* permanently closed * Author, chef, and a pioneer of the Ibiza artisan food scene, Anne Sijmonsbergen is also the force behind El Portalon, a restaurant that serves up a seasonally-focussed menu in Ibiza Old Town; using produce from her very own organic farm as well as those of other local artisans.
Set on the ground floor of a historic palacio in the UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site of Dalt Vila, El Portalon seats 40 in its flora-filled al fresco courtyard, with room for an additional 20 guests across two indoor dining areas and bar. Interiors combine rustic Ibicencan features with minimal contemporary twists, designer Angie Vestey putting together a space that fits seamlessly with the magical island of Eivissa.
Alongside restaurateur Justin Mallett, Sijmonsbergen—the author of Eivissa: The Ibiza Cookbook—and team whip up Mediterranean-inflected dishes such as El Portalon bocata de calamares; slow-cooked, line caught local squid with squid ink pan esponja, inked aioli and pickled mustard seeds; and chuletas of Iberico lamb with a vegetable mille-feuille escalivada and Ibiza sheep yoghurt, alongside two tasting menus created by and featuring a selection of head chef Massimo Arienti’s favourite plates. In the same vein, the wine list has a strong Mediterranean, Catalan, and Spanish offering.
Currently enjoying a foodie revolution, those finding themselves on the White Isle should add the handsome El Portalon to their hit list.
Photography, courtesy El Portalon Ibiza / Cat Milton
