As you approach Beachouse Ibiza along the boardwalk, the turquoise sea gradually comes into view, perfectly framed by the restaurant sitting right on the edge of the beach. This Mediterranean restaurant has no windows, so the sea breeze flows freely through the space, blurring the boundaries between inside and out.
The décor follows the pared-back Ibiza aesthetic you’d expect: rattan chairs, exposed natural wood, with gorgeous aloe plants, cacti and palms dotted throughout the space. The greenery brings the outside in, while the open structure makes it feel as though the restaurant is simply an extension of the beach.
As you come to expect in Ibiza, there’s a live DJ curating the soundtrack. On the Sunday we visited, the music was stripped back, as a mix of families, groups of friends and couples came and went throughout the restaurant.
We arrived for a 2pm lunch, and coffee was immediately calling. An oat milk and vanilla latte arrived whipped and frothy, exactly the sugary caffeine hit we needed. We followed it with locally brewed kombucha, choosing the hibiscus and ginger. The hibiscus had a good tang, while the ginger was fairly mellow, a refreshing choice in the heat.
For lunch, three of us decided to share a selection of dishes, which is where the menu works well. The plates are designed for sharing, but there’s enough flexibility to order individually too.
Warm, freshly baked bread and aioli is served with a tomato salsa
We started with warm, freshly baked bread and aioli, served with a tomato salsa. The aioli was rich and unapologetically garlicky, while the salsa was surprisingly sweet and caramelised rather than sharp.
Then came the burrata salad – although calling it a salad feels generous to the tomatoes, with the cheese-to-tomato ratio firmly in burrata territory. Rather than simply arriving at the table, the dish was assembled in front of us, with the burrata sliced open, lemon zest freshly grated over the top, followed by pepper, tomatoes and basil. It’s a recipe I will most definitely be recreating at home.
The same touch came with the guacamole, which arrived as an unexpectedly enormous portion. The waitress mixed it in front of us, adding lemon juice, tomato, red onion, salt, pepper, olive oil and as much heat as we wanted. At around €40, the portion was huge – easily enough for a large group to share.
Our final starter was calamari, served with fresh lemon as recommended by the waiting staff. The fish tasted fresh and the batter was light rather than greasy, making it another particularly good choice for a hot afternoon.
By this point, the portions were generous enough that we could probably have stopped. Alas, we kept going.
Pasta dishes are one of Beachouse’s signature offerings
For our mains, we ordered a classic pesto pasta topped with pistachios and fresh basil. The pasta was al dente, swimming in plenty of pesto, with freshly grated Parmesan served alongside. Pasta might not be the first thing you think of when dining on a Spanish island, but it’s one of Beachouse’s signature offerings, with seafood, truffle and other pasta dishes also on the menu.
We also ordered courgette fritters, which were light and fragrant rather than oily, as well as the sweet-and-sour chicken. The latter was chargrilled, cooked to perfection and served over a tangy, pickled sauce, topped with spring onions. It was a welcome change from the Mediterranean dishes we’d been eating elsewhere in Ibiza.
Dessert came as a platter, accompanied by fresh coconut water. In the heat, a large, heavy dessert wasn’t particularly appealing, so this worked perfectly: a bitesize selection of fresh fruit, pomegranate, homemade ice cream, sorbets and chocolate, with each mouthful offering something different. Again, it was a dish that works best for sharing.
Dessert comes as a platter, accompanied by fresh coconut water
Ultimately, it’s the setting that makes Beachouse Ibiza memorable. Ibiza has no shortage of scenic restaurants, but there’s something special about eating with the beach right in front of you, the fresh breeze moving through the restaurant and nowhere you particularly need to be afterwards. Beachouse was bustling when we visited, but there was no sense that we were being hurried through our meal, and our meal took around three hours from start to finish.
Lunch is just one part of the Beachouse offering. There’s daily yoga on the beach for those who want to start the day with a stretch, beach-beds so guests can spend the whole day there, and the Little Beach House, which gives younger visitors their own space to play.
It all feels very in keeping with Ibiza: relaxed and designed around spending time outside with your loved ones. At Beachouse Ibiza, we found lunch isn’t something you squeeze into your day, it accidentally became the day.
Factbox
Address: Platja d’en Bossa, 07817 Sant Jordi de ses Salines, Balearic Islands, Spain
Phone: +34 971 39 68 58
Website: beachouseibiza.com
Images courtesy of Beachouse Ibiza
Dining and Cooking