El Ayoun
Price guide: Expensive
Carretera Eivissa-Sant Antoni, KM 6, San Rafael, Ibiza, Balearic Islands, 07816
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expert-rated restaurants in Ibiza- Recommended for:
- Couples, Culture vultures, Foodies, Honeymooners, Nightlife, Romance, Special occasions, Trendiness
Best for Gourmets - Expert review of El Ayoun
A truly decadent experience that brings a new meaning to VIP dining and treats all the senses.
If you’re only going to splurge on one dinner in Ibiza, then may I point you swiftly in the direction of El Ayoun. Decadent doesn’t even do it justice – from a rich, exotic menu taking you from Thailand to Morocco, and a sophisticated sushi lounge to a stunning open air terrace, VIP bar, cocktail lounge with dance floor and nightly performances by belly dancers, acrobats and more, it really does treat all the senses. My favourite “special occasion” location.
Food and drink:
In the main restaurant, the menu swerves through Thailand, France and Morocco while the sushi lounge does what it says on the tin!
Recommended dishes:
For me, I can’t go past the beef Crying Tiger – a piece of beef so succulent and amazingly spiced with lime, chilli and coriander you won’t want to share it. The shoulder of lamb is also another example of perfection and as for the sushi! You just can’t go wrong no matter what you order. I’ve had the luxury of doing a personal tasting with the chef and every single piece that passed my lips was divine, but my favourite is called ‘La Bomba’, a sushi roll with spicy tuna and cream cheese, coated in coconut then quickly deep fried. Again, so good I don’t like to share it.
Ambience:
It’s a very high-end crowd at El Ayoun and I often feel as though I’ve stumbled into a private party full of the rich and famous, so often are the Champagne glasses tinkling and the girls tossing their freshly blow-dried hair.
Service:
Very high standards, though on very busy evenings (particularly special events like the annual El Ayoun birthday party and the infamous season opening and closing parties) it can be a little slow in the main restaurant. In the sushi lounge however, there’s a military like precision.
Location:
Just as you drive into the village of San Rafael, right in the heart of the island you’ll spot El Ayoun on the main road thanks to the giant gold camels, red carpet and tropical garden splashed onto the sidewalk. It’s very close to both Amnesia and Privilege.
Price advice:
El Ayoun is worth the splurge. A dinner for two in the main restaurant will set you back around 100 euros, however surprisingly in the sushi lounge it’s often less. I’ve paid 50 euros with wine for two people which in Ibiza is great (sushi is super-high priced here).
Tables to book:
Be sure to specifically request the sushi lounge if you want sushi – the two restaurants are separate entities. There are also VIP tents in the garden for special occasions.
More information on El Ayoun:
- Price guide:
- Type:
- Bar, Restaurant
- Food:
- French, International, Japanese, Moroccan, Thai
- Address:
- Carretera Eivissa-Sant Antoni, KM 6, San Rafael, Ibiza, Balearic Islands, 07816
- Telephone:
- 971 198 335
- Website:
- http://www.elayoun.com
- Serves:
- Dinner
- Opening times:
- May-Oct 8pm-3am.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Reservations:
- Essential at peak times
