Curled up quietly among San Antonio Bay is one of Ibiza's most exotic and popular bars to date. If it's not the food you've heard visitors raving about, it's the sunsets that paint the sky a kaleidoscope of colours. The next thing Ibizans love as much as a good old, sweaty rave is bloody good food, Kumharas is truly one of Ibiza's precious jewels.
Thai traditions
It had been one of those weeks where sleep was sparse and office napping… wasn't. Unfortunately, Mothers aren't always available to cradle one's head with sympathy, but food is the next best thing. Kumharas specialises in Thai food, and it doesn't just stop at the tastes. Upon arrival we were seated traditionally on seats that were centimeters off the floor, with a low wooden table that was spacious enough for plates of food, yet small enough to enjoy the company of your table.
It's impossible to keep your eyes from wandering whilst lounging in Kumharas, just a few meters above sits a roof that would have architects foaming at the mouth, driftwood beams provide shade for those closest to the ocean, whilst an ant hill-like roof adds that extra touch of exoticness to the venue.
Known as a meeting point for alternative cultures and 'a springboard for young artists', we were lucky to enjoy the Wednesday night entertainment by DJ José Rives and The Ancient Fire Spirit, later reflecting the islands hippy lifestyle.
Spiralling around one of Ibiza's famous defense towers, Kumharas is equipped with shisha pipes, eccentric pop up stores and chillout areas, all with the view of the breathtaking sunset and Conejeras Islands.
Mouth watering food decisions
The time had come for food, after taking in all Kumharas had to offer, there was still room for us to be blown away further. Whilst reading through the menu, each of us were unable to decide on a dish, due to an overwhelming sense of everything on the menu being mouth watering. Wafts of exotic and striking scents made our decision making harder, so we went with the good old sharing.
After polishing off warm bread and a hand made allioli (garlic and oil dip), we were handed a selection of starters, in which one contained the best octopus to ever grace my tastebuds. Cooked to perfection on a bed of potato parmentier with a touch of paprika, each piece of octopus was nourished with tandoori aromas. A plate of elegantly placed tempura tiger prawns were complimented with Japanese dipping sauce, which went hand in hand with a timabi of fresh sea crab, mango, chilli and tangy guacomole.
For mains we all went our seperate ways, Kumharas catered for both vegetarians and pescetarians (myself). My main dish was the Thai green king prawn curry, exhanged with a red Thai base due to my spice tolerence. Melt-in-your-mouth king prawns were mixed with fresh vegetables, baby tomatoes and a concotion of Asian and Japanese spices, jasmine rice soaked up the tangy sauce and was all washed down with a flavoursome melon mojito.
Front row fire show
Grateful that our seats were equipped with comfortable back rests, we rested until it was time for the famous fire show. With more drinks in hand, we were chauffered down closer to the beach. I'll never forget the moment I watched, what must have been a 10 year old boy watching the dancers fling fire into the night sky, absolute excitement had flooded his eyes as his father watched him lovingly, before planting the largest kiss on his sons head.
It sounds cheesy, but watching others enjoy the magic of Ibiza is almost as good as the magic itself. The fire dancers sprung from corner to corner, lifting each other into unimaginable positions, as the moon glowed above our heads.
It was the end of an unforgettable evening, my stomach full with remarkable food, my chest full with love and mind of experiences.
