Review: Elements Restaurant at Benirras

Is Elements, Ibiza going to be our best beach restaurant of the year?

Benirras beach, is legendary. No trip to Ibiza would be complete without a trip to the hippy mecca of the north. Since the 1960's, there have been gatherings here, way before electronic music came along and the superclubs began to arrive. The famous Benirras beach drummers still gather before sunset, pounding out their ancient, hypnotic rhythms to bid farewell to the sun. The sun, in turn puts on its own legendary show, setting magnificently behind the mystical looking rock that the locals call ‘the hand of God.'

Benirras beach is the stunning setting for Elements beach restaurant. I say restaurant loosely, because the truth is, Elements is so much more. Going there just expecting good food is kind of like that Christmas that you expected to get your favourite album and ended up with not only the album but a whole new hi-fi system to play it on!

Encompassing a boutique, restaurant, juice-bar and therapy zone offering professional massage treatments, Elements is an Ibiza experience.

I arrived one bright, sunny, Friday afternoon for lunch. I found a parking space easily and took a seat on Elements' huge terrace. Having received a friendly welcome I was soon sat sipping a very sexy pre-lunch cocktail (passion-fruit Caipirinia – mmm!) and gazing happily out to the turquoise crystal sea.

It was a hot day, so my thirsty companion had a fabulous, invigoratingly fresh apple, pear and ginger juice from the juice-bar. We were brought bread, olives and ali-oli to nibble whilst we perused the mouth-watering menu. Bursting with fresh, imaginative Mediterranean dishes, it took my companion and I quite a while to make a decision. We consulted the absolutely charming manageress, Sammi, who confided that Catalan chef, Pep has a real passion for seafood dishes. Insider information! We followed the passion and chose the scallops and baby squid, caught right there on Benirras beach for starters.

Interestingly, the lightly fried, crispy baby squid came with a spirulina sauce. This intrigued my companion and I who usually find spirulina nauseatingly unpalatable! Pep's cunningly prepared sauce however, was somehow delicious, wow! We were impressed.

The scallops were served with braised pineapple, complimenting it perfectly. They were also the largest I've seen on the island. They were perfectly cooked - lightly seared, soft inside and melt-in-the-mouth.

Next up were king prawns and quinoa for my companion and fresh seafood ceviche served with prawn crackers for me. The dishes that came out to our table looked so magnificent it prompted the friendly Dutch ladies dining together at the next table to ask what we had so they could order the same!

The waiters changed shift as we tucked into our mains – we knew this because our new waitress, Paula, came over to the table to introduce herself. How attentive!

The ceviche was heavenly. Beautifully soft, marinated seafood contrasting with crunchy green pepper, onion, pineapple and tomatoes, grown freshly and organically right here in Ibiza. Actually, lots of the produce used in the kitchen comes from their own kitchen garden, which they plan to expand.

Sammi also explained that Elements plan to get solar panels on the roof of the restaurant and that their focus is on using local produce wherever possible. This responsible and sustainable approach to business is the future. I was liking Elements more each minute.

I finished my lunch with a coolant de chocolate with strawberry sorbet and pear puree for dessert. It managed to be sinfully rich and yet skilfully light. The home-made strawberry sorbet was gorgeously tangy and not too sweet. Mmm!

If you make your way to their nice, clean bathroom (exceptional for a beach restaurant) a notice on the wall bids you to “Return to the Now...breathe deeply. It is the greatest gift you can give to yourself.”

Well that may well be true, but spending the afternoon at Elements at Benirras beach is also a gift you can give to yourself! Try their morning Yoga/breakfast combo from 9-10am Monday-Friday and make a day of it! For night owls, check out their Tuesday pre-parties for Flower Power or the sunset fire-shows on Sundays.

Elements Ibiza, dear readers, is top class!