A hotspot for healthy living

Revered beach club El Chiringuito caters for both sides of the coin, and while it’s perhaps most well-known for luxurious days spent atop sun loungers and deluxe dinners in its famous restaurant, it also caters for the health conscious with a hearty breakfast menu to kickstart any day with an injection of invigorating goodness. Set amid the sand dunes of Es Cavallet, El Chiringuito has long been a favourite among islanders who go to soak up its relaxed seaside charm. At daybreak, an ethereal stillness characterises the sea and an otherworldly calmness hangs in the air – it’s the ideal spot for easing yourself quietly into the day. Inside embodies a rustic authenticity, with raffia roofing providing shelter from the midday sun and rugged wooden tables complemented by cream cushions and throws – ethnic decoration is also dotted here and there. This aesthetic extends to the beach, where neutral canopies and daybeds blend seamlessly with their sandy surroundings. The overall atmosphere is one of relaxed extravagance; where the quality of the food is matched effortlessly by faultless service and sound-tracked by the hush of waves.

El Chiringuito opens for breakfast at 10am, signalling the start of the ideal Balearic day. It’s well worth arriving early morning to take a blissful walk along Es Cavallet, a long stretch of golden sand with views over to neighbouring Formentera, or taking a stroll to energise yourself post-feast. In keeping with the restaurant’s reputation for exceptional food, the menu offers a variety of options ranging from super healthy to slightly more indulgent, depending on your mood. There are also a sizeable selection of fresh juices and smoothies to contend with, but more on that later. Those with a healthy appetite in the morning can gratify their hunger pangs in several ways. First and foremost, there are the more nutritiously balanced options, like fresh fruit salad with soy yoghurt, almonds and honey, or the Açai Na Tigela, which includes organic açai blended with frozen banana and crunchy homemade granola – a textural dream for the tastebuds. Homemade organic crunch granola is served with yoghurt and fresh strawberries, while the fresh fruit salad is all about whatever is seasonal that day, topped with soy yoghurt, almonds and honey. The Green Brekkie is like the taste of home, with sautéed spinach, zucchini, onion, fresh basil and avocado atop local country bread, and there’s the option to add a poached egg for a protein boost.

Then, there’s an entire section devoted to organic eggs, which thanks to head chef, Jèrome Palayer, are all cooked with typical French flourish. All the classics are available: Benedict, with bacon, spinach and Hollandaise sauce; Royale, with home-smoked salmon, spinach and Hollandaise sauce; and Florentine, which sticks to a spinach and Hollandaise core. The eggs are sourced from a local organic farm, so their natural flavour sings alongside crispy bacon in The Classic, and the Full English, which comes with the usual appendage and El Chiringuito’s own sausages, no less. For a liquid breakfast, look no further than the restaurant’s sensational smoothies. The Morning Bomb is a delectable combination of banana, date, cocoa powder, cinnamon, maca and rice coconut milk, while the Healthy Berry consists of red fruits, goji berries, mango and almond milk. There’s also a standalone menu for freshly-pressed juices for that much-needed vitamin boost in the morning. Try the Power Booster with apple, carrot and ginger for an immediate lift; the Summer Detox with apple, celery, cucumber and lime to cleanse after the night before; or the Super Green with kiwi, spinach, cucumber, mint and apple to charge through the rest of the day.

Regardless of breakfast choice, you can be sure it will be signed, sealed and delivered with the stamp of El Chiringuito quality. This is a restaurant that prides itself on the finest produce, locally sourced and organic where possible, put together with expertise and plated with love. Taking advantage of its simple, generous menu, affordable breakfast prices and chilled setting means you start the day in the best possible way, with the sounds of the sea echoing in the distance as you eat.