the island’s northern coast, lies this spectacular spot where nature imposes its own rhythm and where time seems to stand still. Here, on a terrace perched above the Mediterranean, stands a restaurant with a very unique concept, where diners are invited—symbolically—to share a table with the empress Sissi.
The story behind this experience is as fascinating as the place that hosts it. In the late nineteenth century, the archduke Luis Salvador de Austria, a member of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and a great admirer of Mallorca, bought estates in the area in order to convert them into his own personal refuge. At one of them, he received the empress Elisabeth of Austria—known as Sissi. In her honour, the archduke served a banquet made up of traditional Mallorcan dishes. And today, over one hundred years later, that same menu is brought back to life at Foradada Restaurant.
Savouring the island’s history
“The idea came about when we found a document detailing what was served on that visit”, says Toni, the owner of the restaurant and custodian of the story. “It was a very traditional selection, with frito mallorquín, codfish, gató de almendras... All made with local produce. It seemed like a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to it”.
The task of reviving the menu fell to the restaurant’s chef, Lluís Got Torres, under the culinary direction of Andreu Genestra (executive chef). The result is a tasting menu that stays true to the essence of Mallorcan food, presented with a contemporary vision, paying heed to both technique and emotion.
“Sissi’s menu is a journey through time”, says Lluís. “We want each dish to tell a story, to link it with history but also the local area. We work with local farmers and fishermen and although it is traditional at heart, we use ingredients from all over the Mediterranean”. The food is defined as “new Mediterranean”, where the island’s sobriety is given a creative twist, such as the vitello tonnato reinterpreted with Mallorcan bluefin tuna and aged beef.
The menu concludes with a dessert baptised the “Fan”: a sweet dish that takes direct inspiration from the imperial lady herself. In her later years, after the death of her son, Sissi refused to have her photo taken and would cover her face with a fan, which is how she was photographed on several occasions. The private gesture has been transformed into a delicate dessert in the empress’ favourite flavours, creating an edible and almost poetic tribute to her.
Crayfish paella
Eating where you can hear the silence
But if the menu is a historical journey, the setting in which it is served is pure emotional geography. Situated in a place where nature dictates the rules, Foradada Restaurant sits alongside steep cliffs with a salty breeze and the constant symphony of the sea. “Silence has become a luxury”, adds Toni. “Here, you won’t find loud music or parties. We want people to come to contemplate, to reconnect. To eat well, of course, but also to feel things”.
This change of philosophy was key to the new chapter of the restaurant, which has left behind the hustle and bustle of tourism to embrace a slower, more sustainable and more environmentally friendly new concept. The experience begins before even being seated at a table: getting to Foradada Restaurant may involve a hike or even a boat ride, which is all part of its charm. “It’s not just a meal, it’s an excursion, a ritual, a small journey”, he says.
Overlooking the sea, surrounded by native vegetation, the main terrace plays host to both day trippers and diners looking for a more elaborate culinary experience. No distinction is made: “We want all kinds of people to come. We don’t want anyone to feel like it is just for a chosen few”, notes Toni. Although it is based around fish and rice dishes, the menu also includes select meat and seafood and game dishes which put a contemporary twist on classics.
Cheesecake with creamy "mahones" twist Foradada
A feast of history, landscape and flavor
Eating the Sissi menu at Foradada Restaurant is a tribute to the island’s historical memory, a way of connecting with the past and present via the palate. Above all, it is an act of love for Mallorca, its past and its present. “The island is home to a lot of beautiful places. This is just one of them. But if we are able to conserve it and share it with respect, it will have been worthwhile”, says the restaurant’s team.
Those who sit at a table at Foradada Restaurant will enjoy the feeling of being part of a story. Because that is what they cook best at Foradada Restaurant: experiences that remain etched in your heart, like a postcard, like a sigh, like an unforgettable memory in time.
