Winter wonderland, Ibiza style – Cotton Beach Club

It’s beginning to look a lot like a southern hemisphere Christmas in Ibiza this year, with temps rising up to 20 degrees and festive decorations popping up all over the island. For the duration of the holiday season, the forecast is nothing but glorious sunshine, bright blue skies and dazzling winter sunsets, and there’s no better place to take it all in than Cotton Beach Club. The ever-popular Cala Tarida restaurant is now open daily for lunch and sunset cocktails until January 08, 2023 – just what the doctor ordered if you’re seeking an escape from the cold reality of other parts of the world.

Presiding proudly over one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, the Cotton Beach Club version of a winter wonderland is a far cry from what you see in Christmas movies, but to an Ibiza lover, it’s arguably much more appealing. Elegant decorations and earthy soft furnishings accentuate the venue’s iconic all-white aesthetic, and the addition of bright red poinsettia blooms pop like floral Christmas gifts. The table configurations on the open-air Grand Terrace have been maximised to capture natural light, and there’s a roaring fireplace (both in the Indoor Lounge and on the exterior terrace) for those who want to channel a little traditional Christmas cheer.

Cotton Beach Club is the Mediterranean version of a winter wonderland with uninterrupted views of bright blue skies, crystal clear sea and the glistening golden sand on the beach below.

Whether you’re getting together with island friends, hosting an end-of-year celebration with colleagues, joining visiting friends and family or are on a romantic date, Cotton Beach Club makes it all possible. The extensive à la carte menu has been devised with dedication and passion by head chef Federico Garcia and his team, with delectable options for all appetites and dietary requirements – perfect for varied groups. Get into the festive mood with a selection of Cotton Caviar (Ossetra 00 or Baerii Impreial – ‘tis the season, after all) or the freshest oysters, served pure or with caviar.

The Rawbar & Sushi section of the menu evokes the feeling of Christmas in Australia, Brazil or Japan. Only the highest quality fresh fish is sourced – hand-picked, in fact – and prepared by the Cotton Beach Club chefs to order. From classic Hamachi tiradito with truffle ponzu sauce, spicy Peruvian ceviche and Norwegian salmon ceviche with orange-lime ponzu sauce to sushi-grade tuna or king crab tartare, each plate sings with freshness, colour, flavour and flair.

As an alternative to a traditional Christmas dinner, silky sashimi is expertly sliced and diced, served alongside nigiri and premium sushi rolls – favourites include the Cotton Roll with torched Norwegian salmon and the spicy Hot Tuna Roll. Ask for the Chef’s Plate (25 or 50 pieces) to make ordering easy, or trust the Cotton Beach Club sushi masters with omakase – their personal choices combined with the day’s specials (70 or 100 pieces).

For those who prefer a classic Medterranean menu, Cotton Beach Club never fails to impress. Start with a Spanish Navidad essential, 36-month cured Iberian Bellota ham, or share a selection of salads – Burrata, a luxe lobster salad or the Cotton Zakynthos Greek Salad, inspired by its sister venue near the Ionian Sea. There’s also creamy saffron mussels, scallops in tangerine sauce, cauliflower roased with miso and peanut sauce and more.

It would be remiss not to mention the extensive hand-picked wine menu – showcasing some of the world’s best whites, reds, rosés and bubbles – and the selection of top-shelf spirits, aperitifs, digestifs. The signature Cotton cocktails, spritzers, martinis, margaritas and sangria, plus alcohol-free concoctions are the very definition of Christmas spirit. Whether you’re spending Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Three King’s Dayor any of the blissful days in between at Cotton Beach Club, the objective is always to eat, drink and be merry.

On the main menu, meat lovers will be thrilled with premium beef sirloin, country chicken with zesty Thai flavours and a classic steak tartare with an option to add caviar. Seafood fans will adore the salt-baked sea bass (for two) with Ibizan herbs and steamed veggies, the oven-roasted catch of the day or a rich lobster risotto with morel mushrooms and black truffle among other tasty selections. Cotton Beach Club offers a feast of festive proportions indeed.

Two roaring fireplaces – one inside and one on the terrace – plus cosy throws, plush seating and the new Cotton Andermatt themed table evoke feelings of Christmas holidays elsewhere in Europe, with a unique Balearic twist.

While you’re dining, the views across the deep blue sea are mesmerising. You’re guaranteed to see sun worshippers, you’ll marvel at cold-water swimmers and as the day slowly turns to dusk, you’ll be amazed by the kaleidoscopic colours as the sun begins to set. Take your time to peruse the dessert menu, linger over coffee (or a round of espresso martinis), sip on fine whiskey or cognac and tap your feet to the smooth grooves of Cotton Beach Club resident DJs Dalibor Dadoff and Mr Doris before heading for a sunset walk on the beach, back to the comfort of your own home, or onto a celebration around the island – this is Ibiza, and it is the ‘other’ party season after all.

It truly is a gift to be able to spend the holidays with the ones you love in a first-class dining destination, with no stress, no fuss and no need to rush (and no need to wash up!). Locals will tell you winter is the most wonderful time of the year in Ibiza, but if you are among those wishing for some miraculous snow, Cotton Beach Club can help indulge the fantasy. Book the special Andermatt table for your festive dining experience, and you’ll get a first-hand taste of the upcoming Cotton Andermatt project. This new, upmarket day-to-night destination in the Swiss Alps (as seen in James Bond’s Goldfinger) opens in December 2023 – put a trip there on your Christmas wish list next year! Until then, may your days be merry and bright on the golden sands of Cala Tarida…