From Disco to Robata: ROKA Moves Into the Former Pachá on the Seaside Promenade

From Club Nights to Robatayaki: Change on the Seaside Promenade

Early Tuesday morning the smell of coffee and diesel at the corner Avinguda Gabriel Roca. Excavators and sweepers are working on the site of the old Pachá, and those who usually end the night along the seafront now see fencing instead of disco lights. In the former club spaces a ROKA restaurant is being created — a permanent address for fine Japanese cuisine instead of loud club nights.

What’s happening on site

The cleaning and excavation work is underway, scaffolding parts are up, and an official sign with plan drawings is stuck to the fence. It’s not a small makeover: the property is being comprehensively rebuilt. Residents, suppliers and the early sea breeze already take note of the new construction site. A neighbor on the promenade half-joked: "Finally no bass at 3 a.m., but we miss the Polaroids."

Concept, Kitchen, Staff

ROKA brings to Mallorca something that has been more seasonal here: the Robatayaki preparation over charcoal in an open kitchen. The local executive chef, Blai Miquel Vallbona, has ROKA experience in London and already runs the summer pop-up in the island’s northeast. On the menu expect classics like black cod with miso, beef fillet with chili-ginger, and surprising extras like Wagyu sushi with a touch of caviar. Vegetarian options should not be neglected: grilled eggplant with mirin or spinach with sesame sauce have already been mentioned.

Notably: Planning includes a collaboration with a local foundation. Young people from the facility should have opportunities for training and work in the new restaurant — a point that is positively received by many locals.

When does it open?

There is no exact opening date yet. Craftsmen, architects and suppliers expect months, not weeks. For the city this means: a new restaurant in a prominent building that should attract both tourists and regulars. Whether it becomes a relaxed lunch spot during the day or a more formal and chic place in the evening remains to be seen.

Fact: the promenade continues to change. Those who once associated Pachá with bass and neon now see grill embers instead of DJ consoles. And that’s okay—Palma can handle both. I’ll drop by again in a few weeks with a coffee in hand to see how far the last brick has been laid.