Club Náutic

Perched on the side of the marina with views out over the moored yachts, it lies just a few minutes walk from the heart of San Antonio, and therefore attracts a mixed crowd of locals, tourists, club members and sailors. This adds up to produce an effervescent atmosphere in the height of summer, when the venue is bustling throughout the day with a diverse crowd.

Club Náutic opens at 8am, welcoming the early-risers for a breakfast that will kick-start the day. From then until closing at 2am, an array of tapas is on offer at the bar, in addition to an extensive drinks menu which includes some of the most reasonable cocktails in town. The same mouth-watering menu is available at lunch and dinner, and so there can be no excuses for not dining here. Put simply, the food is sublime and should not be missed. Understated yet full of tempting choices, the menu is made up of typically Spanish dishes.

Mediterranean salads, lavish in parmesan and balsamic vinegar make up the majority of the starters, while the main courses are listed under meat, fish or paella. All fish on the menu had been bought from the local market that very morning, which was evident from the flaky texture and exquisite taste of the Cod Fillet with beetroot oil and asparagus. However, even this was surpassed by the Rack of Lamb, succulent and cooked to perfection in a coating of wholegrain mustard. For me desert was not an option, as to take away the savoury taste sensation of what we had just sampled would have been criminal, although I did note for next time that the Chocolate Coulant heading for a nearby table looked pretty tempting.

After this experience, I will be making sure that there is a next time. Under new management Restaurante Club Náutic is moving in the right direction, providing professional and friendly service to accompany top-quality food. Furthermore, for the wet-set community, arrangements can be made for this excellent cuisine to be enjoyed from the comfort of your boat.