Paella perfection at The Beach, Unexpected Ibiza
Introducing CLANDESTINOS, a special event celebrating traditional rice dishes and Mediterranean flavours via showcooking, MICHELIN-starred guest chefs and more.
Spanish summer holidays and paella go hand-in-hand. Or perhaps more accurately, fork-in-mouth – especially when plates laden with steaming, saffron-tinged rice and succulent seafood are served directly to your table at The Beach, Unexpected Ibiza. The beautiful beachfront restaurant on Playa d’en Bossa is already well-known for its creative Mediterranean menu – which features an extensive selection of rice dishes – but what remains a secret is the monthly series of paella showcooking events hosted throughout the summer, starting with CLANDESTINOS on Thursday May 15, 2025.
Hosted just once a year, CLANDESTINOS at The Beach, Unexpected Ibiza is an homage to the iconic rice dish, bringing foodies from around the world together over a unique menu that includes appetisers and a paella tasting menu created by a special guest chef. Manning the pans this year is celebrated Valencian chef Luís Valls Rozalén, whose culinary prowess at El Poblet and Quique Dacosta Restaurante has earned him two MICHELIN Stars. Who better to put an haute cuisine twist on tradition than a chef who was born and bred in the very place where the dish originated?
First conceived in the rice fields of La Albufera in Valencia, paella was originally slow-cooked outdoors by farmers. It was a rustic dish, cooked for many, gathered around together, served straight from a pan that had been slow-cooked over flames and made with whatever ingredients were on hand at the end of the day, such as rabbit, snails, beans, tomatoes and garlic. Over time, more regional flavours were introduced to the mix and the seafood versions you know and love emerged, quickly becoming synonymous with Spanish seaside living and social summer holidays. The essence of paella has always been about sharing, which means there’s also something beautifully fitting about enjoying the beloved dish in a relaxed, communal way at The Beach, Unexpected Ibiza.
CLANDESTINOS at The Beach, Unexpected Ibiza is hosted by David Guapoand starts at 1pm, as you take a seat on the stylish terrace, overlooking the beach with the soft spring breeze in your hair and blissful Balearic beats floating across the airwaves. The CLANDESTINOS Paella Tasting Menu is 45€ per person, with an option to add drink pairings for an additional 20€ (including free-flowing water, soft drinks, wine or beer) and begins with a selection of ‘surprise starters’ to share with friends at your table. While the exact menu remains under wraps until the big day, previous options have included creamy croquettes with acorn-fed jamón, delectable tuna tartare topped with a crispy fried egg or tasty tacos al pastor – the perfect gastronomic warm-up.
Appetites engaged, all focus turns to the main event, as Valls joins forces with The Beach, Unexpected Ibiza’s all-star kitchen crew including in-house chefs Adrian Paniagua and Ismael Fernandez, plus special guests Abraham Brandez, Alex Delvicio, Carlos Ramírez, César Marquiegui, Edu Torres, Rubén Pradana, Octopuss Black and Ade Bueno. Over the course of the day, each chef prepares a paella, putting their own flavour-filled spin on the once-humble dish. Pans sizzle and smoke furls into the sky as sofrito, shellfish and saffron are layered over the flames; at times substituted with fresh seasonal veggies and herbed olive oil, delicious free-range-chicken bites, chunks of hearty entrecôte or the ultra-luxe combo of fried egg, foie gras and slivers of jamón ibérico.
Waiters deftly weave their way around the restaurant, expertly explaining which paella will be prepared next so guests can choose if they’d like to try it or wait for the next round. Each tasting plate is a new delight: golden, caramelised crusts of rice crowned with an array of different toppings – you never know what’s coming next and that’s all part of the fun at CLANDESTINOS at The Beach, Unexpected Ibiza. While you’re wining and dining, and comparing flavour notes with your friends, DJs are busy in the background spinning a carefully curated soundtrack for the occasion while dancers strut their stuff around the terrace. The event continues until 6pm, when the Ibiza sunset beckons.
CLANDESTINOS at The Beach, Unexpected Ibiza is a one-off event, and places are limited, so be sure to book your table early to guarantee a seat. If you’re not in Ibiza on May 15 however, keep an eye out for THE SUNRICE at The Beach, Unexpected Ibiza – a monthly culinary pop-up hosted by the in-house team that follows the same showcooking format, minus the guest chefs. It’s a little more casual, but every bit as flavourful and the perfect excuse to return to the beach, fork in hand, in a celebration of Spanish gastronomy. Tables can be booked by emailing restaurantes@theunexpectedhotels.com, via via WhatsApp on +34 626 384 378, or at the link below.
Paella perfection at The Beach, Unexpected Ibiza
Introducing CLANDESTINOS, a special event celebrating traditional rice dishes and Mediterranean flavours via showcooking, MICHELIN-starred guest chefs and more.
