Bottega Il Buco

a taste of italy with ibaza

Bottego il Buco restaurant has caused waves in Ibiza since it opened five years ago. Situated just off the pretty square of Santa Gertrudis, a gem of a village dotted with art galleries and artisan design stores in the centre of Ibiza, the restaurant is sister to the legendary New York restaurant il Buco. Now Bottega il Buco is proving to be a game changing restaurant too and fast becoming the go-to place for Islanders in the know and international visitors alike. Bottega il Buco provides a very special gastronomic experience, designed to take you on an unforgettable journey of authentic culinary discovery. Its unique dining concept features a Roman style focacceria (a first for Ibiza), Mediterranean alimentari and restaurant which offers a curated selection of simple but beautifully prepared food, sourced from the highest quality ingredients from local artisan producers alongside products from Italy, Spain and Portugal. Signature dishes include: Burrata with local strawberries, toasted hazelnuts and fresh green herb emulsion; Scallop Crudo with avocado, kumquat, sumo mandarin, jalapeño and chive blossom; Paccheri and roasted vegetable lamb ragu; Spaghetti Nero with calamari, oven roasted tomatoes, colatura and pepperoncini; Italian broccoli with lemon and pepperoncini and for desert, sweet vanilla pannacotta with wild strawberries honey and pollen. Bottega il Buco also announced a new Head Chef this year - Max Rivera Papic. Hailing from Cinco hotel and restaurant in Santiago in Chile, Max trained with Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester amongst others. Joining him are husband and wife team, Hernan Rodriguez Tabacco and Cecilia Sanchez as Bottega’s new General Manager and Chef de Cuisine, respectively. They have spent their careers working in hotels and restaurants throughout Latin America - most notably at Francis Mallmann’s Uruguayan hotel and restaurant, Garzón. This summer Bottega il Buco has also launched an exciting new ‘To-Go’ service, perfect for summer beach pic-

nics or languid lunches at the villa. They have teamed up with Ibiza Runners to offer an on-island delivery service. The full restaurant menu is available for drop off at your private home or villa and Bottega il Buco are also launching To-Go picnics, each serving 2 people, featuring mouth-watering salamis, cheeses and delicious house baked breads which can be customised with treats from the in-house alimenteri. If you are looking for something lighter, swing by the restaurant and pick up one of their delicious focaccia sandwiches, made fresh in the restaurant each day- perfect for a day at the beach. The offering changes daily. Bottega il Buco’s daily menu includes wooden sharing boards of salami and cheese accompanied by delicious freshly baked focaccia using ancient Triticum Durum whole grains from Sicily. There is also a selection of tinned fish from the coasts of Spain, Portugal and the Baltic Sea served with housemade bread, cultured butter & sea salt, including Catrineta Smoked Sardines, Gueyu Mar Chargrilled Octopus, Jose Smoked Trout and Fangst Baltic Sea Sprat. Roberto Paris, who has shaped the il Buco Family’s wine vision for over twenty years in the USA, continues to serve as the guiding force behind Bottega il Buco’s wine selection. He has curated a diverse selection of boutique Spanish wines to complement the sumptuous tastings of the chef. The list focuses on organic and biodynamic wines from small producers throughout Spain, Italy and Portugal. 

The restaurant’s interiors have been designed as a natural extension of owner Donna Lennard’s New York restaurants, and of il Buco Vita - her homewares line of Italian artisan tableware and antique decor. 

Keeping with the il Buco Family ethos, Donna’s partner, Alberto Avalle, and il Buco Vita co-founders Antonello & Lorenzo Radi, handpicked antique Italian furniture and fixtures to hone the island aesthetic. Communal tables, chairs, antique marble sinks, and outdoor furniture were selected for their worn patina and color. The Bevagna dishware collection was designed and custom-made by il Buco Vita. Bottega’s signature color, azure blue, accents the awning and details throughout the space, paying homage to the nearby sea. The restaurant has seating for 24 guests around vintage painted tables decorated with small vases filled with wildflowers and over 50 guests can be seated on the terrace outside. The restaurant is the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by under the Mediterranean blue skies. For more information, visit: www.bottegailbuco.com.