Pura Vida’s Triumphant Return

Okay, let’s be honest here for a second. For what feels like quite a while now, the weather in Ibiza has not exactly been top notch, with grey clouds and stormy winds chasing rain showers across our lovely little sunshine island. But both locals and visitors to the White Isle came out in force for the grand opening of Pura Vida Beach Club in Santa Eulalia, a testament not only to the spirit of the crowd but also to the appeal that the beautiful venue holds.

Not to be defeated by the underwhelming climes, the restaurant and bar looked stunning with their light wooden furniture, fragrant lavender and herb plants decorating the tables and the huge lounge areas filled with giant champagne buckets and chilled rose wine. The beachfront eatery on the picturesque Playa Niu Blau was already buzzing when we arrived, with the DJ mixing the finest in deep house and techno to match the vibrant atmosphere.

Families and friends of all ages were mingling at the bar or already enjoying the delicious food Pura Vida offers, while the children were merrily ignoring the clouds and playing on the beach with toys provided by entertainment company Kids In Ibiza. We grabbed a sea view table bordering the golden sands and chose a mix of foods from both the set menu, which had us salivating the moment we saw it promoted ahead of the opening.

None of us could resist a creamy mozzarella burrata, served with fresh green pesto, cherry tomatoes and simply outstanding tomato jam with hints of vanilla. Instagram-worthy to the max, we took pictures upon pictures of the gorgeous starter before swooning all the way through the consumption thereof. For our mains, we chose juicy beef fillet and tender chicken breast both served with island vegetables, and the Pura Vida steak tartar with homemade chips.

While we were savouring our lunch, well-known Ibizan singer Nell Shakespeare had taken over the mic to entertain us with her powerful vocals. The charismatic beauty had us all captivated as she belted out a gripping live set. With the kids still happily bouncing on the trampoline and playing with the totem tennis game down on the beach, we could allow ourselves to sit back and let the food go down while models paraded past the tables showing off the latest beach wear. Dressed in rainbow-coloured dresses and sheer kaftans, they tempted us to go wild in Pura Vida’s new boutique Livin’ La Vida Loca! By D Fashion Agency and stock up on everything from leather handbags to soft scarves and eye-catching bikinis.

Meanwhile, our dessert had arrived: a rich three-texture chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream good enough to send you straight to foodie heaven. Stretching our meal out for as long as we feasibly could, not at least because the children were having a whale of a time, we ordered a round of strong coffees before the lure of the comfortable day beds on the beach could become too strong. But when we finally left after a relaxing and indulgent afternoon, the verdict was universal: Pura Vida equals pure bliss!