Things To Do in Santo Tomas

Most of the dining goes on in hotels here. If you fancy something different, though, a 5-minute taxi ride takes you up to the village of Es Migjorn. It’s a real local hangout here so you can expect authentic Spanish food like tapas and tortilla – washed down with traditional sangria.

This popular restaurant is part of the Vistamar apartment complex. It comes with a large, airy dining room, friendly staff and crowd-pleasers like pizza and pasta. The aubergine ravioli is made fresh every day and there’s a fixed-course menu or à la carte to choose from. The house wine is very drinkable too.

A beach as long as this one never feels crowded, even at the weekends when the locals come to town. In fact, it’s a nice, neat arrangement here – you get all the sunbeds, watersports and watering holes in the middle, with more secluded spots at either end. If you want sand dunes, head west – or for rock pools, head the other way.

When it comes to shops, Santa Tomas is a bit of a lightweight – it’s got just a clutch of supermarkets and souvenir shops. Mahon helps out, though, with its exclusive boutiques, ceramics and leather shops. There’s also a bustling market here 6 days a week if you’re looking for tasty picnicky nibbles.

This restaurant gives you a prime spot on the beach at Santa Tomas – and throws a fish-packed menu into the bargain, too. You can tuck into the catch of the day, or go for regular stars like squid and sardines. The steamed mussels Menorcan-style also get a round of applause. If you’re just in snack mode, though, the place does salads and freshly-made sandwiches, too.

They sure know how to throw a party for their patron saint here. Things kick off on Saturday with a cavalcade of floats and marching bands, followed by the equine fun that is the jaleo – a bronco-style display of horses. And Sunday sees the traditional sharing of rose water – the locals will talk you through it – with more horse action and a huge fireworks display.

If you want something a bit more lively than Santo Tomas has to offer, there’s always next-door Son Bou. It has some good bars, a few of which stay open ’til around 4am. Or you could go to Mahon. Live music is really popular here, so head to the waterfront for chic bars serving up cocktails along with jazz, blues and salsa.

Shopping-wise, Santo Tomas is fine for supermarkets and holiday essentials. If you like a good shop, though, Mahon is your best bet. It’s got lots of ceramics and leather shops, fashion boutiques and souvenir places along the waterfront and in the pedestrianised centre. And on Tuesdays and Saturdays, there’s a clothes market in the Plaça de S’Esplanada.

Bar Halley – or La Granja, as it’s also known – is a Brit-style pub that does ale, Guinness and chicken pot pie. Steve, the Brummy bar man, will have you feeling right at home. The place has got lots of outdoor seating, as well as a mega screen for catching up on the sport. Settle in from 7pm-ish – it fills up around then.

Just a few minutes’ drive from Santo Tomas, high up on a hill, lie the ruins of Torre d’en Galmes. It’s the biggest archaeological site in the Balearics. Some 3,500 years ago, its underground chambers were home to over 1,000 people, but now it’s all boulders and crumbling walls. The small info centre will get you up to speed with the place’s prehistoric past.

Santa Tomas has a permanent population of about 60 – but with a beach this long, you won’t be cramped for space even when the locals hit the sand at the weekend. If you like real isolation, head for the sand dunes to the west or the rocky sections to the east. Otherwise, stay in the middle for the sunbeds, cafés and watersports.

Food-wise, the hotels here have pretty much got it covered. If you fancy a change, though, the little town of Es Migjorn is just 5 minutes’ drive up the hill. Here you’ll find several unfussy restaurants that are popular with the locals and serve authentic tapas made with fresh local ingredients.