Mallorca Outdoor Dining: Thinking Outside the Box or maybe even Inside a Box

Outdoor Dining:  design ideas for Mallorca, including cozy cabins, greenhouses and igloo modules.

Back in early May this year we wrote a post about ideas for outdoor dining in Mallorca and at that time there were many studying creative solutions for social distancing in restaurants. Six months later with winter arriving and lockdowns in the air, the search continues. There have been a number of new ideas that have come to our attention.

Here on the island, in these exceptionally difficult times, there are not only weather related challenges but more importantly, pandemic related challenges to find an outdoor dining solution to adhere to the rules, keep the customers comfortable and safe, whilst providing owners with enough capacity to make operating a worthwhile option.

Let’s start with these 2 winning designs from the recent Chicago’s Winter Design Challenge….

Photo courtesy of Amy Young

Photo Courtesy of Neil Reindel

Now we all know that winter in Mallorca is not exactly the same as winter in Chicago, where average temperatures hover around 3c to -3c, but it’s not just about the winter season.

Let’s look ahead to what might be possible. Perhaps there is something here that can be adapted or used with a little lateral thinking to find positive solutions to create in the city of Palma as well as elsewhere on the island for the forthcoming outdoor dining seasons of 2021, whether it’s spring, summer, autumn or winter.

I can’t say I am a great fan of the greenhouse look, but everything should be looked at.

from Amsterdam, Netherlands:

Photo courtesy Mediamatic

or from Hagen, Germany

photo courtesy Bernd Thissen/Getty Images

or how about Igloos?

from London:

Photo courtesy of Coppa Club

or from Budapest, Hungary:

Photo: www.360bar.hu

It has been said that the rate of Covid transmission is lower outside than inside and restaurants are trying to accommodate their customers, whether new or old, who feel safer outdoors.

Practical, safe, creative ideas and solutions are what is required in order to help the Island’s hospitality sector from the staff who have to work outside to the customers who enjoy eating outside, whatever the weather.

This is the time for all the interested parties, chefs and restauranteurs, architects and designers as well as planners and politicians to put aside any differences they may have and pull together, for everyone’s benefit.

Let’s look forward to those positive solutions arriving in 2021! – We’ll keep you posted!