Nudo Ibiza

As far as meeting points go, there’s a high probability that an encounter between likeminded chefs at one of the world’s best restaurants might result in fireworks. And so it came to pass for über-talented trio, Jessica Natali, Edoardo Fiaschi and José Carlos Conde, who met while working in the kitchen at Noma in Copenhagen. Fast forward a few years, and the close-knit team now head up Nudo Ibiza – their very own Ibiza beach restaurant on the shores of Es Figueral in the north-east of Ibiza. Here, they throw away the restrictions of fine dining in favour of relaxed, pared-back and delicious cuisine – a soulful recipe that’s made the beach café a bona fide foodie hotspot.

Now the word is out, people from all around the island (and the world!) are flocking to the northern coastline, keen to savour some of the Nudo Ibiza flavour finesse they’ve heard so much about. A Mediterranean kitchen enlivened with hints of Mexico and Japan via Italy, Guatemala and the Nordics, this Ibiza beach restaurant takes inspiration from family heritage, the colours and tastes of home, and techniques perfected in far-flung lands. There’s a strong emphasis on seasonal, sustainable produce too, with a menu that’s constantly in flow and creatively reimagined roughly every two weeks, to keep both chefs and diners on their toes.

‘Nudo’ means naked in Italian, and that’s what diners can expect at Nudo Ibiza, where the concept is about quality ingredients prepared simply with love, care and precision – good food enjoyed in its most natural state, enhanced by the pure and natural environment around the Ibiza beach restaurant. Vegetables are sourced from Can Cristofol, a nearby organic farm, and fish is always wild-caught from around the coast of Spain, so dishes can range from a smoked aubergine, scamorza and miso bikini, and an open tortilla with winter greens and roasted yeast, to fried fish tacos with remoulade and pickled onions, or Galician clams served with kimchi and herbs. It’s simplicity with a twist.

While there’s always structure to the menu at this idyllic Ibiza beach restaurant, with mainstays like juicy red shrimps and an abundance of natural oysters (served ‘à la Jess’), there’s flexibility too. Whole fish of the day is decided each morning, dependent on the catch, for instance, and the bountiful plates of the loved-by-locals homemade pasta are also modified according to availability of ingredients. Fresh, fabulous and always imbued with creativity, Nudo Ibiza dishes are shared alongside home-brewed kombucha or a selection of natural wines hand-picked from the best vintners from around the globe.

Served amid the sea-blasted surrounds of a decades-old chiringuito that’s been revamped and boasts near 360-degree Mediterranean views, the atmosphere at this Ibiza beach restaurant is no fuss and no rush — linger over each mouthful and meditate on the flavour of every carefully chosen ingredient. Open only for lunch between 1pm and 4pm from Wednesday to Sunday each week, the approach to cooking at Nudo Ibiza is inspired by Jessica, Edo and José’s approach to life: slow down, leave the ego at home, and don’t overcomplicate things. Once you’ve spent an hour or two in their company, it’s a maxim that you’ll no doubt apply to your own life.