Sunset Supper At Kasbah Ibiza

San Antonio is probably known for its raucous nightlife, so some may not be familiar with the softer side of the town. Perfectly placed on the Sunset Strip for views of the day turning to night over the ocean is Kasbah, a Mediterranean bar and eatery with a chilled atmosphere and eclectic crowd. We paid a visit for its famous sunset dinner.

Overlooking the San Antonio bay, Kasbah is laid-back, ambient and somewhat of a hidden gem. The famous Sunset Strip is 2.5km long, so it would stand to reason that Kasbah has some stiff competition, but as we walked up the steps into the venue last week, it looked packed out. Having cultivated a reputation for quality live music, a chilled atmosphere and brilliant food (aided by the recruitment of a new head chef, who has been working on the island for several years and has come directly from one of the most revered kitchens on the island), Kasbah is obviously now reaping the benefits.

Tables are occupied by a mix of people – young couples, families and groups of friends catching the last of the day’s sun are all chatting, laughing and relaxing. The sun, full and low, causes the ocean to glitter as boats bob idly by. It’s difficult not to feel an instant sense of peace. We’re greeted warmly by our host, who promptly brings over a couple of signature cocktails. One is tall and fruity with gin and berries, the other is a shorter concoction of watermelon, vodka, chartreuse and fresh lime – and both are seriously delicious. We went off-menu, but the simplicity of the ingredients and the intensity of the flavour really is a testament to the bartender – I’ve no doubt that everything on the menu would be fabulous. We were also treated to some sangria, which was served exactly as sangria should be – strong, fruity, and perfectly paired with beautiful views of the bay.

As we sipped our cocktails, we enjoyed the serenading of Karl Cosgrove, an acoustic singer who holds a regular slot at Kasbah Ibiza. He’ll be leaving the island to spend a couple of months in South America, but will return at the end of the season – we’ll let you know when you can catch one of his lovely performances! The starters arrived, and they were pleasantly light and colourful. As well as a traditional Spanish offering with smoked, cured ham with crispy bread and tomato, we also tried a prawn, avocado and mango salad. The prawns were large and fresh, and worked well with the sweetness of the mango. Fresh pieces of mango were accompanied by a mango coulis which was so sweet it was almost syrupy, adding another dimension to the radishes and pea shoots that made up the salad. The plate had a lot of flavours – creamy, smoky, sweet and sharp – and was perfectly light for a balmy June evening. The whole thing was presented beautifully and finished with edible petals for a final flourish.

We chose steak for the main course – and we were glad we did. The thick fillet was melt in the mouth, cooked pink but perfectly charred on the outside and tender all the way through. It was served with a simple side of potatoes and a watercress salad – the ‘mini baked potatoes’ were well seasoned and incredibly moreish, and the salad added a freshness and a lightness to the dish that it would otherwise be lacking. To finish, we were served a gorgeous cheesecake – rich and creamy with a crumbly, impossibly buttery base, and topped with a tart mango coulis. It was finished with vanilla parfait, crumbled walnuts, blueberries and flecked with fruit caviar. Perfection. For a simple Balearic supper while you take in the beautiful views of the White Isle by sunset, look no further than Kasbah Ibiza. The food is tasty but light, the drinks are cold and strong and the scenery is simply breathtaking. What more could you need?

RESERVATIONS & INFORMATION:
w: www.kasbahibiza.com