Winter Sunsets & Good Food At Hostal La Torre

With the famous Sunset Strip in San Antonio beginning to resemble a – how seasonally appropriate – ghost town after the island’s most famous spots to watch the natural spectacle from have retired for the winter, off-season visitors and island residents may be wondering where else they can gather with friends and family for unspoilt views, cocktails and food to enjoy the spectacular sight from. And if you’re in Ibiza right now, you’ll be glad to hear that one of our all-time favourite sunset spots is – and remains – open for breakfast, lunch and yes, dinner service: Hostal La Torre.

Sitting proudly atop the rocky coastline of Cap Negret and enjoying totally unspoilt views on the Mediterranean Sea, the bar and restaurant’s vast sunset vistas are comparable to watching a movie on a huge cinema screen rather than your TV. And no matter how many times we visit the boho chic venue, when you catch a first glimpse of the sparkling water and the golden light filtering through the doorway as you enter, it never fails to take our breath away. Only a short drive from San Antonio, its slightly off-the-beaten-track location makes Hostal La Torre a real gem that is consistently busy with locals and visitors in the know, but has not been spoilt by mass tourism.

We went along for a girly sunset dinner this week, securing a prime spot on the restaurant’s bustling terrace overlooking the dramatic coastline sea – in fact, as the setting sunlight illuminated the horizon, we could even spot the outline of Valencia’s coast on the Spanish mainland! Picking from the extensive cocktail menu, we toasted the stunning orange, red and purple sky with a bittersweet and sparkly Balearic Spritz – La Torre’s take on the popular Aperol namesake – a fruity Gee & Tea, which infuses the classic gin and tonic mix with green tea and lemon, and a zesty, citrus-flavoured Mile High Daiquiri made with Bacardi rum, fresh ginger, a dash of honey and lime juice.

With La Torre’s food offering changing at the beginning of November as part of San Antonio’s gastronomic festival Restaurat!, where participating venues will be judged on a special menu they create for the occasion, we made the most of sampling the eatery’s most popular dishes from the summer season, mixing light and healthy options with comforting Mediterranean classics. For starters, we shared an utterly sensational plate of fresh, juicy mussels served in an Asian-style sauce made with coconut milk, lime and cava, leaving us fighting over the last shells.

One of La Torre’s signature creations, fluffy seaweed bread was topped with salty sardines and a variety of toppings such as marinated peppers and avocado cream, a contrast of flavours and textures. We also tucked into two Spanish classics, the famous Iberian ham croquetas, which had the perfect crusty shell that burst open to reveal a gooey centre, and a warm, comforting tortilla perfect for the autumnal weather.

While we waited for our mains to arrive, we couldn’t tear our eyes away from the fading sunlight, which we – unsuccessfully – tried to capture on our phones a few times. The ambient mix of chilled electronica added to the atmospheric setting, once again confirming that Ibiza in the off-season is just as magical as during the height of summer. Our meal commenced with a silky smooth burrata cheese served on a fruity bed of red fruits including red currants, and tomato tartar, which wowed with a tangy flavour sensation that exploded with aromas. A warming chicken curry was accompanied by perfectly crunchy rice, the bittersweet sauce tickling our palette with just a hint of spice.

Flexing its Mediterranean cuisine muscles, the La Torre kitchen team knocked it out of the park with a juicy piece of pork ‘pluma’ with a side of grilled veggies, a delicious spicy sweet potato puree and baked pieces of apple – the ultimate winter warmer. Last, but not least, it wouldn’t be a visit to an iconic Ibicencan restaurant without a plate of octopus, and La Torre’s version of the classic gourmet treat wowed with its soft texture and a delightfully smoky potato puree.

Before long, we had to admit defeat, but not before enjoying a couple of shared sweet treats. Intrigued by the name, we chose the Argentinian caramel volcano, a show-stopping warm fondant cake with a liquid centre of gooey caramel that came pouring out of its middle, served with a generous dollop of vanilla ice cream. An international favourite, we can also highly recommend the fabulous cheesecake, which we scored highly for its generous size, creaminess and fresh red fruit topping. And, on recommendation of our friendly and super welcoming waiter Josh, we also snuck in a cheeky scoop of La Torre’s caramelised pecan nut ice cream in there.

Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and with a new menu on the horizon, we cannot urge you enough to experience a stunning winter sunset and fabulous food at Hostal La Torre.

Information & Reservations
t: +34 971 342 271
w: www.latorreibiza.com