Santa Gertrudis sits in the heart of Ibiza, surrounded by farmland and green fields, making it a welcome crossroads for those travelling across the island. Dotted with trees, its cobbled square is home to boutiques, restaurants and pavement cafes, encouraging a bustle of visitors who come to enjoy its charm.
While the village may have a peaceful energy to it, uninterrupted almost by the goings-on across the rest of the island, it maintains its own breezy bustle. Families, holidaymakers and residents all flock here to spend lazy afternoons and evenings amongst friends.
Sitting quietly in one corner, under the gaze of the impressive church, Finca La Plaza maintains an exceptional culinary reputation with its steady hand on quality, authentic and refined Ibizan dining. As a resident of the oldest building in Santa Gertrudis, it holds a special character and a certain grace, becoming a perfect example of the authentic energy this beautiful village still exudes.
Enter through the unassuming front entrance, and you will be greeted by the original stone walls and fireplace. The minimalist and simple interior design celebrates its historical origins, while modern life is given its place without interrupting the simple aesthetics.
The window into their well-stocked wine ‘cellar’, which can be tested out later to your delight, is the first glimpse before the murmurings from the heart of the restaurant greet you next - the team of chefs work away on the evening's creative culinary artwork in the open kitchen.
We chose the garden entrance for our evening reservation, an ideal time so we could enjoy the beautiful, open-air garden space under the fading daylight.
Framed in green, the terrace area, with its white stone walls and delicate lighting, an ode to all things natural, made the dining space feel grounded and tranquil. Special touches, such as handcrafted ceramic plates and natural wooden tones, only emphasised the experience.
We began in full Spanish tradition with rosemary-sprigged warm rustic bread accompanied by fresh datterino cherry tomatoes from Ibiza. Perfectly seasoned, the tomatoes' sweetness popped in our mouths. The thin slivers of light fresh Santoña Cantabrian ‘00’ anchovies complemented the dish eloquently and were the perfect play-out of flavours.
Simple perfection.
Each packed with flavour, the refreshing stars of the show, the La Paloma and Cucumber Mule each brought their own zingy personalities to the table.
As night fell the restaurant soon lit up. With the full moon overhead, the delightful space felt like a secret garden. Despite the warm atmosphere, the terrace remained cool, with a gentle and welcome breeze.
Continuing our gastronomic journey, the plump, meaty and all-around juicy Josper-baked miso-glazed aubergine was perfection. The hearty dollop of stracciatella cheese topping, married with the sticky-sweet softness, resulted in this being devoured in minutes. That’s quite a mouthful, but so was this humble delight.
Finca’s bluefin tuna carpaccio, marinated in soy sauce with a little spicy edge, brought many interesting flavours. The finishing touches of wasabi and kimchi-infused sauce, along with 33 mango caviar and green wasabi eggs, made this a taste sensation.
Twinkling lights and the soft glow of the full moon transformed the garden into an enchanting space. Coupled with a delightful musical interlude, we took some time to settle between courses and relax and enjoy the moment.
After a short pause, our main courses landed, bringing international flavours of Italy and America with them.
Firstly, fresh Italian rigatoni pasta, smothered in a creamy truffle sauce, with more truffle shavings for an extra bite. This vegan dish may appear rich and creamy but is actually light and beautifully balanced. Our second Josper baked temptation was seabass with ‘American’ brandy soya sauce and a soft leek garnish.
Still, the most popular dish on the menu is the smoked pork rib ‘hot dog’ - an interesting and very moreish twist on the American classic. Melt-in-mouth shredded pork, complemented by a homemade chilli sauce that delivered an extra kick and shredded red cabbage slivers for that extra crunch.
When desserts are masterpieces such as these, more room had to be found for our trio of sweet-treat heaven. Each deserving a spot in the limelight, we quickly devoured the homemade hazelnut ice cream, triple chocolate vegan dessert with passionfruit cream centre and the light, zingy cream cheese ganache. It’s impossible to choose a favourite because each one is irresistible in its own right.
Finca La Plaza may feel like a hidden gem, but it is now a well-regarded and well-respected gastro destination in its own right. Despite its popularity, it remains friendly and humble in the quality of cuisine produced and executed through its menu. Harmoniously blending the traditional with new food techniques and flavours, it brings a unique element to the Ibiza restaurant scene.
If you have yet to discover the joys of Finca la Plaza, follow this link to book a table direct at one of Ibiza’s finest restaurants.
Photos: La Skimal
