Cala Mastella beach is as rudimentary and as far away from a typical Ibizan beach as it gets. It has an old fishing port on one side and a rocky beach on the other. No water activities and no beach or sun loungers. Just a beach bar, one of the top restaurants on the island, and a secluded natural bay. Bring your own towel and cushion up because while it may not be comfortable, it’s raw and real. It’s me – it’s Svadore style – it’s Sveva’s style. If you decide to spend time here, you’ll definitely want to pack a thick, heavy cotton beach towel to protect your skin from the rocky shores. Pack your snorkeling gear as well as there are plenty of fish to see in the shallow rocky waters of this cove. You’ll also catch the occasional local going for their morning or mid-day swim. But what I’ll be focusing on today is the renowned restaurant: El Bigotes.
El Bigotes is considered one of the most authentic dining experiences on the island. And I have to whole heartedly agree. It is the spot to be if you can get a reservation. They have no website, so I reached out via Whatsapp and was lucky enough to secure us a table one 2-3 weeks in advance. Reservations are a must. While we were leaving El Bigotes, I overheard a couple asking when they’re next available reservation was and El Bigotes restaurant said October…and that’s not a joke. It was August 28th my friends. El Bigotes is so popular that the King of Spain was turned away because he didn’t have a reservation. True story.
While I was able to get a reservation, we did not have the luxury to choose which sitting we would be a part of. The restaurant only serves meals at 2 times of day 12PM and 2PM. You don’t get to choose the food, what you get is what you eat. And that’s my favorite type of restaurant. Don’t tell me what to eat, you know best. That’s how good they are, they don’t even want to give you options. They know you’ll like what they give you. They serve the freshest catch of the day caught early that AM so it’s a fish-based menu. We got the 12PM fried catch of the day fish sitting (€17pp), but I heard the 2PM Bullit de Paix sitting (€22pp) is to die for.
El Bigotes started us off with the ubiquitous olives, bread and aioli and some white house wine. The main is then served with a house salad and medley of fried fish. Being that it was 12:30/1PM by the time we had our main meal, it was surprisingly filling. I watched as a huge pot with the Bullit de Peix was boiling on a wood fire stove in the kitchen. While I wanted to try the Bullit de Peix, I have to admit, it may have been too much for me to stomach with 100F at 2PM. If you go for the 2PM Bullit de Peix, fair warning, come hungry. The first serving is a large plate of fish medley with potatoes cooked in a delicious saffron sauce, followed by a second serving of paella rice cooked in the remaining saffron broth.
El Bigotes literally translates to the moustache in Spanish because of the owners own handlebar moustache. The creator of the restaurant, Juan Ferrer El Bigotes, used to make Bullit de Paix, a Spanish fish stew, for his friends every day with the fresh caught fish of the day. Bullit de Peix is a modern take on fish stews that fishermen used to make out at sea on their boats. The owner eventually opened up his fisherman’s house to the public.
For the last 40+ years, El Bigotes has been serving a limited number of 70 people every day. The small fishing boat leaves the Cala Mastella port every morning and goes not too far from the shore to catch whatever nature has to offer that day. The meal is extremely affordable anyone to enjoy a real fisherman’s meal in an authentic Ibizan spot. El Bigotes today is retired, but you can still catch him eating lunch there every day.
We were full, but if you know me, there is ALWAYS space for dessert and digestif. For dessert we had the option of 2 typical Ibicenco desserts: Graixonera or Flaó. We chose Flaó, the most traditional Ibicenco dessert made from fresh sheep or goat cheese with egg, sugar, milk, anise, and spearmint. Upon my first bite of this traditional Ibizan delight, the flavors instantly transported me to a world of culinary bliss. The crust provided a perfect foundation for the creamy filling. The creamy texture melted in my mouth, leaving a lingering sweetness that was beautifully complemented by the refreshing notes of spearmint and anise. It was a culinary revelation—an exquisite combination of flavors that captured the essence of Ibiza’s rich culinary heritage. The dessert reminded me of a sweet polenta in consistency. It was incredible and my favorite dessert on the island, by far.
We accompanied our dessert with another local digestif, Cafe Caleta. Cafe Caleta is a local Ibicenco concoction mixed in a pot with coffee, cinnamon, lemon peel, sugar, orange, rum, and brandy…I know it sounds bizarre, but it’s AMAZING. It tastes like ginseng coffee in my opinion. Legend has it that fishermen at Sa Caleta beach on Ibiza came up with this drink when they would add liquor to their coffee to stave off the cold at sea. This also had to be one of my favorite beverages in Ibiza from the entire trip. I couldn’t taste any alcohol, it’s probably dangerous because it’s so good I could have 20…! It’s 26% alcohol, so more than a glass of wine, but less than a shot.
Don’t hesitate to book a table here. Immediately reach for your phone, send a WhatsApp message to El Bigotes, and get your table. It will be the highlight of your trip to Ibiza. I know it was mine.
El Bigotes is open from May to October and only serves lunch at 12PM and 2PM.
Cost €17 p/person – €22 p/person
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