Simply Divine Flavours At Cala Bonita

The word ‘bonito’ translates from Spanish as ‘beautiful, lovely, pretty’. And indeed, the new Cala Bonita restaurant located in the picturesque cove of S’Estanyol, does its ‘lovely beach’ title more than justice – this place is quite a paradise. S’Estanyol is tucked away on the Eastern coast of Ibiza, and to reach it you need to drive along a serpentine road winding its way down to the sea.

It’s quite a challenging ride, but once you are there you will be blown away by the elegance and privacy of this bay: compact and surrounded by pine trees, it lets you disconnect for a couple of hours from the hustle and bustle of the main clubbing areas and feel genuine Balearic bliss. In the spirit of honouring its beautiful natural surroundings, head chef Karen Martini has created a menu that celebrates fresh, local produce and simple yet flavoursome recipes.

We went for dinner with friends on a balmy August evening and secured ourselves a table with a seaview. While we were waiting for the feast to begin, olives and nuts were delivered to our table, and we shared them gladly. To cheers a lovely evening ahead, we chose a zesty and refreshing jug of Sangria, filled with juicy fruits and fizzing with the sparkling wine.The atmosphere at Cala Bonita is relaxed and friendly, its understated, natural interiors and carefully sourced decor providing the perfect backdrop for a meal with family and loved ones alike.

The first course, organic tomato with a buffalo mozzarella burrata, white anchovies, oils and herbs, was a masterpiece. At first glance, this dish seems deceptively simple: just cut all the ingredients smoothly, put them on a plate and enjoy. But once you try this starter at Cala Bonita, your perception of the recipe will change forever – every single ingredient is of the highest quality, the creamy cheese melts in the middle and the tomatoes and fish burst with flavour. Those who like their starters spicy should try the fillet beef tartar with a spicy sauce and chips, accompanied by a perfectly runny egg. Fried calamari with nori tartare sauce also went down a treat thanks to the addictive mix of textures, but it was just the beginning of the seafood feast.

Once you are in Cala Bonita, don’t miss your chance to order salted whole wild lubina, wood grilled with sauce vierge and hand cut potato. The skin of the fish will be put in a separate bowl: after spending three hours marinated in salt, it tastes marvellously spicy, and it’s obviously not something you eat every day. Another great seafood option is the wood grilled octopus with scordalia and oregano – scordalia might look and taste like mashed potatoes, but it’s much more delicate, and there will be some caviar to accompany it. The menu also features a yummy selection of salads (what about shaved white cabbage, manchego and caraway, for example?) and pastas (such as spaghetti with hand picked king crab, soft summer herbs, green chilli and garlic). Meat is best represented by the epic chuleton: a 1500g chargrilled, sea salt encrusted aged Galician beef rib eye, served with potatoes and island lettuce. However, in order to try everything, you need to arrive with a big group of hungry company: the portions are generous, so for us it was a pleasure to share.

The desserts, again, deserve a special praise. Chocolate mousse with smoked chocolate and coffee granita is sweet but not too sugary – it’s that very kind of chocolate that refreshes the palate and tastes very gentle. Pinolatte biscuits were light and just as delicate: order them with coffee to round off the meal. Finally, strawberry sorbet is just spot-on for a summer evening – consumed to the splash of the waves under the breeze, it tasted heavenly. Of course, we couldn’t resist the temptation of ordering some cocktails, and here is a useful tip: choose the restaurant’s signature Cala Bonita mojito, made with the notorious Hierbas liquor. Driving back up the serpentine road, we were the happiest people on Earth. After such a fantastic dinner, life feels much more beautiful…or shall we say ‘bonita’?

Information & Reservations:
w: www.calabonita.com
t: +34 605 450 592