Amante Ibiza: Picture Perfect Fine Dining

Drive through the busy tourist resort of Cala Llonga and straight out the other end again. Keep going. Drive into the hills. Nestled there, in an enclave overlooking the glittering ocean, is hidden treasure Amante Beach Club and Restaurant. It boasts not only an impossibly chic restaurant, but a perfectly secluded sun-spot fronting onto one of the best ocean swimming spots on the whole island. Naturally, we had to pay a visit to sample some of their famous fresh seafood, innovative flavours, moreish cocktails and idyllic views.

The first thing you notice as you walk down the pale stone steps into Amante Beach Club is how glamorous it feels – decked out entirely in stylish nude tones, it’s minimal and sophisticated. Step fully inside and peer over the balcony, though, and you’ll quickly realise that the décor is not the most impressive thing about the establishment. The view must be one of the best on the island – you’re surrounded by cliffs and mountains from every peripheral angle, while the ocean stretches infinitely ahead of you. The water is turquoise and the sand is white, and the few happy holidaymakers that are in the know can be seen swimming in the sea or relaxing in the sun. Ibiza can be exhausting and intense, but stand and take in this view and you’ll be certain – you’re in paradise.

As our friendly host showed us to our table, which was expensive looking and clad in heavy linens, we were delighted to discover that we’d be sitting right on the front overlooking the ocean. We were first of all offered the cocktail of the day, which was a tall, fruity number made with blackberry liqueur and decorated with fresh blackberries, fresh lime and decorative flowers. Before we were brought any of the menu dishes, our host brought our a selection of breads with fresh tomato, and a shot of cold melon soup as a palate cleanser. The soup was a particularly nice touch – the light entrée left us feeling refreshed and excited for our meal to arrive.

When our beautifully-presented starters arrived, we were taken aback by the innovation that had gone into them, and could not help but note that the dishes we tried were nothing like anything we’d had elsewhere on the island. We sampled three starters: a beetroot and avocado terrine with spicy ackee salsa; a green tomato, cod and olive salad with a port sauce; and a cold San Morello cherry soup with a ricotta stuffed tomato in the middle. Despite being incredibly tasty, all three dishes felt light and healthy – you could tell that a lot of love and care, as well as seriously high-quality ingredients – had gone into the curation of each. Our host explained to us that food is sourced locally wherever possible – the green tomatoes in the salad had been grown in the restaurant’s garden and the tender fish was sustainable and local. The standout dish was definitely the cherry soup – it’s something that I wouldn’t have chosen myself, out of fear and an inbuilt need to play it relatively safe when choosing my food. The cherry flavour was sweet, tart and refreshing, and the tomato sitting pride of place in the centre of the dish had been softened and tenderised by the creamy ricotta. The chefs here obviously have a palate for experimental flavours, because the unlikely ingredients all worked together perfectly.

As our starters were cleared, we all eagerly voiced our satisfaction to our host, but she advised us that the best was yet to come. When the mains arrived, we could see what she meant. Again, we sampled three plates: crispy lamb served with sweet potato purée and charred vegetables; calamari de Formentera with sweet potato gratin and samphire; and monkfish and langoustines with potatoes in a fresh tomato sauce. The lamb – a special on the day – had been cooked on the Josper grill, and was perfectly smoked as a result, but it also had a sweet element to it – and the crisped, crackling top felt incredibly indulgent. The calamari was a fresh, healthy, colourful dish that packed a lot of flavour – a lot of places on the island serve calamari and octopus but this felt especially fresh, tender and flavoursome. My favourite dish was definitely the monkfish and langoustine stew though – the fish had a real bite to it and was brilliantly white, while the langoustine was so perfectly cooked it almost melted in the mouth. The sauce was rich and smokey with a slight spiced kick to it. While all three dishes were brilliant, I’d highly recommend this to anyone thinking of giving Amante a try.

Given how much we’d enjoyed the starters and mains, we had high expectations for dessert – and we were right to have them. Much like the starters and the mains, the three desserts were totally original and unique takes on classic flavours and elements. We had: cream of chocolate with fresh raspberries and raspberry sorbert and pistachio sponge; mango ceviche over coconut milk and lime sorbert; and avocado mousse with fresh strawberries and crumbled pistachios. The latter of the three was a bright, brilliant green, and I was slightly nervous (there’s that unadventurous English palate again!) but couldn’t have been more impressed by it – it was light, fluffy and super sweet, the perfect dessert for hot weather. The same could be said for the mango ceviche, which was cold and fragrant – an ideal palate cleanser after all the flavours we’d just tried. The chocolate dessert tasted more indulgent, but it was still light compared to usual restaurant desserts – there were a lot of flavours and colours all on one plate, it had a lot of depth and dimension. We finished the meal with a chilled limoncello and coffees – a perfect end to a perfect lunch.

Amante Beach Club is informally glamorous – while people were wearing casual beachwear, it definitely had an air of occasion. It would be the perfect spot for anyone looking for something bridging the gap between casual and formal – somewhere to take your parents, to have a romantic but lowkey meal for two or to celebrate with friends. The incredibly warm, friendly staff can’t do enough for you and the food is fresh, light and unique. Whether you’re a mainstay on the island or only here for a few days, we highly recommend you visit Amante Beach Club – come for the views, but stay for the food.

Reservations & information:
w: www.amanteibiza.com