Fine dining on the beachfront
It wasn’t so long ago that greasy, overcrowded beach bars populated the coast of Spain but, the country’s gastronomic revolution has finally reached the seaside. Check out these excellent options in destinations such as Alicante, Jerez, Ibiza, Lanzarote and Valencia. They range from modern beach clubs to restaurants whose culinary offerings surpass even the finest of views.
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1 Moments, in Alicante
It’s been 25 years since the Remacha Sanz family settled on quiet Urbanova beach in Alicante and deployed their extraordinary culinary talent for rice dishes and stews at El Capricho de Raquel. Now, it’s Sergio and Raquel – the next generation – who are leading a second gastronomic revolution with Moments Bar. This ode to quality produce serves the finest seafood, cheese and sausages, exquisite grilled meats and fish and offers a wine cellar with more than 400 national and international options.
Interiors of Moments, designed by Toni Espuch, and Tomahawk Steak of Wagyu -
2 El Cuartel del Mar, in Chiclana
The former Civil Guard barracks on the spectacular Loma del Puerco in Chiclana, Cádiz, opposite the stunning La Barrosa beach, was converted by the More&Co studio in this remarkable project by Grupo Azotea. At El Cuartel del Mar, the succulent menu of the company’s executive chef Manuel Berganza celebrates the south with specialities such as almadraba tuna, along with fried, fire-grilled and smoked options, all to be washed down with the sophisticated cocktails of Luca Anastasio.
El Cuartel del Mar and its Roasting tuna belly served with a ginger piriñaca salad / photo by José María Casco -
3 Mimar, in Valencia
Patacona beach in Valencia is the setting for one of the city’s most celebrated openings of this spring. Chef Raúl Aleixandre – recipient of the National Gastronomy Award – heads up this new project by entrepreneur José Miralles. Mimar, which faces the sea, focuses on fine dining with moreish rice dishes, fire-grilled meats and fish, seafood specialities and irresistible options such as seven-pepper duck with oyster and honey sauce or lobster stew with potatoes and cinnamon.
Oyster platter at Mimar, next to Patacona beach -
4 Casa Jondal, in Ibiza
The greatest challenge possible to the cliché of the beach bar is Casa Jondal, located in Cala Jondal in San José, Ibiza. This is the restaurant of Rafa Zafra – the Seville-born chef responsible for Estimar in Madrid and Barcelona – and his partners Ricardo Acquista and Goran Krstanovic. The maritime pantry is the star of a menu that is strongly committed to fresh produce, with oysters, scallops, mussels, giant prawns, langoustines, caviar and lobster, fish such as fire-grilled John Dory and surprises such as red king crab with Mexican tortillas.
Casa Jondal and its dishes Oyster with herb oil, ginger lime and grapefruit and grilled suckling lamb chops in garlic -
5 Be Papagayo, in Lanzarote
Perfectly integrated into the pristine setting of Papagayo beach in Lanzarote, located within the Los Ajaches Natural Monument, a huge volcanic massif with dramatic landscapes, Be Papagayo offers the best of local cuisine. The restaurant – a truly gourmet version of traditional beach bars – works with island producers to choose the best ingredients for making traditional dishes such as gofio, and serves local fish such as jarea (sun-dried, salted fish), Atlantic wreckfish and Mediterranean parrotfish, all served up with views of Fuerteventura and Lobos island. If you do visit, ask about its sustainable programmes for reducing plastic with other Canary brands, such as Agüita.
Local fish ceviche from Be Papagayo, in Lanzarote
