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Carrer Assumpció is Portocolom’s premier nightlife street, lined with pubs and clubs. Holding pride of place at its centre is the Beez-Neez, a large, friendly British pub that is the resort’s most consistently popular place just to hang out, lift a pint, launch some darts or watch Sky TV (see Bar Els Tamarells, Portocolom).

It’s located in a fast-food-hell area, but the club’s soul, hiphop and dance music attract bright young things.

This group provides Mallorca with its rainbow hotline – only two hours a day, weekdays, but it’s a great connection for new arrivals. There are get-togethers from time to time, including a sort of café that opens sporadically.

The spectacular terrace affords one of the island’s greatest views – of the sea and coastal mountains. Fresh fish is cooked in a wood-burning oven, and every ingredient is carefully selected from the best and the freshest Mallorca has to offer. The fresh pasta of herbs and summer mushrooms with a light Mahon cheese and basil sauce is typically good.

Popular restaurant with spectacular views of the mountains and sea, and memorable, creative Mediterranean and nouvelle cuisine. The melon soup, tuna carpaccio and seafood cannelloni are all wonderful.

A smaller sibling to Fornalutx, this adorable village clings to the hill above the Barranc de Biniaraix gorge.

Don’t be put off by its brutal appearance from the highway. Hidden behind the commercial tackiness, the historic centre dates back to the ancient Romans, and is now dominated by centuries-old stone mansions very much worth a stroll around. The town’s wealth arose from its pre-eminence as the island’s wine producer, starting 500 years ago. In recent years, after a century or so of decline, its reputation has again been on the rise, as evidenced by the important winery outlets along the main road (see José L. Ferrer, Binissalem).

The town is probably second only to Palma in the number and splendour of its mansions, dating from the 18th century, when it became the centre of a booming wine business. All that ended at the end of the 19th century, when phylloxera wiped out the vines, but wineries are making a comeback these days, producing good reds.

Nature reserves are best for bird sightings, especially those on the northeastern coast, S’Albufera and the Península de Formentor (see Areas of Natural Beauty). Spring and autumn are optimal times to visit, when migratory birds use Mallorca as a staging post between Europe and Africa. The isolated islands of Sa Dragonera and Cabrera (see Illa de Cabrera) are also excellent.

The island’s dashing Eleanora’s falcons constitute an important part of the world’s population – you can see them around the Formentor lighthouse (see Lighthouse). The peregrine falcon, too, breeds in these parts, and you can spot black vultures, red kite, eagles, Montagu’s harrier and long-eared owl.