Cult Pizzeria in Palma's Lonja Closes as Landlord Raises Rent Significantly

A Piece of the City Disappears: Pizzeria on Apuntadors Street Faces Closure

In the narrow alley Apuntadors, where in the morning you still see the newspaper under your arm and in the evening the last plates on the terrace, a familiar sight threatens to disappear. The small pizzeria, which opened in 1991 and has since attracted regulars from all over Palma, will likely have to close its doors in October or November. Reason: the new rent – it has suddenly jumped to five times the previous amount.

No loud drama, more a resigned 'What can we do?'

The owner, whom I met yesterday for an espresso, looked tired but not surprised. 'We have bills, suppliers and employees. With this rent, it's no longer possible,' he said softly. His words sounded as if heard many times before: experience against capital, tradition against return. The pizzeria was never flashy; they relied on thin dough, simple toppings, fresh basil from the pot on the windowsill.

Many guests, especially German residents and visitors, come for exactly that reason: because nothing here is staged for Instagram, because the waiters know the names and because the pizza tastes familiar after two bites. The tables were often close together, sometimes a Vespa rolled by, sometimes spontaneous warmth of music would erupt at the corner. Such details are hard to replace.

The owner of the building recently sold to an investment fund – that's the pattern more commonly seen on the island. Suddenly different numbers, different expectations. Contracts are renegotiated, and when the market value of a building in central Palma rises, the restaurant ends up paying the bill.

Consequences are local and concrete: one fewer job (two, three employees), a piece of identity disappeared, less choice for people who don't seek tourist chains. And another signal that small businesses in central locations hardly have a future when rents rise to the immeasurable.

The problem is bigger than a single pizzeria. Everywhere in Palma shops that have belonged for decades are closing: crafts businesses, small grocery stores, traditional cafes. New buildings for luxury apartments and holiday rentals are rare, but prices for existing properties climb. Wages do not rise at the same pace. The result: a piece of everyday life changing – and not necessarily for the better.

There are voices calling for solutions: municipal rent controls, support for commercial rents, or targeted subsidies for local gastronomy. Whether this comes in time remains open. Until then, the operators plan to organize farewell evenings in the coming weeks – small events to bring the neighborhood together one more time.

For all who know the place: go by in the coming weeks, order a Margherita pizza, sit at the window table, and take in the sound of the pan, the scent of garlic, and a last conversation. Such evenings often last longer than the meal itself – and sometimes you only realize how much a venue really means.

Whoever wants to know more about similar cases or tips for alternative places nearby can get in touch – I still know a few corners in the Lonja where the pizza is different, but made with heart.