Tucked away up an unassuming residential road beside Gathering London art gallery, Mira Lounge is the sort of place you'd never stumble across by accident. Those who do seek it out are rewarded with one of Ibiza's most distinctive new dining experiences.
Pink is very much the house colour. Fuchsia accents sit alongside softer champagne hues, while bamboo roofing and playful blown-glass light fittings give the terrace a personality that's both stylish and refreshingly tongue-in-cheek.
So it comes as no surprise that owner Stevie Benanty greeted us in trademark fashion, her electric pink dress perfectly in sync with the surroundings. Already familiar to many through Stevie alla Bottega in Santa Gertrudis, she's created a venue aimed as much at island residents as visitors, with the ambition of becoming a favourite stop for a cocktail and a light bite or a sunset burger and a caña of nice, chilled beer after a day at the beach.
From L-R, a Bloody Mary, a Margherita and a Chelo vodka and rice.
First things first, a round of cocktails to whet our appetites. Alongside familiar classics, the house signatures ventured into what the bar describes as 'liquid gastronomy', producing inventive serves that were as intriguing as they were delicious.
Less viscous and more translucent than the classic version, the Bloody Mary was the most curious of the selection. What it lacked in colour, it more than made up for in taste with layers of complexity, enhanced by lemon-infused chilli salt. This smoky take also eliminated the one negative side-effect commonly associated with it: the lingering soup-iness of a drinker's breath!
Meanwhile, the intricately made Chelo vodka is a marvel of mixology.
The kitchen isn't afraid to look beyond the Mediterranean. The apricot salad borrows inspiration from Thailand's papaya salad, balancing sweet fruit with fragrant lemongrass, coriander and a gentle chilli warmth.
At our host's insistence, we had to try the restaurant's star dish. The scallops with lemongrass foam, was delicate and subtle, each mouthful transformed by the generous serving of a fresh coriander garnish.
Chicken karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken)
We loved this unusual dish, with its soft texture and a kimchee sauce that had us licking or fingers. The chicken wings are so big, before we tucked in, we speculated amongst ourselves whether they were in fact kebabs.
Then came the burger.
Served in an impossibly soft bun inspired by Vietnamese bánh bao, it combined succulent beef with a flavour-packed chutney to produce something genuinely special. The accompanying sweet potato fries were every bit as impressive, especially when dipped in the addictive kimchi mayo. Big statement alert: it might genuinely be a contender for the island's best - and there's stiff competition.
This reviewer will be returning soon to do some more "research", off the clock, to see if that bold claim holds up. I have confidence it will.
DJ Joy selects and spins obscure, experimental electronic music on vinyl from a cross-legged position on a sofa, dubbed “sofa sessions” (other DJs on rotation). The execution is totally Balearic. Honestly, telling you exactly what music was played proves too difficult, but if you told us there was some Nightmares On Wax or Mr Scruff in the mix, that sounds totally plausible.
Mira Lounge's desserts are in another league. The vegan dessert (on the left), grilled pineapple with lemongrass and ginger gelato was a revelation. The charred fruit really accentuated the flavour. Its companion, Chocolate opera, with ricotta ice cream was equally good. There's no question about it: these homemade treats are made with love.
Our conclusion: Whether it's for inventive cocktails, Balearic beats or what may well be the island's standout burger, Mira Lounge is a worthwhile detour before heading home from the beach.
