Aiyanna Restaurant. Gastronomic Beach Resto In Serene Cala Nova Ibiza

Helen Warwick dines at Aiyanna Restaurant, a barefoot foodie magnet in Ibiza.

Forget the techno raves and bamboozling nightlife scene. It’s the white isle’s blooming culinary credentials that are deservedly swaying more and more travellers to explore its corners away from the brash hedonism that is so inextricably linked to life here. There’s everything from tiny hole-in-the-wall tapas bars selling A-grade pan con tomate, to shiny new restaurants steered by celeb chefs and acclaimed beach restaurants.

One of which has carved out the blueprint for the ultimate beachside joint. I’m talking about Aiyanna, the much-lauded sister restaurant to Amante that’s been drawing diners to tables beneath its emblematic Guatemalan parasols since 2017. Refined fresh-feel plates, brilliant cocktails, morning yoga sessions and late-night Mescal-drinking shenanigans make this an in-demand destination with bags of boho charm.

It sits at the back of Cala Nova, a quiet and bleached-out stretch of sand where rosy-cheeked yachties jump off their dinghies and snorkelers weave around the rocks tumbling into the water, a thousand shades of turquoise. Stretch out on your towel and you can’t miss the trails of diners making their way from the sand towards the steps of the restaurant, strung with large rattan lampshades and a jungle of plants. The emphasis at Aiyanna Restaurant lies on a rustic, boho feel, where it’s entirely acceptable to turn up to your table sea-soaked and sandy-footed.

Palms and pines are dotted in front of the terrace, guests sit around rough-hewn wooden tables and those iconic parasols cast shadows across the decking that opens to the glittering ocean. Towards the back you’ll find a cluster of cushiony chairs to gaze at globally-inspired art hoisted to the walls as you slurp down a cocktail. It’s all very cool and grown-up but without being too try-hard. Even children are relished here, giving me the green light to bring along my husband and three children, 8, 6 and 1.

And so there we were. Seated at a large table, cocktails in hand, staring at the kids colouring in with crayons handed to them immediately by our waiter. They were thrilled at the ‘red’ juices brought to them, a zingy blend of pomegranate, mixed berries, watermelon and bergamot, whilst my husband and I ordered a Lancelot, a fresh and lively take on a G&T with hibiscus, plum and yuzu flavours.

It’s clear everything about Aiyanna smacks of quality with a propensity for hyper-local and seasonally-led ingredients. Herbs and veggies are plucked from the restaurant’s very own kitchen garden and are elevated in almost every dish into jams or sauces or colourful sides, rather than being merely an afterthought.

The off-menu tuna tartare on hunks of fried bread came with thick splodges of guacamole that was zesty and super fresh. A starter of grilled scallops in their shells arrived to the table soaked in an incredible chilli and lime butter. My main was the flaky slow-cooked cod, but it was the black garlic that brought something supremely elegant to the dish.

Even a side of grilled sweet potato was off-the-charts good with chilli, lime and honey. And the josper-cooked beef rib eye was soft and smoky. Just as steak should be. With those added Aiyanna touches of jalapeno jam and carrot and orange coulis. The kitchen team has really carved out a knack for conjuring staggering flavours and textures from different fruit and veggies.

Don’t skip on the pudding menu either. The zingy lemon tart was outstanding. No complaints either from the kids as they spooned down ice cream before hopping down to the beach as we grazed on our desserts and last mouthfuls of albarino. Naturally, the wine list was excellent, and there was a lot of rose-drinking-and-chinking going on as the sun seared down on our shoulders.

Aiyanna is a place for long, languid and sun-soaked afternoons (and evenings). Where boho design meets breezy Balearic attitude. From a kitchen dishing up supremely elegant fresh-feel dishes. And in a space where you can gaze at interiors you’d like to wrap up and take home and lose hours and hours drinking and eating and grinning at the waves and perpetual blue skies. What an island. What a restaurant.