The new restaurants at Hotel Mongibello, in the Siesta neighbourhood of Santa Eulalia, shy away from complex techniques and frills in favour of authentic, traditional Italian cooking. There are two dining areas at the hotel: Sorella Ristorante and Sorella Terrazza, and both are under the skilled leadership of Sicilian chef Francesco T. Leggio, while talented bartender Ilan Arca is in charge of cocktails. Get ready to enjoy the dolce vita in Ibiza!
Hotel Mongibello is an ode to the Amalfi Coast and the famous Ibiza of the ’60s and ’70s. It is a haven of hedonism set on Es Caló de S’Alga beach, where the hotel’s shades of blue and white melt into the Mediterranean. Sicilian Moorish heads, Gio Ponti-inspired ceramic floor tiles, and casual elegance in an idyllic setting... Every detail has been meticulously chosen to transport guests to another time and place, where enjoyment is the sole premise. Backed by these impressive credentials, Mongibello is ready for its second season with exciting fresh developments, including a new culinary adventure named Sorella. Dining options at the hotel are divided into two areas that are sisters, as their name suggests, each with its own personality.
Sorella Ristorante revives traditional flavours and products from the deepest roots of Italian cooking, and visitors enjoy dinner set to a backdrop of spectacular views and moonlight reflected on the sea. Francesco T. Leggio, the chef in charge of this new project, explains the ideas behind the concept: “We’ve fully immersed ourselves in tradition, using typical products from Italian cooking while still retaining a sense of originality. The hotel is inspired by Italian Neoclassicism, the dolce vita, Gio Ponti, the Amalfi Coast... From the beginning, we wanted Sorella to express the pure essence of Italy in a Mediterranean setting, and to make it a place where you enjoy the true Italian experience from start to finish, from the carbonara to the homemade tiramisù.”
Fresh cuisine with lightly cooked, uncomplicated dishes. Food at Sorella Ristorante skilfully combines products without ever losing sight of tradition, of that typical red and white checked tablecloth atmosphere. Sautés added to fresh pasta, tenderly cooked meat without too much sauce, carpaccio made from the highest quality ingredients... The intention is to serve genuine and original food without ornament or artifice. Tagliatelle with pistachio pesto, Ibizan red prawns and burrata, sea bass ravioli with cherry tomatoes, mussels and squid, pizzas cooked in the traditional Italian way, and the star dish, the delicious carbonara made with a slight variation: truffle. You can order it with or without truffle but we strongly recommend trying it with all the extras.
Leggio previously worked in the kitchens of several celebrated restaurants including El Celler de Can Roca in Girona (3 Michelin stars), Azurmendi in Bizkaia (also 3 Michelin stars), and La Trattoria Ai Normanni in Palermo. He then opened his own restaurant, L’Italiano di Noûs in Santiago de La Ribera (Murcia). He has lived in Ibiza for a year and a half and began his culinary adventures on the island at the Mediterranean Nobu, working as a sous-chef to make a place for himself in the island’s restaurant sector. He then joined the team behind the reopening of classic Ibizan restaurant Sa Capella under its new management, before moving to Mongibello. “This project is really special for many reasons, including the chance to do what I like best, unpretentious cooking, where what matters most is the freshness of the product and traditional, unfussy techniques. Being able to do it in such a special and unique place on the island is a true privilege.”
Sorella Terrazza has a more casual, fresh menu with dishes that can be enjoyed at any time of day. Top quality local produce is the focus in a space that has been designed so diners can enjoy the sea and wonderful hotel pool before tucking into delicious corvina ceviche, tuna tartar, seasonal salads, or carpaccio prepared from the catch of the day.
Ilan Arca is in charge of cocktails, and this gifted Venezuelan bartender trained at COYA restaurant in Barcelona. Cocktails at Sorella Ristorante and Terrazza have the essence of the Mediterranean and are inspired by typical Italian aperitifs and spirits, combined with fresh, summer fruits. You’ll find essential classics on the menu, such as the Negroni, which also comes in a tropical version made with Italian bitters fat washed with coconut at a low temperature. The drinks are simply irresistible, and perfectly complement the spectacular, authentic Italian food.
Mongibello is back in style for its second season and ready to revolutionise the island with its Ibizan dolce vita and the flavours of traditional Italian cooking at Sorella.