ANCALA – The New Dining Concept At The Beach, Sotogrande

Ancala, by Alberto Sarmiento, Executive Chef of La Reserva, is the new restaurant at The Beach, within the exclusive La Reserva Club. The Beach is a unique inland beach club, where guests can relax, socialise, and dine in a lagoon setting. The culinary creativity continues with the launch of ‘Après Beach’ where the destination will stay open later, so guests can enjoy the sunset, accompanied by DJ tunes and cocktails, as well as gastronomic tapas designed by Michelin-starred chef Rafel Muria.

Ancala, takes its name from Andalucian slang, evocative of the warmth and friendliness of Southern Spain. The menu is a reflection of Andalusian gastronomy with Nikkei influences.

Unveiling Ancala

During the launch event, The Luxury Editor indulged with a tasting menu of small plates that showcased the diversity and sophistication of the Ancala offering.

The new menu includes dishes using local produce, like aubergines and lettuce prepared on the grill, as well as creative summer dishes of paella with oxtail, a warm ‘ceviche’ of wagyu beef with a savoury corn ice cream, and Nikkei style plates including the scallop taco served on flavoursome shiso leaves and the sea bass tiradito.

Standout dishes also included tapas created by Chef Rafel Muria, such as the langoustine ravioli with foie and truffle sauce and the carabinero scarlet prawn served on a French-style Parmentier of potato.

Inland Oasis

The Beach is a marvel of contemporary engineering. Here one can dip your toes into the sand without even venturing to the seaside. Surrounded by a natural landscape of ancient olive and oak trees, The Beach is an artificial lagoon, complete with sandy shores, offering all the fun of the coast but within an exclusive environment complete with onsite water sports and of course gastronomic dining.

‘Après Beach’

For the 2024 season, The Beach is widening its appeal with the additional launch of ‘Après Beach’, the perfect way to end a day at The Beach with live DJs, signature cocktails and exceptional tapas created by Chef Rafa Muria.

You can read The Luxury Editor profile review of The Beach here.