Cana Sofia Restaurant holds one of the most prized positions a restaurant can be blessed with - seafront. With an open terrace that gazes directly onto the stunning beach of Cala Vadella, and a generously sized deck, so close, it is almost a feet-in-sand dining experience. It's a beautiful spot to be.
The village of Cala Vadella itself holds an unmistakable charm. From the surrounding hillside, the cove resembles a tiny Italian village on the Amalfi coast. Its quaint promenade is just a moment's glance from the bright, blue, shimmering sea, protected by tree-lined rocky arms and beautiful white, golden sands.
Cana Sofia has earned its coveted spot upon this stunning, sandy parade, impressing holidaymakers and locals since 2002. With seating both inside and out, it feels like an extension of the beach itself. Sand-coloured tables are harmoniously dotted with ocean-blue glasses and turquoise plates, with vibrant red and yellow flowers offering a final dash of colour.
What's noticeable is the space; tables are thoughtfully set apart, so there's ample room to breathe, to relax, to push back your chair and enjoy long, lazy days in their company.
A family-owned restaurant, Moisés Machado, his wife Sofía, from whom the restaurant takes its name, and their son Moisés lead the team. This family dynamic has resulted in reward, as they've been once again recommended in the Repsol Spanish Restaurant Guide. In fact, this year marks 20 years of continuous inclusion, recognition well deserved for them and for their warm and welcoming team.
What a greeting! A welcome handshake was quickly replaced by a glass of their signature crisp and fruity cava sangria, served in equally impressive glasses. It may be spring here in Ibiza, but it certainly tasted like summer after sipping these.
Our first dive into the extra touches of talent from Moisés and his team, the Gastronomic tapas tasting menu. A selection of five tapas (selected by the chef, specifically for your table) was introduced by a stunning variation of aioli, made with fragrant saffron and fried egg to create a creamy but flavoursome dip.
Alongside this, the daily appetiser, designed each morning by the chef, was a creamy salmon ensemble, with leeks, courgettes and crispy croutons. Delicious. We certainly got lucky with our day's creation.
As we would soon come to enjoy, everything created here comes with a delightful, innovative twist.
There are patatas bravas, and there are Cana Sofia patatas bravas. Incredibly moreish, the crispy chunks of potato were served with lashings of a rich, chunky tomato bravas sauce, flavoured with a smoky punch and piquant kick.
An exceptional crouquette. Filled with garlic and king prawns, the hearty centre was tasty and fragrant, and perfectly on point. Served with a Wakame salad, and topped with a creamy, yellow chilli pepper sauce and juicy prawns for good measure.
Sofia’s own take on the humble potato salad combined prawns, pickled tuna belly, soft potato and a creamy homemade dressing. The dish was elevated by crunchy pickled red onion and poppodum-style crisps for scooping, giving the perfect twist in textures.
Served upon a chunky, Catalan sanfaina sauce, the delicate pieces of juicy cod were encased perfectly in light tempura batter. The crisp coating contrasted beautifully with the soft and light flakes of fish within. To any English readers out there, we’d argue, these could put any local fish and chip shop to shame.
Marinated in a rich, sweet soy and honey glaze, the chunky beef skewers were an Asian-infused delight. We loved the extra touch of both rice and noodles, for those who still couldn’t decide which was their favourite.
Even after all this food, when oysters are offered, especially of this quality and taste, it's simply rude to say no. Served with a floral touch and generous squeezes of lime to bring each one to full flavour. If you’re wondering what the tropical-looking glass is sitting beside, let me introduce you to the tiger milk (ever so spicy) margarita. Creamy, refreshing and sipped down in seconds.
We admit, we had to ask for a minute to rest and make room before taking on the welcome challenge of the next dish, the ‘Sea and Mountain’ paella.
As mountainous as its name suggests, the perfectly cooked rice was heaped with chunks of tasty cuttlefish, juicy steamed mussels and meaty Ibizan black pork. Rich and salty, the dish was brought to life by its secret sauce: their in-house sobrasada and salmoretta.
This rich interplay of flavours and aromas is not to be understated; this is a paella that’s made to stand out and be noticed. Did we have to admit defeat, of course, but the takeaway boxes meant the next day's dinner was already eagerly anticipated.
There's something so joyful about cutting into sweet treats such as these, especially when it brings the table into a collective ‘ohhhhhh!’
Perfectly oozy and gooey, the dark chocolate coulant was a real triumph. The added hazelnut, praline and Baileys truffle, creamy bourbon and vanilla ice cream and zingy passion fruit played an outstanding part in making sure we squeezed in those final mouthfuls.
If you plan on feasting as we have, this dessert is definitely best with at least two spoons to fight over it.
Open all year, Cana Sofia offers visitors to this picturesque little cove an experience of gastronomic excellence. Imagination and love are the key ingredients to every dish they create, and they serve in such a stunning setting.
While we can shout about spending sun-drenched afternoons on the open terrace, some thought should be given to your evening meal - the sunsets here allow it to shine in a whole new light.
