The Village Cafe Review, Deia

It’s one of the most popular places on Mallorca for a day trip; visitors can explore the pretty lanes, the house of the writer Robert Graves, wander down to the pebble beach, or simply stop for a bite to eat. Deia is blessed with a large number of restaurants considering its tiny size. Many of them provide high quality, gastronomic experiences (Michelin starred Es Raco d’Es Teix, El Olivio at La Residencia Hotel, & Restaurante Sebastian spring to mind) where you can enjoy superb food in refined surroundings.

However, when the Frenchman & I stopped off in Deia the other week in our shorts and t-shirts we did feel that we might be rather under-dressed for such establishments. There are a number of more casual cafés along the main street which offer tapas and the like, but we didn’t particularly like the idea of eating so close to the road. Instead we opted to delve a little deeper into Deia and so we found ourselves at The Village Café. We had a quick glance at the menu but it was the pretty terrace with a vacant table that really persuaded us to stop here.

With views to the mountains, flowers pouring out of hanging baskets, great big bowls of local oranges & lemons and lush vines entwined around the covered terrace, the outdoor dining area is like a little Garden of Eden. The menu is straightforward, featuring salads and pizzas, and some international type dishes, with main courses priced at the €10 mark. Homemade lemonade and cake add a touch of homeliness which makes the experience feel very wholesome.

We opted for peppered duck pate and a cheeseburger. My pate was beautifully presented and came with fig jam and rounds of toast. Smooth and rich, it was very good indeed. The Frenchman’s cheeseburger was enormous – with crispy flatbread rather than a plastic bun – and came garnished with fresh salad.

We were in a bit of a rush so we didn’t sample dessert (cake & ice cream). But it is certainly a place we would come back to – for dinner, or just a drink (the Sangria is not to be missed by all accounts). The staff are really lovely - friendly and welcoming – and the kitchen is clearly accomplished.

The Village Café is small but perfectly formed, and utterly charming. It looks like it should provide the simple Panini’s, tea and cake, but do not be deceived. For a casual but good quality meal at affordable prices in one of Mallorca’s prettiest villages, The Village Café is the one to sample.