Last Friday, 07 June, Madunia announced its arrival on Ibiza’s gastronomic scene with a glittering event attended by hundreds of guests including celebrities and local dignitaries. The inauguration was marked by a glamorous, cosmopolitan atmosphere in which music and the restaurant’s delicious, locally sourced cuisine played a starring role.
After having our photo taken at the entrance, we proceeded inside past the doorkeepers, immaculately dressed in colourful Aztec-style costumes. On entering, there is a long bar and an interior dining area - which the owners intend to keep open in winter - with a small balcony designed to offer spectacular sunset views.
The venue is impressive and spacious, with the capacity to host up to 300 diners. It's arranged around several expansive terraces, with a sweeping staircase that would make it an ideal site for a wedding reception.
The warm colours and ample use of natural-fibre seating was immediately inviting and perfectly in keeping with the ethos of Madunia (meaning Mother Earth). Our first stop was at the bar, where the barman suggested we try an intriguing non-alcoholic beverage of olive lemonade: an instant hit!
The musical accompaniment to the evening was provided by DJ Delum, whose choice of tracks provided the soundtrack, and a crowd-pleasing performance by Masaka, whose blend of Afro, Deep and Progressive House with live instrumentation, tribal percussion and striking attire really caused a stir.
Those attending were offered a generous variety of mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres, hot dishes and desserts, served at stations around the restaurant’s expansive terraces and by the bustling, friendly waiters who kept up a steady supply of gastronomic delights.
As an introduction to Madunia’s cuisine, it perfectly showcased its distinctive approach to high-quality, locally sourced micro-seasonal fare. Many of the raw ingredients could be seen in the restaurant’s impeccable herb garden on the lowest terrace.
Madunia's founders, the Dutch couple Bas and Corine Rasker, gave the guests an enthusiastic welcome in which they expressed their gratitude to everyone involved in the ground-breaking project along with their team and collaborators.
Highlighting Mediterranean gastronomy with international touches, the food is ideal for sharing in pairs or groups. To this end, the restaurant’s multi-tiered design, with a combination of large, round tables and tiny, intimate nooks is very well thought out and the abundant vegetation completely in harmony with the hillside setting.
Located in the hills of Cap Negret, on the northeastern end of the Bay of San Antonio, Madunia - with its signature focus on sustainability, fresh, micro-seasonal produce, its innovative design and tasty cuisine - is a very welcome addition to the gastro scene in the west of the island and a mecca for discerning diners on Ibiza.
For direct table bookings head to madunia.es
