From
The Sunday Times Travel Magazine
1 Sa Copinya, Es Trenc beach, Mallorca
Calamari the size of Beyoncé’s bangles are just one reason to walk the hot
sand to Sa Copinya, a rustic wooden shack right on Es Trenc beach. Unbuyable
views (curve after curve of crunchy, white sand) and the laid-back
atmosphere (barefoot waitresses) are two more.
Follow signs to the beach, on the southeast side of the island, and park your
car when the road stops. Turn right when you hit the sand – or just sniff
for the smell of fresh sardines. Mains from £4 (no phone).
2 Can Majó, Barcelona
The old fishing quarter of Barceloneta doesn’t want for paella restaurants,
but for old-school service and reliably tasty cooking, bag a seat within the
dinky sky-blue picket fence of Can Majó’s terrace overlooking the beach.
Best dishes are the fideuà – a Catalan take on paella using chopped
vermicelli instead of rice, and a sticky suquet – seafood stew with
monkfish, hake, mussels and potatoes. Mains from £10 (Calle de Almirall
Aixada 23; 00 34 93 221 5455).
3 Hurricane Hotel, Tarifa, Costa de la Luz
This hotel might be a bit too far from the action to spend your whole holiday
there (try La Sacaristia in town, instead), but a meal here is a must.
Candlelit tables are scattered around a mosaic pool beneath hibiscus flowers
and gangly palm trees – you could almost be in Marrakech. And the food has
an exotic twist, too: foie gras with tomato and mango chutney; steak with
chimichurri sauce; and garlic pork chops. Mains from £8 (00 34 956 684919, www.hotelhurricane.com).
4 El Bulli, Roses, Girona
Ferran Adrià’s alchemy in the kitchen and his 36-course tasting menu need no
introduction, but be prepared to wait. A year’s-worth of requests from those
wanting to try edible clingfilm, ‘virtual’ ham and spun-sugar paper dotted
with tiny flowers are entered into a reservation lottery every autumn;
thousands are disappointed. If you’re really determined to eat here, call
every morning and you might just get lucky with a cancellation. Tasting menu
£182 (Cala Montjoi, Roses; 00 34 972 150457, www.elbulli.com).
5 Juan y Andrea, Formentera (off Ibiza)
Rock up either side of lunch to get a table at this sand-under-foot restaurant
on Platja Illetas – Formentera’s most exclusive beach. Spangly yachts bob
about offshore, their owners dining at Juan y Andrea on fist-sized scallops,
crab and bottle after bottle of bubbly. Lunching with P Diddy may not be
everyone’s idea of fun, but if it’s yours, go in your best cossie and think
thin. Mains from £11 (Platja Illetas; 00 34 630 930913, www.juanyandrea.com).
Also Hostal Restaurante Loureiro, in Bueu (Pontevedra-Galicia), northwest coast.
Marta Suárez-Mazaira, Ourense, Galicia,
And another one you missed out is The Valparaiso overlooking the coast of Los Boliches on the Costa Del Sol. Try and get a table on the terrace.
Dave, Basingstoke, UK
You missed out "Bens D'vall" at Costa Deya, Mallorca. One of Spains very finest restaurants. And you can book, you may need to.
Bailey, Newmarket, UK
El Patera, El Rompido, Carteya, Costa de la Luz.
Beautiful little fish restaurent tucked away in a back street in the centre of town but opens up at the rear on to the beach.
We had fresh as fresh can be Red Mullet accompanied by a cold potato salad that was simply to die for. Pricey but fantastic.
Michael Connaughton, Manchester,
"13 El Bigote, Ibiza"
there is actually a camino down to the restaurant - though i guess more tourists find it by scrambling over the rocks to the left of cala mastella beach ;)
and ps - you cant reserve
ade, santa eulalia, ibiza