Divine dining

The art of dining out is having a resurgence in Ibiza. Getting dressed up and gathering a group of your nearest and dearest, or making a date night of it with your loved one, is this season’s number one thing to do and holidaymakers are going all out in their efforts to make each meal a special occasion. With this in mind, we’ve seen the Ibiza restaurant scene lift its game with world-class chefs, exceptionally creative cuisine and jaw-dropping locations. Leading the way is 7Pines Resort Ibiza, the luxurious five-star hotel complex (part of Destination by Hyatt) perched on the cliff’s edge at Cala Conta on the island’s west coast.

In fact, the resort’s culinary offerings have been in such high demand with hotel guests while it was at full occupancy all season that access to external diners was limited in peak season. Now that September is here however, island foodies can put 7Pines Resort Ibiza back on their must-visit lists as the hotel’s three signature restaurants and the iconic pool bar extend an open invitation to island visitors and residents once again. At the helm of the resort’s culinary concept is Executive Chef Óscar Salazar, a Michelin-trained man whose aim is to ensure each and every diner that comes through the (proverbial) doors experience a ‘wow moment’ with his creations. “My inspiration? Curiosity, experience, travels,” he says. “My life is my recipe.”

7Pines Resort Ibiza Executive Chef Andrés Fernández and his teams at The View, Cone Club, Pershing Yacht Terrace and the Infinity Pool Bar are ready and waiting to deliver unforgettable ‘wow moments’.

The jewel in the 7Pines Resort Ibiza dining crown is The View, a second-floor restaurant with panoramic vistas over the Mediterranean, across to the legendary Es Vedra and front-row sunset views – especially in September, when the sun melts into the sea right in front of the terrace. Afterwards, the stars and moon twinkle above, reflected in the sea below, while the balmy Mediterranean breeze floats through the air – the terrace is the very epitome of alfresco luxury. Here, Salazar has used his high-level kitchen expertise to create a gastronomic journey for all the senses. His unique interpretation of modern Mediterranean cuisine is nothing short of exquisite – matched only by the spectacular location in which it is enjoyed.

When it comes to celebrating a special occasion, The View is one of the finest dining destinations in Ibiza. The creative menu includes appetisers such as veal sweetbread with Jerusalem artichoke, hazelnut and black truffle; sepia with razor clams, green beans and Granny Smith apple; and homemade foie gras mi-cuit with local figs and caramelised onion. Mains are equally as decadent – think blue lobster with zucchini, stracciatella de bufala and Taggiasca olives or a mushroom ravioli with spinach, black truffle and Parmesan. Salazar curates a four-course and a six-course tasting menu (including vegetarian options) with an optional wine pairing that showcases the very best of The View in one sitting. From the first bite of your amuse bouche through to the last sip of your dessert cocktail, the experience is like nothing else in Ibiza.

Downstairs at ground level, Cone Club is the resort’s more laid-back dining destination – with views every bit as spectacular as its sophisticated upstairs counterpart. It’s a more bohemian affair in this part of 7Pines Resort Ibiza – low-slung sofas, colourful cushions, floor rugs and a colour palette that complements the kaleidoscopic hues of the sky at sunset. Meals are a relaxed affair here, and Salazar offers a varied casual Mediterranean menu to enjoy from sunset through until late. Whether it’s a selection of tapas (accompanied by sangria, of course) as you take in the sunset, or a hearty main meal such as the hand-picked butcher’s cut of the day for meat lovers or the catch of the day for fans of fish, there’s something to suit all appetites.

DJs spin a distinctly Balearic soundtrack from dusk until late, punctuated with the symbolic sound of the giant gong ringing at the precise moment of sunset. Settling in and watching the sunset is all part of the Cone Club magic – the hardest part is deciding what to order. The sunset tapas is hard to resist, with silky hand-sliced Iberico ham, artisanal Ibicenco cheeses with fig jam, the ever-popular Iberico ham croquetas and more. The main menu takes diners on a tour of the Med, from Greek Feta salad and Italian Burrata to Andalusian style squid for starters, then moving onto Mediterranean seabass, Spanish beef sirloin and grilled octopus for mains. Be sure to sample the restaurant’s signature Zarzuela – a Spanish fish and seafood stew (for two) that tastes like holidays in a bowl.

Salazar’s unique interpretation of modern Mediterranean cuisine is nothing short of exquisite – matched only by the resort’s spectacular location.

Over on the other side of the resort, Pershing Yacht Terrace is the sleek, James Bond-style bar where high-end mixology, izakaya-style cuisine and a live DJ soundtrack is the order of the day. Salazar oversees the cuisine concept with an incredible raw bar, where a selection of sushi and modern Japanese dishes take centre stage is accompanied by the Compass Rose cocktail menu, designed to honour the seafaring roots of the bar. Introducing guests to different coordinates around the island, each location is matched with innovative and avant garde flavour combinations that cover sweet, spicy, citric, acidic, herbal, floral, spiced and bitter.

The wine list and high-end spirits here are also carefully selected – only the finest drops will pass your lips at Pershing Yacht Terrace. No good drink should ever go unaccompanied of course, and the light and fresh menu is hard to pass up. From sweet chili wakame salad and Gillardeau Oyster No2 with the restaurant’s signature dressing, to Hamachi tiradito with ponzu and black truffle and soft-shell crab tempura with chili cream, the starters alone are enough to make your mouth water while reading the menu. Main courses include glazed Spanish pork belly, miso-marinated black cod, roasted octopus with unagi glaze, Wagyu tataki – and the list goes on. Mondays are Sushi Nights, with a special selection of expertly sliced, diced and rolled bites from the raw bar – teamed with that magical view of Es Vedra, it’s hard to imagine a better start to the week.

Bar Manager Alessio Roscioli takes centre stage when it comes to mixology, with an unrivalled passion for his craft and endless creativity when it comes to innovative flavour combinations and avant garde creations.

If you’re looking to make a day of it, rather than a night, 7Pines Resort Ibiza has also opened up the adults-only Infinity Pool Bar to external guests for the month of September and beyond. Spend the day indulging in the luxuries formerly only available to hotel guests: plush sun loungers and private Balinese beds looking directly to Es Vedra, plus access to that iconic pool and all the Instagrammable moments that come with it. Your food and drinks will be delivered directly to your bed, and the menu includes holiday classics like Caesar salads, poke bowls, nachos, pizza, club sandwiches, delicious wraps and hearty burgers to a heavenly selection of fresh salads, assorted sushi, maki rolls, and ice cream and sorbet for those with a sweet tooth.

The summer season in Ibiza is far from over at 7Pines Resort Ibiza. Whether you’re holidaying at the beautiful resort, you’re staying elsewhere on the island and passing through for lunch or dinner, or if you’re an island resident looking to treat yourself, Óscar Salazar, and his teams at The View, Cone Club, Pershing Yacht Terrace and the Infinity Pool Bar are ready and waiting to deliver those unforgettable ‘wow moments’. Divine dining is what it’s all about.