For almost four decades, Café Matinal has been serving breakfast in the heart of Sant Francesc, becoming one of Formentera’s enduring family-run businesses.

Founded by Josep Marull and Ina Luber on May 24, 1988, the café introduced a style of breakfast that was unusual on Formentera at the time, with European-inspired dishes including different types of bread, yoghurt, homemade preserves, muesli and salmon.

Today, the business remains in the same family, with the couple’s three children, Beni, Quim and Jordi, having taken over the day-to-day running of the establishment.

A Different Kind of Breakfast

When Café Matinal opened, breakfast culture on Formentera was very different from today.

Marull recalls that the traditional morning routine was largely based around coffee with condensed milk, toast and, occasionally, a sandwich. The new café offered something considerably broader.

The concept was described as a “Breakfast Brunch Bistró”, a format that the family says was practically unknown in Spain at the time.

The menu introduced products that were not commonly associated with local cafés, including salmon toast, muesli, yoghurt, several varieties of bread and homemade jams.

The idea was simple: concentrate on breakfast and morning food, but give it a distinctly European character.

An Ambitious Start

The concept was not immediately successful.

Marull recalls that the first months were difficult and that the family wondered if they had made the wrong decision.

The situation began to change with the arrival of the tourist season and the growing interest of European visitors. Guests from Germany and France who already knew the family’s other businesses began visiting Café Matinal in the mornings.

Interest gradually grew and the small café established itself as a meeting point for both residents and international visitors.

Homemade Products

Much of the original philosophy remains part of Café Matinal today.

The business continues to prepare products in-house, including bread, yoghurt and preserves. The family also says it uses locally sourced products whenever possible, including figs from its own home.

Behind the breakfast service is an early start. Marull explains that preparations begin at around six in the morning to have everything ready when the café opens.

The emphasis on homemade food and personal service has remained an important part of the establishment’s identity.

Adapting to a Changing Formentera

Over 38 years, Café Matinal has also experienced major changes in Formentera’s tourism industry.

Marull remembers the growth in Italian tourism and the impact it had on the island and the business.

He describes a period when the café became extremely busy but also saw changes in customer behaviour. According to his recollection, some visitors arrived because of the café’s growing reputation but did not necessarily spend as much as previous customers.

The family eventually adapted and says it managed to regain the quieter atmosphere and loyal clientele that had characterised the business during its earlier years.

The Family Business Continues

The transition to the next generation has taken place gradually.

Josep retired from the business in 2019, while Ina stepped away in 2025. Their three children, Beni, Quim and Jordi, now run the café.

The change of generation has not meant a change of identity.

The brothers continue to work at the bar and serve customers, maintaining the personal approach that has been associated with Café Matinal since its opening.

There have also been changes behind the scenes. Ruth, who worked alongside Ina for many years, has retired, with Ángela joining the existing team of Omaira and Natascha in the kitchen.

A Familiar Part of Sant Francesc

The café has built a particularly loyal following over the years.

Some customers interviewed for the story have been visiting for decades, while others have incorporated Café Matinal into their regular routines after moving to or repeatedly visiting Formentera.

The clientele includes residents, returning international visitors and people who have been coming to the café since its earliest days.

That continuity is one of the establishment’s defining characteristics.

The original breakfast concept that seemed unusual in Formentera in 1988 has long since become familiar, but Café Matinal has retained much of the approach that made it distinctive in the first place.

Almost four decades after Josep Marull and Ina Luber opened the doors, the business remains a family affair in Sant Francesc, with the second generation now carrying the tradition forward.