Famous Soller restaurant that served Michelle Obama, Michael Douglas and Pierce Brosnan announces closure
Béns d’Avall, the Michelin-starred landmark that once hosted Michelle Obama, Michael Douglas and pierce brosnan, has closed its current operation as of March 1st (ET). Owners and operators from the Vicens family say the move is part of a strategic transformation to evolve the project and adapt service and kitchen offerings. Chef Benet Vicens and his wife Catalina Mayol framed the pause as a necessary step to preserve the restaurant’s identity while preparing a new concept.
Pierce Brosnan among international guests at Béns d’Avall
The Soller-to-Deià roadside estate long known as Béns d’Avall built its reputation on territory-led cuisine and local produce, and it served a roll call of distinguished visitors: Michelle Obama, Michael Douglas, pierce brosnan and former King Juan Carlos I are named among them. Across more than five decades under the stewardship of the Vicens family, the restaurant achieved Michelin recognition and became a touchstone in Mallorca’s fine dining scene. That history is central to the owners’ promise to retain the venue’s core values in the next phase.
Why the closure and what will change
Chef Benet Vicens and Catalina Mayol explained the decision as arising from a “strategic reflection focused on the project’s evolution and adaptation to new forms of hospitality and culinary creativity. ” The present tasting menu format will be discontinued and replaced by an à la carte offering in the forthcoming concept, which the team says will preserve the establishment’s essence while adopting a contemporary outlook in kitchen and service. The operation that closed on March 1st (ET) is described by the owners as one chapter ending so another can begin; in their message the team wrote, “We close one door to open another. ”
What this means for Mallorca’s gastronomic map
The closure marks a significant moment for the Balearic gastronomic scene: Béns d’Avall has played a visible role positioning the island on national and international fine dining lists. The Vicens family frames the change as balancing identity preservation with innovation, and the new concept is expected to launch in March 2027 (ET). The owners have expressed gratitude for long-term support and said they will reveal further details about the relaunch in the months ahead, while the team plans to keep the project closely tied to Mallorca’s landscape and produce.
Next steps and what to watch for
Locals and visitors will watch announcements from the Vicens family for specifics on timing, menus and service model ahead of the planned March 2027 (ET) relaunch. The shift away from a tasting menu toward à la carte service will be a key change to monitor, as will the ways the new concept seeks to preserve the qualities that drew guests such as Michelle Obama, Michael Douglas and pierce brosnan. For now, Béns d’Avall’s closure on March 1st (ET) closes a long chapter while signaling a deliberate move toward a reinvented hospitality approach.
