Stevie Alla Bottega Il Buco

Discreetly tucked within a plant-enclosed terrace in Santa Gertrudis, Stevie Alla Bottega Il Buco is the beloved restaurant-meets-Italian-deli-slash-bakery where everyone is welcome, the food is sublime and there’s always a reason to drop-in (and stay!). Like the beating heart of the village, the rustic-chic eatery buzzes from day-to-night as a mix of locals, discerning foodies and international holidaymakers make up the revolving door of diners who come and go for focaccia and aperitvos in the late afternoon, cocktails and fine wine at sundowners, an early evening get-together over sharing plates or a romantic date night.

If the name, décor and location feel familiar, that’s because Stevie Alla Bottega is a new incarnation of the popular focaccería and deli formerly run by New York gastronomic royalty Donna Lennard (of Il Buco fame). While the Ibiza restaurant’s name and concept still carry that same sense of warmth and familiarity, this year sees the reins passed to another New Yorker: Stevie Benanty, a restaurateur who brings her born and bred Brooklyn sensibilities, Italian American heritage plus a genuine passion for delicious, home-cooked food and entertaining to the table – and of course, the kitchen.

Whether it’s your first visit or your 50^th to Stevie Alla Bottega, you’ll be greeted like an old friend. Take a seat on the bustling terrace – perfect for balmy Ibiza summer nights – or venture indoors for a cosier dining experience. To the left, the Ibiza restaurant‘s walls are lined with wines, olive oil and gourmet goodies to stock your own pantry; to the right, an open-kitchen and deli counter where chefs lovingly prep each dish to order.

From 5pm until 7pm, it’s all about the art of aperitivo, when focaccia and small plates are served up alongside fine wines – many of them natural – and cocktails. Friends and families gather, catching up on the day’s gossip and picking up their sourdough orders while kids fuel-up after football practice or beach days. Afterwards, dinner is served and the menu at Stevie Alla Bottega is nothing less than a food lover’s dream.

Order the juicy marinated olives and sourdough with preserved lemon butter or stracciatella for the table, before tucking into light and summery dishes like yellowtail sashimi drizzled in smoked olive oil or a chilled pea and tarragon soup. The wholesome Juntos Farm salads sing with flavour – choose between classic greens or rainbow chard with sunflower tahini and habanero dressing – while the heavenly ‘vitello tonnato’ is made with silky flat iron steak and served on potato sauce with crispy capers.

Hearty dishes at Stevie Alla Bottega include Iberico lamb ribs; octopus a la plancha; guinea fowl alla leccarda (roasted); and the Ibiza restaurant’s now famous house-made tagliatelle – carnivores love the finnochiona (fennel salami) in Castlemagno sauce, while vegans adore the classic cherry tomato and oregano. For dessert, think sticky fig fondant, rich flourless chocolate cake and a creative chamomile panna cotta with honey and salt.

The local community has fully embraced the latest chapter of this Ibiza restaurant’s journey, as Stevie – who considers the space an extension of her own dining room – has truly made Bottega Il Buco her own. Come for the bread, stay for a wine, settle in for dinner and see exactly why this little slice of gourmet paradise is winning the hearts of gourmands worldwide.