Balearic Islands Travel Guide - Going Out

Regional specialities:
• Ensaimada (spiral-shaped cake, dusted with icing sugar).
• Sobrasada (soft, spreadable red chorizo-like sausage).
• Mallorcan soups.
• Tumbet (baked dish of layered potato, courgette, aubergine and tomato sauce).
• Mayonnaise originates from Mahón.

Regional drinks:
• Palo and herbes de Mallorca (aromatic herby liqueurs from Mallorca).
• Herbes Ibicencas (aromatic herby liqueur from Ibiza).
• Gin is distilled in Mahón, a legacy of 18th-century British occupation.

Tipping: 10% in restaurants.

Ibiza is home to some of the world's largest and most famous nightclubs, and its nightlife scene has become a subculture in its own right drawing young revellers from all over Europe for the summer season. If you are staying in Ibiza Town, San António or Playa d'en Bossa, you won't be able to avoid it. Mallorca too is home to some mega clubs and its nightlife ranges from sophisticated in Palma to notorious in Magaluf. All the main resorts have a good selection of clubs and often a bewildering selection of bars, many of which are reflections (and pastiches) of holidaymaker's countries of origin - usually Britain. Menorca by contrast is quiet with nightlife usually hotel-based, though Mahón and Ciutadella offer a choice of bona fide nightspots.

For the latest news on the local nightlife, and details of current events, artistic and cultural in Mallorca, see the local English-language newspaper, The Majorca Daily Bulletin.

There is a strong tradition of craftsmanship on the Balearic Islands that includes furniture, hand-embroidered works, handpainted ceramics, carved olive-wood panels, wrought ironwork, glassware, items made from raffia and palm leaves, handmade shoes, the famous pearls made in Mallorca and other costume jewellery from Menorca.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1300 and 1700-2000. Supermarkets and department stores are open 1000-2200. Big shopping centres and tourist shops also open on Sundays.