Many would make the assumption that Palma has sunshine year-round. When we arrived for a weekend here in late March the weather was uncharacteristically wet, and suddenly our plans had to be altered.

Luckily there is plenty to do even if the climate disappoints, including gastronomic culinary experiences and thought-provoking art exhibitions. When the sun came out for our second day on the island we could enjoy the more traditional things to do in Palma, al fresco aperitifs and long walks round the picturesque old town.

To Eat

Marc Fosh – Marc Fosh is without a doubt the most famous chef on the island, and he has several restaurants in Palma to cater for every occasion. ‘Marc Fosh Restaurant’ is the most upmarket with the recognition of a Michelin-star, but despite its accolades is still affordable and welcoming. The light lunch menu features simple and stylish dishes that focus on the seasons. My spiced cauliflower main course was particularly memorable, a celebration of the vegetable with an impressive range of tastes and textures on the plate.

Tast – For casual and tasty tapas, Tast is a great place to stop for lunch. There are now a couple of restaurants both serving adventurous and inventive small dishes such as octopus with bacon or grilled asparagus served on a hot plate.

Es Raco des Teix – For a special lunch with spectacular views head out of town to the small town of Deia. Here you will find Es Raco des Teix, a traditional restaurant run by a husband and wife team. Chef Josef Sauerschell serves up hearty but elaborate recipes with a focus on meat. Sit on the terrace and enjoy the panoramic views while enjoying a delicious lunch and a glass of Mallorcan wine.

Can Joan de S’Aigo – Don’t leave Mallorca without trying the traditional pastries, ensaimadas have been made on the island since 1700 and are best with an espresso from Can Joan de S’Aigo.

To Drink

La Molienda – The only speciality coffee shop worth hunting down in Palma. La Molienda serves high quality speciality coffee roasted by Barcelona-based Right Side Coffee, alongside other guest roasters. Head in for weekend brunch and a perfectly poured flat white.

Cappuccino Sant Miquel – This renowned coffee chain has branches all over the city but the Sant Miquel site is easily the prettiest. Sit beneath the grand arches in the cobbled courtyard and sip a coffee or cocktail.

To Do

Fundacio Pilar i Joan Miro – Found on the outskirts of town Fundacio Pilar i Joan Miro is a must for art lovers. This is where the artist and his wife lived and worked from 1956 until he died in 1983. There is a big collection of Miro works on display as well as an approximation of the Miro studio set-up.

Med Winds – This Mallorcan brand designs and sells stylish clothes and accessories. The garments are made from luxurious materials in bright hues which suit the sunny island life.

We stayed 30 minutes outside of Palma at the idyllic Castell Son Claret, read more about the hotel and 2 Michelin star restaurant here.

I am one of the lucky few to have tried both Angela Hartnett and Paul Ainsworth’s food. Angela’s renowned Italian eateries are unbeatable in London and Paul Ainsworth is one of Cornwall’s most promising chefs. I featured Paul Ainsworth’s Padstow restaurant, No. 6 in my recent guidebook to Cornwall and I love the way he gets the most from the rich and wonderful Cornish produce. So when I heard he was teaming up with Angela for a pop-up Cornwall inspired dinner at Limewood hotel, I jumped at the opportunity to attend.

Limewood is one of England’s most special countryside hotels. Set amongst the verdant New Forest landscape, it is the ideal escape from London, just an hour away from the city but wonderfully isolated and relaxed. The building dates back to the 13th century when it was a medieval hunting lodge, until the Duke of Clarence claimed the house in the 1740s.

Nowadays it is kept in pristine condition with regal bedrooms and beautiful common areas for guests to enjoy a drink and some down time. There is the blissful Herb House spa for lazy afternoons with an indoor spa, hydrotherapy pool and an outdoor hot pool, and plenty of beautiful grounds for rambling countryside walks.

The food operations are overseen by Angela Hartnett who curates Italian dishes with a nod to the seasons. There are a range of foodie events throughout the year and a popular cooking school that teaches lessons including pasta making and cake baking.

I checked into Limewood for a one-night stay in a heavenly Forest Hide Away Suite. The suite is designed over two floors with a cosy downstairs lounge and a small private terrace upstairs. The huge king-sized bed was decadent and very comfortable, and the lavish bathroom had a bath and shower, dual sinks and lovely Bamford toiletries.

After a brief walk in the grounds we went back to the suite to get ready for dinner. At 7pm hotel guests and visitors gathered at the main hotel restaurant for a glass of fizzy and Paul’s Cornish dinner. The menu featured:

• cicchetti
• cornish mackerel with kimchi style cabbage, gentleman’s relish
• lamb (tamar valley), sweetbread, salt baked celeriac, mutton ham
• a trifle ‘cornish’ (c. 1596) blood orange, rhubarb, saffron

We were placed on a table with a lovely group, and we were all deep in conversation when the first course arrived. Delicate pieces of Cornish mackerel were beautiful scorched and paired with sharp Asian kimchi style cabbage.

The main event was a luxurious cut of lamb, cooked rare with crispy breadcrumbed sweetbreads, sweet salt-baked celeriac and a rich and glossy sauce. The portion was generous but refined and each element earned it’s position on the plate, a contrast of textures and tastes.

For dessert, Paul presented an unconventional trifle with seasonal blood oranges, saffron cake and pretty-in-pink rhubarb. It was a marriage of springtime flavours.

We woke the next morning after a long and restful sleep. The sun was shining and we relished the opportunity to enjoy breakfast on our private terrace. A range of fresh fruit salad, farmhouse sausage baps and strong coffee was delivered to our room for us to feast on.

My time spent at Limewood was over in a flash, but I loved the experience of trying some of Cornwall’s finest food at such a magical hotel.

More information on the Limewood hotel and pop-ups here.

Seven Dials is a charming area of London, filled with independent boutiques and innovative eateries. I used to spend many weekends as a teenager spending my pocket money at the magical bead shop. Nowadays I often end up in the area working with a coffee and cinnamon bun at Fabrique Bakery in between meetings. Last week, I was invited to spend a day exploring some of the district’s most exciting spots with two blogging friends, here are a few of our favourite places we discovered in Seven Dials…

Start the day with a strong coffee at Fabrique Bakery, a Scandi import from Sweden. The cinnamon and cardamon buns are legendary… soft and sugary with a lovely glaze, they are without a doubt the best in London.

Tucked away on Denman Street My Cup of Tea is a beautifully minimalist tea shop selling loose leaf fine teas and equipment for brewing the perfect cup at home. If you are in need of a shopping break, this cafe is the perfect place to experience a rejuvenating hot drink, I recommend the Earl Grey and Lavender black tea. The boxes of luxurious tea bags also make a good gift.

Caudalie is a natural skincare brand from France which uses grapes and vine leaves to create pioneering and luxurious skincare products. Pop in to the Seven Dials branch for a relaxing facial, or pick up some of their famous Eau de Beaute elixir, a light spray which will give your complexion a boost.

Salad Pride owner David Bez started making salad lunches for himself when he worked in an office and felt the need for a healthier lifestyle and diet. He has long since left the corporate world and now has two cookbooks and two London cafes (including one in Seven Dials) which offer hearty soups, fresh juices and comforting salads.

A macaron from Parisian chocolatier Pierre Herme is the ultimate afternoon treat in Seven Dials. Pop into the magical boutique and choose from rainbow coloured macarons, intensely flavoured chocolates or a scoop of homemade ice-cream. It is almost impossible to pick a favourite but I think I liked the unique olive oil and mandarin flavoured macaron best.

More information about Seven Dials here.