This name is given to a section of the country road that connects Ibiza town with the northern village of San Juan. The part of that road to which the term refers is in fact a stretch covering some five miles, starting just after the fork in the road to Santa Eulalia. On this stretch there are ten country restaurants offering a diverse selection of culinary options in country settings.
The first that you will encounter is Bambuddha Grove (Tel: 971 197 510) on your left at km 7,2 (shortly after the 7 km marker sign). This offers MediterrAsian cuisine in a beautiful Thai pyramid structure, although the venue is extensive and offers a lot more than just fine Thai food.
After that, and also on the left, at km 9,5 is Can Reyet, which is an Italian restaurant, once again in a beautiful setting.
Es Caliu (Tel: 971 325 075)follows at km 10,8 on the right hand side. This occupies a beautiful old finca with a windmill that draws water from an ancient well. Very much Ibicenco style fare - the portions are huge and the restaurant is open all year round.
Next on the left comes Can Gall (Tel: 971 325 055) at km 11,6 set in a 200 year old finca with a lovely elevated terrace offering views to distant Santa Eulalia, with the sea as a backdrop. The German owners serve excellent Mediterranean cuisine prepared with market fresh ingredients, or vegetables and herbs from their own beautiful garden.
Just down the road at km 12 is Es Porrons (Tel: 971 325 151), which has recently been taken over by Italians. This restaurant claims to be the oldest finca restaurant on the island - and nobody seems to be disputing that claim.
Next on the left at km 13,5 is Aura, which is a relative newcomer that has quickly established itself as a popular alternative to Bambuddha Grove in the 'pre-club' dining market. They describe themselves as serving London 'gastro pub' dishes and it's very tasty.
Around the next corner, just before km 15, you'll find Es Pins (Tel: 971 325 034) on your right. This is a typical Ibicenco restaurant offering an inexpensive and extremely popular 'menu del dia'. The huge carpark is inevitably full at lunch times, but the restaurant caters for breakfast from 7 am and is just as open in the evenings too.
A few hundred metres further on is Juanito's , on your right - just before the turning off to San Carlos. This is a typical Ibicenco bar with a homely atmosphere serving predominantly simple meat dishes prepared on the open grill in the courtyard.
Immediately afterwards and also on the right is Ca Na Pepeta (Tel: 971 325 023), which is again very typically Ibicenco. Housed in another old farmhouse with a large outside terrace, they serve traditional rice, fish and meat dishes of the island.
On the opposite side of the road the Cami de Balafia (Tel: 971 325 019) lies a short way up a camino that leads to the strategic hamlet of the same name. This family run restaurant only offers meat dishes grilled over an open wood fire, which only burns olive, almond and algarroba (carob) wood, giving the meat a unique and special flavour.
Some way further up the road at the end of a long straight you will see Can Curune (Tel: 971 325 019) from quite a distance, as it is ituated at the point where the road veers right to cross over an old river bed. This a pleasant spot for a morning coffee on your way to nowhere in particular and generally frequented by people who live far out in the campo and occasionally need a little human company. The food is good value with more of a general Mediterranean touch than the local Ibicenco restaurants in the nearest vicinity. |
