Mallorca Insider: Journalist & Author Jan Edwards

Mallorca Insider: Journalist & Author Jan Edwards

When Jan Edwards traded her BBC radio studio for a remote finca in rural Mallorca, she didn’t just swap alarm clocks for almond blossoms — she found a whole new life story worth writing about.

A former broadcaster in Oxfordshire and Birmingham, Jan moved to Mallorca in 2004 with her partner Richard, settling in the quiet countryside between Manacor and Colònia de Sant Pere. Their home is off-grid — powered by solar panels, supplied by tanker-delivered water, and always shared with a community of adopted cats. “It was a huge change,” Jan admits, “but one I’ve never regretted.”

Over the last two decades, Jan has become a familiar voice and pen in Mallorca’s cultural and gastronomic scene. She’s written for magazines, newspapers, and radio, and runs two popular blogs — Eat, Drink, Sleep Mallorca and Living in Rural Mallorca. She also presents food and hospitality features for Mallorca Sunshine Radio, and in 2021 published her debut novel Daughter of Deià. Its sequel, The Mallorca Cat Café, followed in 2025, with a third book and a memoir in progress.

Mallorca Then & Now

“When we arrived, the food scene was limited,” Jan recalls. “Today there’s an explosion of creativity — from Michelin-starred chefs like Tomeu Caldentey, who famously gave back his star, to rural vineyard restaurants such as Terragust, where everything on the menu is grown on the island.”

She recommends Palma gems like Vida Meva (a three-course menu del día for €23), Italian hideaway Gigi’s, and neighbourhood favourites on Carrer Blanquerna — streets where locals still outnumber visitors. Beyond the capital, Jan is an enthusiastic champion of the east coast: Peruvian flavours at Mamacona, rustic tradition at Ca’n March in Manacor, and hidden wine experiences like Mesquida Mora’s El Cub in Porreres.

A Writer’s Discipline

As a novelist, Jan is refreshingly honest about the challenges of self-publishing: “Writing is discipline and consistency. But marketing your own book is harder than writing it.” She laughs, but she means it — and her advice to would-be authors is simple: get it down on the page first, edit later.

Why She Stays

After 21 years, Jan’s affection for Mallorca hasn’t dimmed. “It’s the peace, the beauty, the rhythm of rural life. I’ve swapped high heels for walking boots and don’t miss a thing.”

Whether she’s blogging about local gastronomy, reporting for radio, or quietly crafting her next book, Jan Edwards is a reminder of what Mallorca looks like when you go beyond the resorts: authentic, rooted, and deeply inspiring.

👉 Hear Jan’s full story — including her restaurant and hotel recommendations — on the Mallorca Insiders podcast. [Link to episode]

From BBC to Rural Mallorca: Insider Jan Edwards on Food, Wine, and Writing

When journalist and broadcaster Jan Edwards swapped her BBC studio in Oxfordshire for a rural finca between Manacor and Colònia de Sant Pere in 2004, she had no idea just how much Mallorca — and her own life — would change.

More than 20 years later, Jan has become one of the island’s most respected voices on food, wine, and rural living. She’s written extensively for magazines and radio, created the blogs Eat, Drink, Sleep Mallorca and Living in Rural Mallorca, and published two novels in her Daughter of Deià series, with a third on the way.

In our latest Mallorca Insiders podcast, Jan opens up about:

• Life off-grid — solar panels, water deliveries and septic tanks

• How Mallorca’s food scene has evolved from limited local options to Michelin-starred experiences

• The art (and discipline) of writing — and why marketing your book is as tough as writing it

• Insider restaurant and hotel recommendations that reflect authentic Mallorca

Jan’s warmth and wit make this episode a delight — whether you’re an aspiring writer, a foodie, or just curious about life away from the tourist trail.

👉 Listen to the full conversation here

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