You'll find a lot of good places to eat in and around Santa Eulalia; it has quickly gained a reputation as a top spot for restaurants on the island. On your list should be Pura Vida. It's a beach bar with a great little restaurant: the perfect place to spend the day on one of their sun loungers or sun beds before wandering inside to sit down and dine. We were there for the sit down restaurant experience, and this is a place where you could just go and dine as we did. You'd be happy you chose this place, because, well the food is pretty damned good.
There's a DJ – this is Ibiza - with relaxed, very beach-appropriate tunes to accompany your culinary journey and very smiley staff who are pleased to help and look happy to be there. There's a lovely gentle breeze and in the height of summer, that's a bonus. Sitting down to order, we got given some fancy fresh baked bread, provided by the owner's bakery Samovar, some home made alioli, olives and tapenade with a lovely jug of cava sangria, to get us further into the chilled mood we were assuming each minute.
A home from home
Pura Vida is a place where you can feel at home. Bare boards with light furniture, surrounded by greenery, some small pines on the beach and flower bushes to add to the view. There's a specials list that changes twice a week; I quite fancied the Iberico ham with tomato and orange chutney, though with our recommended mains would have been a wee bit too much for this greedy writer. The chef, Lars Blasner gets bored easily and it's a good job he does because it means you won't; he likes to do things with a refreshing twist and is always thinking up new ideas.
Our first courses came in the shape of a leaf salad from the specials list with watermelon, papaya, grapefruit and feta. It came finely diced and lightly dressed, great if you're watching your tum. The tuna tartare was where we started to see Lars's panache: a timbale of raw tuna with beetroot, tomato, and watercress, topped with a fresh lime jelly was served with a small side salad. All of it just worked together, no fighting for attention, no brawls, just well prepared and well thought out ingredients. They like the food to do its own work here, meaning simplicity and quality produce with some nice little cheffy touches.
Top recommendations
We were recommended two mains: the fillet steak and the turbot. They were both so professionally cooked that they could easily have been served without their accompaniments, they were that stand out. But then, what came with both was just perfect. The fish was cooked just right and served with thinly sliced fennel, cooked lightly with asparagus tempura, dill and honey mango with rice vinegar. The steak was huge, nicely caramelised on the outside and soft, tender and buttery all the way through with bags of flavour. This came with some vegetables and an amazing smokey mashed potato, which they make by actually smoking a quantity of the spuds. A must try.
Lars gave us recommendations for two wines, one an Italian Gavi, Villa Sparina; very quaffable that would partner most dishes, then a good red meat and cheese wine, in the shape of a Tempranillo called Alfar. We didn't try them, but based on his food, you'd be a fool not to.
Succulent and spirited desserts
So to dessert and here is where attention to detail came into focus. Marinated, finely sliced pineapple with a home made coconut ice cream, mini mint meringues and lime caviar from the molecular school of cooking. We really couldn't get enough of that; if you want a perfect finish this is it, because it's fresh, succulent and spirited, literally since it uses vodka, Cointreau and other liqueurs to flavour the pineapple. Yum.
There are smaller plates with bread buns and pitta baked in that bakery for burgers and a smaller fresh tuna dish and they looked very good. There are music events and kids entertainment on Tuesdays and Fridays and you can also hire this place out for weddings and pick from their menu for a feast that your guests would talk about for an age. In food terms, this is a find and if you find yourself around there, then all the better for you.
Quick Facts
What? Pura Vida
Where? Carretera Es Canar, Playa Niu Blau, Santa Eulalia
When? Lunch 13.00 – 18.00 h; Snacks only 18.00 – 19.00 h; Dinner 20.00 to 23.00 h
Why? The food is simply very good and you are right next to the beach. Good for lovers and groups of friends
Average spend per head? €50 for a starter, main and dessert without wine
Veggie Options? Indeed there are. The watercress risotto or the fresh Manchego cheese with pomegranate sounded very inviting
Disabled Facilities? Disabled toilets and access from a car park at the back
Top tips? Go for the day and seamlessly slip into evening
Room for Improvement? The beetroot wasn't red enough. Joking, it's a no.
WORDS | Julian Heathcote PHOTOS | Katharine Uhlig
