East coast trailblazer

Aguas de Ibiza Grande Luxe Hotel is a trailblazer on Ibiza’s east coast, paving the way for Santa Eulalia to steadily emerge as a centre of luxury and culinary excellence. The team at this five-star mecca of indulgence is always seeking ways to enhance the experience of guests and visitors alike. Recent additions to the infrastructure will soon see a new rooftop terrace bar complete with infinity pool and in celebration of the expansion, the gastronomic heart of the hotel, Alabastro, is also undergoing a transformation.

They say a change is as good as a holiday but we all know that a holiday is really the best thing ever – especially when that holiday coincides with the kind of changes happening in the Alabastro kitchen. Argentinian-born chef Emilio Galarza has taken over the reins, bringing in his trusted team of colleagues and collaborators to create some culinary magic. The 2019 lunch and dinner menus have been completely redesigned, refined and rejuvenated to encompass the passion and vitality that seems to emanate from every fibre of Galarza’s being.

Galarza is alert and tactile with a refined sense of texture and a painterly vision for each of his dishes. His conscientious attitude to learning from every single person he meets along his food journey, from his Italian and Basque grandparents to the indigenous cultures of his homeland, has resulted in a menu brimming with intrigue and colour. “My inspiration comes from eating and travelling,” he says. “I choose my destinations based solely on food and restaurants I want to try.” Each dish is carefully crafted and built for flavour as well as visual appeal. Dishes vibrant with colour, aromatic herbs and edible flowers mean dining at Alabastro is a true sensory delight. Ibiza is evident right through Galarza’s menus, especially in the substantial selection of vegan and vegetarian options.

The island shows up in the colours, flavours and produce he chooses to work with. “What I love about Ibiza is the richness of the earth,” he says. “It provides so much. The figs, oranges, watermelons. The list is endless. The produce here is of excellent quality and it inspires me daily.” A deep respect for the abundant local produce has helped Galzara create a lunchtime menu that refreshes and satisfies. Take a daybed by the pool or a table under the sun-dappled pergola of the terrace and enjoy the light, healthy and filling menu that is perfectly matched to the summer sun. Start with a sharing plate such as black quinoa nachos with guacamole or pork and vegetable gyozas with a tart nanban dipping sauce, then the sirvia fish tartar served over a bed of sweet mango and papaya is the perfect starter. The flavours of the fruit juxtapose against the textures of the raw fish creating a delicious explosion across the palate. Another favourite for a quick, easy and healthy lunch is the Alabastro poke bowl. Raw red tuna tossed with edamame, red cabbage, tamari, avocado, chives and sprouts this bowl of goodness is tangy and filling. A wide selection of salads is there for the sharing – or not, just like the oysters with mirin, soy and ginger dressing – sharing is optional.

Lunchtime mains are more hearty, featuring nods to Argentina with farmhouse chicken and baby vegetables with chimichurri salsa alongside classics beloved by one and all such as grilled beef tenderloin with parsnip purée and black rice with sea urchin. “The lunch menu is more simple,” says Galarza. “It’s casual and relaxed but full of details.” It’s those details that take Galarza’s cuisine to a different level. As the sun sets, Alabastro transforms from a sunny daytime lunch spot to an elegant fine dining restaurant. “At night, the dishes have more technique,” says Galarza. “The flavours are a little more complex.”

The night menu is refined but nothing is weighed down by preconception or vanguard tendencies. Galarza’s technical skills are complemented by his inclination towards light-heartedness. Southern Spain is touched on via a redefined gazpacho made with coconut milk and served with a grilled lobster tail. A swirl of fragrant herb oil completes this striking dish that plays between hot and cold, creamy and textured. Seafood features heavily across both menus as is befitting of a luxurious hotel located on a Mediterranean island. The slow-cooked sea bass is destined to become an Alabastro signature. The tender fish is served with a deeply coloured purée of purple carrot, delicate and crispy carrot chips and a rainbow of lightly steamed baby carrots. Lively and colourful blossoms and sprouts are scattered across the top bringing the kaleidoscope of colour to a crescendo.

Vying for signature position on the Alabastro menu is the hangar steak, seared to perfection and served on a pillow of shiitake and pak choi quiche. The juicy, tender cut is topped with enormous Peruvian figs and doused in a beef glaze that takes four days to prepare. This dish is pure Galarza, combining textures and depths of flavour that defies definition. The melt in the mouth beef with the nutty lightness of the quiche and the deep treacle of the glaze is cut through by the sweetness of the figs. This is a dish that requires a slow appreciation, with every mouthful providing a new sensation.

Galarza’s obvious passion for food is matched by his loyalty to his team, which revels in an atmosphere of collaboration. “I came from working in France where the kitchens have a militancy about them,” he explains. “Then in the Basque Country, there is a real seriousness. Here at Alabastro, the whole team is really close. I don’t like to call them my team. We are together in this and we do everything with love and care.” Galarza brought his pastry chef with him and is very proud of what she has achieved. Paula del Sarto also hails from Argentina but met Galarza here in a previous position. She has created a dessert menu of her own devising, which turns out to be a sweet companion to Galarza’s savoury offerings.

The mango semifreddo hides a textured interior of citrus sponge and passion fruit. Its vivid yellow colour opens to a surprising melding of flavours. Tart and sweet, this gorgeous dessert is like eating a huge smile bathed in sun rays. Del Sarto’s cherry tart is a diminutive pile of delicious, with a crunchy outer base filled with creamy mascarpone and topped with rich, red maraschino cherries crowned with a cherry infused siphon bread the colour of Snow White’s ruby red lips. It’s clear Galarza’s confidence in her skills and creativity is well deserved. The new Alabastro menu is bursting with options both indulgent and healthy. Lunch by the pool could easily turn into cocktails and dinner in the restaurant and if a change is really as good as a holiday, you should definitely do both.

Raise the roof

In Ibiza, we love any excuse for a celebration. Birthday parties, midsummer parties, opening parties, closing parties and anything and everything in between. Find us an event and we’ll build the festivities around it. And it goes without saying that the most monumental of all celebrations is a wedding. Not only because it symbolises the sacred union between two loved-up, adoring souls, but also because it brings together friends and family from all over the world, united in witnessing a ceremony that cements their bond of love forever.

Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel specialises in providing the backdrop for such events, ensuring the location is as memorable as the party itself. Located on Ibiza’s rugged east coast, on the doorstep of the charming seaside town of Santa Eulalia, Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel is a five-star, eco resort designed to cater for every wedding whim. From the stunning sea views to the chicly designed interiors; the expert planning advice to the world-class cuisine, everything here combines in a breathtakingly beautiful space to create simple Ibiza wedding perfection. Suitable for grand, opulent affairs or intimate, relaxed soirées, the venue is malleable according to taste, which makes it the ideal option for every wedding scenario.

In fact, such is the dedication of the team at Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel to deliver flawless weddings that over winter, the hotel was refurbished specifically with events in mind. The result is a spectacular new rooftop space that sings with romance – an unrivalled spot for looking into the eyes of your partner and saying ‘I do’. Ceremonies can be held here – the altar can be set up on the alfresco terrace with the Mediterranean Sea as the sparkling background, or it can simply be used for the celebrations like a cocktails and canapés party before dinner or an area for hosting an after dinner dance. What better way to spend the first evening as husband and wife than dancing in the glow of the moonlight?

Sleekly designed and beautifully furnished, the new Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel rooftop has both indoor and outdoor space. Set within the main building that boasts floor to ceiling glass windows and unbeatable panoramic views of the sea and coastline below, the banquet hall is where guests can enjoy a first class, post ceremony meal with an unparalleled backdrop for speeches. Tables can be arranged and decorated according to your specification, and of course, attention to detail is key – the venue’s wedding planners are more than happy to accommodate any personal requests surrounding music, lighting and decor.

Outside, meanwhile, provides all the jaw-dropping ‘wow’ moments you need for a truly memorable Ibiza wedding. A decking area that’s surrounded by a 180-degree swimming pool is topped with comfy cabanas and stylish chairs – ideal for mingling and taking a breather, while the decking itself is perfect for dancing and revelling in all the joy that the day at Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe represents. There’s an open bar too, which serves as a fabulous focal point for the evening’s antics to swirl around, while the wedding party keep topped up with bubbles, beers and whatever spirits take their fancy.

Available by day or night, the rooftop at Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel also serves as the ideal location for an array of pre and post wedding events. It’s not unusual now for a wedding party to take place across several days – especially if people have travelled long distances to share in the magic of your special day. So often these days, the Ibiza wedding ceremony itself is bookended by relaxed dinner and drinks receptions that pave the way for the actual wedding, and recuperative brunch or lunch gatherings where people share stories and sore heads the following day.

What’s essential during Ibiza wedding is that the venue corresponds with the sentiment of the day, and Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel ticks all the right boxes. A place that sticks in people’s minds long after the sun has set, here, you can be happy knowing your guests are taken care of and enjoying the space while you flit around doling out smiles, air kisses and thank yous. Because let’s face it, celebrations like this only come around once in a lifetime – it deserves to be the very best it possibly can.

Dining that ticks all the boxes

These days, the success of a hotel no longer just depends on the style of its rooms, the size of the swimming pool and service with a smile – to be truly successful means ticking the box next to a multitude of factors, and high up on the list is world class cuisine. Guests want to be wined and dined on their doorstep; they want a five-star dining experience and memories to remind them of sun-drenched days long after the plane has touched down on home soil. It’s in all these categories that Aguas de Ibiza really excels. With a privileged coastal spot in the Santa Eulalia marina on Ibiza’s east coast, Aguas de Ibiza’s reputation as a tranquil haven is well established. A hotel dedicated to sustainability while simultaneously providing laid-back luxury, people come here to restore and rejuvenate mind, body and soul, relishing in an attention to detail that’s unique to the property. This attentive theme weaves its way throughout every aspect of the hotel, and is especially prevalent in its two stunning restaurants, Vi Cool and Alabastro, now officially bona fide destinations in their own right.

Those not yet aware of Vi Cool will understand the restaurant’s myriad successes as soon as they learn that the entire project is the brainchild of much famed Spanish chef, Sergi Arola. Awarded a Michelin-star for his prowess and innovation in the kitchen, Arola’s concept at Vi Cool is taking the traditional idea of Spanish tapas and giving it a uniquely intriguing twist – in flavour and in presentation. The result is a series of multifunctional dishes, perfect for sharing with friends over dinner at the chicly cosmopolitan restaurant. Examine the menu in detail to discover that a whole world of gastronomic novelty awaits. Try cold plates like steak tartar with soy sauce, wasabi and ginger, or sea bass tiradito with ponzu and a spicy rocoto kick. Hot plates include the quintessential Vi Cool bravas potatoes – a must for anyone visiting the restaurant for the first time – chicken wings with kimchi sauce, and roasted, curried prawns with fresh mint. Elsewhere the coca pizzas are a huge hit, topped with typical Iberico ham, fresh Burrata cheese, basil and orange zest. Finish on a sweet note with chocolate served in many textures, burnt Catalonian cream with tangerine sorbet or of course, a cocktail taken on the spectacular alfresco roof terrace.

Meanwhile, Alabastro is found in the hotel lobby, and specialises in plates to be enjoyed by the pool during daytime, or indoors on the relaxing sofas by night. With another great chef at the helm – this time Aitor Monteagud – here, two menu concepts are showcased. Alabastro Pool is all about relaxed, easy dining, whereas Alabastro Slow has been designed around the zero kilometre premise, meaning all food is produced, sold and enjoyed locally, helping local artisans to make a fair living from their trade, and supporting the community in the process. Culinary highlights of this menu include the Balearic garden of textured vegetables, olive sand, bean sprouts and flowers, and ajoblanco of local almonds with lobster, sun-dried tomatoes and cardamom to start. Mains include baked John Dory with black garlic alioli, baby vegetables and pickles, and suckling lamb with pearls of squash, beetroot, courgette and demi glace sauce. And for dessert, delectable options like cheesecake with fresh cheese, mango and citrus fruits, and café caleta cream with Hierbas Ibicencas jelly. The Alabastro Pool menu offers dishes like watermelon salad with organic tomatoes and feta cheese, and sirvia ceviche with tiger milk.

Two restaurants, three contrasting menus, and three entirely different concepts – all united by a passion for local food, an innovative approach to cooking and two star chefs dedicated to ensuring guests receive the very best in ingredients and flavour on the plate. Add in Aguas de Ibiza’s continued commitment to excellence and some superbly relaxing but stylish spaces in which to dine and there’s no doubt that this gem of a hotel really does tick all the boxes.

Special moments

There’s the nostalgia you feel during heartfelt speeches, and utter delight as you dance till dawn among friends and family, and this is all tied up with elation knowing this is the best day of your life. So what you need is a wedding venue like Aguas de Ibiza Lifestyle & Spa, which is designed to perfectly capture all of these life-affirming moments. With a stunning waterside location in Santa Eulalia on Ibiza’s east coast, Aguas de Ibiza Lifestyle & Spa is a five-star eco-resort offering so much more than just a location to get married. Here, attention to detail is poured into every moment of your special day, and thanks to a wealth of beautifully designed, intimate spaces scattered throughout the hotel – there’s a sense you’re hosting your celebration somewhere far more private, with the flourish you wouldn’t ordinarily expect from such a well-known brand. This is what sets the resort apart, and why so many couples chose to say their vows here. In addition, there’s a 10-percent discount for couples getting married on days other than Saturday – which is ideal, since here in Ibiza, every day is like a weekend day!

The ceremony itself can take place on the hotel’s fabulous rooftop, which boasts panoramic, blue-sky views of the beautiful surrounding scenery and the bustling Marina below. Guests gather on the sun-drenched terrace, and the soon-to-be-wed couple stand in front of them alongside a specially-created white, wooden altar, enclosed by flowing canvases that gently float in the breeze. The sparkling Med forms the backdrop, its constant reach towards infinity a poignant signifier of the moment about to take place between husband and wife. Once promises have been made and rings exchanged, the intensity of this picturesque scene subsides – now it’s time to celebrate. To cater for this change in tempo, you can continue to party on the rooftop, making the most of nature’s kaleidoscope of colours as the sun begins to fade, or you can move the party to Agua de Ibiza’s lush, verdant garden, which transforms into a magical wonderland with the addition of Chinese-style lanterns, fairy lights and lush, multi-coloured flower bouquets. Cocktails and canapés are served to guests, perhaps accompanied by the relaxing, soulful sounds of live music.

Then comes the moment everyone’s been waiting for – the wedding banquet. At this point, the celebration moves inside to a beautifully rustic room that’s been designed according to your specification. From oversized floral centrepieces to delicately ornate floral arrangements – your Aguas de Ibiza wedding planner will transform each table to suit your request. Food too, falls under your guidance. In collaboration with the hotel’s highly trained chefs, you can create an elegant menu for everyone to savour. Think mango gazpacho and marinated salmon to start, roasted monkfish or suckling lamb shoulder for main, and mouth-watering chocolate ganache or tiramisu for dessert. The menu can be shaped entirely according to your tastes, with only the finest wines to accompany. Once the wedding feast is over, it’s time for everyone to really let their hair down, and this of course, requires a new location. So the party moves to the discothèque, where dancing till dawn is considered a non-negotiable requirement for all guests – something that’s easy to achieve thanks to the availability of an open-bar, mixing table, stage and state of the art sound system. Aguas de Ibiza in-house wedding planners also have a bulging book of contacts at their disposal, so it’s simple to organise a DJ or anything other evening requests on your behalf.

From the moment you decide to host a wedding at Aguas de Ibiza Lifestyle & Spa, everything is taken care of – though if you choose to arrange the majority of the day yourself, that’s absolutely fine too. What you’ll find here is a dedication to ‘special moments’ – the team go out of their way to help you create those little intimate flashes throughout the day that really help transform it into something special. And with a different location available for every stage of your celebration, it feels like you’re not in a hotel at all – you’re just surrounded by loved ones, saying I do, finally living out the day you’ve been dreaming of.