The Workshop Cafe and Cycles – Palma
It’s been a while since I popped into The Workshop Cafe and Cycles – the cycling cafe in the heart of Palma. I previously mentioned it in an article when it first opened at the start of the year.
The cafe combines high-end bicycle rental, a repair services, café style food and a range of premium cycling kits and accessories. The concept aims to tick all the boxes for a cyclist here Mallorca and was lovingly created by husband-and-wife team Velimira and Jakub Pieniazek. Jakub has been working professionally as a cycling coach for over ten years.
Coffee and cycling have always gone hand in hand. A caffeine hit halfway through a long ride saves many a weary biker – and the cycle café trend across the world, shows no sign of slowing down. Jakub & Villi seem to have created more than just a cafe that focuses on bikes… There is a real community building here, both for cyclists and for people that live in Palma or just dropping their kids to school.
The design and feel is a long way away from the hipster grungy feel that has historically been associated with a few mechanics starting up their own bike cafe. Yes, as you would expect, there are the natural visible biking connections… but in a subtle, stylish and clean way. The Workshop hosts a bespoke private collection of rare posters from The Peace Race, which tell a story of long bygone days when Le Tour de France was not accessible for athletes from the eastern block.
THE BIKES
All the bikes are carbon road bikes, Trek Emonda SL6 from 2018 – Available in two colours: Matte Metallic Gunmetal or Viper red.. Their bicycle fleet consists of 32 bikes from size 52 to 60. All rentals can be pre-fitted by their on-site bike mechanic.
THE RIDES
Join the crew on their Strava Club – “The Workshop CafeCycles”
Their “Running with the Bulls” ride on a Thursday at 5.30pm is fast, furious and a lot of fun… 45km & 358m vertical
The ride starts at the Workshop and finishes at Can Pastilla… The pace slowly builds and by the end, you are left hanging on for dear life! From Can Pastilla, the crew ride at an easy pace back to the Workshop for a well earned wettie.
THE CAFE:
The approach to the food is a simple one. Villi strives to offer the freshest locally sourced produce, with the menu incorporating fresh vegetables, fruit and seafood found in the local market. The Workshop Cafe offers a light brunch menu to its regular customers. Avocado Toast and Chia pancakes are the popular ones and for those who are in need of a more substantial meal, the Mexican Eggs and Benedict on Sundays pertaining hits the spot!
For the cyclist wishing to get some fuel on board for the day, Villi has created a deliciously flavourful Orange-Nut granola and Classic Rolled Oats Porridge.
Vili also offers private group menus for cyclists and friends – this menu includes wonderful main dishes such as a super noodle salad, quinoa with sea bass and my favourite… the Buckwheat Tabbouleh with roasted carrots, chicken breast & pomegranate…. all, far to healthy for my cycling buddy Steve!
The coffee is lovingly served… a brand called Meke, a blend & roasted in Ibiza.
Opening Times
Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 until 17:00
Sunday 10:00 until 14:00 (ish) – closed on Mondays
The Workshop – c/Magalhaes 1, Palma 07014, info@theworkshopalma.cc, www.theworkshopalma.cc, tel 871238065
Other popular Bike Cafe’s Across Europe
Look Mum No Hands!, London
Opened in 2010 by Matt, Lewin and Sam – Their shop was based around things they loved – bikes, coffee, beer, pies, and live cycling – all under one roof. Known for its boisterous atmosphere during the Tour, it’s not just for die-hard cyclist. The Belgian beers, fresh juices, and proper food also attract commuting foldies, fixie-riding hipsters and families. Baristas, mechanics and chefs can take care of almost any need.
Zweiradperle, Hamburg
Zweiradperle is a bike shop and café all in one. In the Zweiradperle, everything revolves around the bicycle. It’s a meeting place created by cyclists for cyclists. Whether you bring in your bike for service, rent a bike, get to know Hamburg on a guided bike tour, use free Wi-Fi while enjoying a cup of coffee and a sandwich, or design a bike of your dreams, you won’t be disappointed.
http://www.zweiradperle.hamburg/en/
Vélocité Cafe, Lisbon
Since 2012, this award-winning hangout has opened its doors to bike lovers. Conveniently located along one of Lisbon’s bike paths and close to the Gulbenkian museum and the Eduardo VII park, this “speed café” is easy to find. On a drowsy, rainy day, the café is filled with coffee lovers rather than bike lovers. But when the sun’s out, it is a favourite stop for many cyclists. Natural juices, strawberry lemonade and Portuguese craft beers all help put a smile on your face, and if you come by bike you can claim a 10% discount on your food. There are expert mechanics on hand to fix any problems and you can rent a bike cheaply too.
Keirin Cycle Culture Café, Berlin
On the 1st of April 2004 Gary and Mortimer founded the Keirin cycle culture café, the first dedicated track bike store in the world. After many years working as bike messengers in Berlin, London, and NYC, a passion for track bikes and bike racing was the driving force behind the idea to create a shop and meeting place for the similarly enthused. It’s offering excellent Italian coffee, live screening of pro-tour and track racing events and an interesting collection of rare track bikes and parts. The shop has a large selection of new and vintage track and road frames and components. Builds and repairs are carried out by a mechanic with 16 years of workshop experience.
La Bicicleta Café, Madrid
In the neighborhood of Malasaña, the district famous for its bars, cafés and alternative places, La Bicicleta’s young and stylish ambience invites you to take a seat and feel like one more spoke in Madrid’s cycling community. The idea for a bike café was born 5 years ago when the owners heard about a similar project in Latvia. After giving it some thought and going on trips to get to know places like this, the idea got firmed up and the café finally opened its doors 3 years ago. Malasaña was just the perfect spot, not only because of the target audience in the area but also because of the “romantic feelings” the founders have for this special district. The philosophy behind the café was to create a place where you can drink good, fair-trade coffee, where the bicycle is always in the spotlight and where you can relax, work, repair your bike and have a snack at the same time. Other activities such as exhibitions, presentations of bicycle journeys, Goldsprint competitions or book presentations complete the picture.
http://www.labicicletacafe.com
Upcycle, Milan
Milan’s Upcycle is a former abandoned garage, said to be inspired by London’s original and famous cycle café Look Mum No Hands!. Communal tables surrounded by decor including handlebars and pedals lend themselves easily to a relaxed breakfast or watching live events on the big screen. You can also get your bike repaired. It is not easy to find: no banner outside, no signs, absolutely nothing until you arrive at the entrance – a concrete slope with bike racks. Upcycle has delicious home-made cakes and Scandinavian dishes.
Steel, Paris
A side street in Oberkampf in the city’s 11th arrondissement hosts Steel: a hub of freshly brewed coffee, sandwiches and cakes, and a boutique selling specialized performance gear. The organization started out as a style magazine and its attention to detail and design values infuse everything from the decor to the food. Investment into cycling infrastructure has improved a lot for cyclists in Paris and many regularly use the café as a departure point for rides. The coffee is good but evidence suggests it’s ultimately about the clothes. We’re not sure how they feel about sweaty shorts…
https://www.facebook.com/steelcyclecoffeeshop/
Bianchi Café & Cycles – Stockholm, Västerås, Milan
It was in Norrlandsgatan in Stockholm, where Bianchi Café & Cycles opened its first concept store in 2010. Under one roof, enthusiasts could finally find some of the best Italy has to offer: atmosphere, espresso, delicacies and, not least, Bianchi bikes. In Italy, Bianchi is almost holy. Having built bicycles for over 130 years in Lombardy in northern Italy, Bianchi has not only set his mark on cycling in the world, but has also become an important part of Italian culture. In September 2014, the gates were opened for another in central Milan, to the great pleasure of milanoburns. It became a dear reminder, as it was here that the founder Eduardo Bianchi started his business in 1885. The food is more substantial than what you discover in a regular cycling cafe – certainly the original Stockholm site is much more of a restaurant…
Images by @ChelsiPrice
Dan Marsh – Founder
www.marsh-mallows.com
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