This summer, there has been a new addition to the Balearic Islands — Urusai,  a Japanese izakaya, opened on the island of Ibiza in June. Izakaya is similar to a traditional Japanese bar where alcoholic drinks are served with affordable snacks and dishes. In English, izakaya is translated as a “dine-in sake shop” where guests eat, drink and have fun. The difference between izakaya and a bar is izakaya patrons get a stream of dishes, usually shared, and the customers at izakaya get to interact with each other more often.

© Victor Jacques Sebban

El Silencio beach club in Ibiza; the Onii group; and noted Thailand-born, Tokyo-educated  architect Kulapat Yantrasast worked together to bring Izakaya Iberica to the beach of Cala Moli within El Silencio beach club. The result is a beautiful setting, blending certain architectural flourishes as a gesture to Ibiza’s beautiful terrain, and to the tradition of the historic Japanese kissaten shop, originally small tea-shops that these days seem to sell more coffee.

Urusai is, above all, a culinary experience led by Arthur Cohen and Olivier Leone, friends who are well-known in Paris and Ibiza’s hospitality business. At Urusai Ibiza they offer a menu inspired by their two Japanese dining venues in Paris: Ojii and Onii-San. The chefs of these establishments Taku Yuji Mikurya (Ojii) and Romain Littière (Onii-San) offer their izakaya-style cuisine in Ibiza’s new Urusai through different plates to share: toro carpaccio and Akami ikejime; the famous Sando toro from Onii-san; sobas with roja prawns and pistachios; a sirloin of rubia gallega matured for six weeks and grilled with an excellent Japanese charcoal called binchotan; and lots more. It is a creative menu highlighting and honoring the island’s flavors through the famous izakaya style.

© Victor Jacques Sebban

Additionally, the drinks menu offers exceptional sake, as well as cocktails with Japanese ingredients and ultra-sourced wines by Anabelle Berthelemot. Urusai is a sanctuary inviting its guests to relax and savor the cuisine and the atmosphere while admiring the sunset of Cala Moli, a timeless beachside experience.