Summer by the Sea by Katherine Brook
Have you even been to Marbella if you haven’t visited La Sala by the Sea? Sun, cocktails, exciting gastronomy, a pool to take a dip in when the heat gets too much, and a DJ playing beats that will have your foot tapping (or hips moving) - I can now officially say, ‘I’ve been to Marbs’.
After being closed for so long due to the pandemic, it was great to see the beach club thriving once again. Beds were full, with friends and families soaking up the sunshine, enjoying the music and relaxed vibe of the beach club.
In the restaurant, guests were taking respite under the canopies, sipping on fancy cocktails or enjoying food from La Sala’s extensive menu.
My friend and I were seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant, perfectly placed between the DJ and the bar, with views of the sea.
The nice thing about coming to a beach club for lunch is that it’s much more relaxed than some other restaurants and this feeling captures you the moment you walk in; you wouldn’t feel out of place in flip flops or over-dressed in heels - I went for wedges.
The menu is strongly influenced by Asian and Thai food, with a few typical hearty dishes too like the Club Sandwich, Beer Battered Fish and Chips, and Buddha Burger - they may sound mainstream but expect only the best from La Sala.
To start, we shared the Sala Prawn Shots, tempura prawns served with three dipping sauces: soy and ginger, sweet chilli, and cucumber vinegar. They were lightly coated in panko breadcrumbs and you could tell they were fresh from the day’s catch - it was hard to share.
Other starters include Grilled Chicken Satay, traditional Prawns Pil Pil and of course the famous SHWINGS Chicken Wings, whose secret recipe comes all the way from the UK.
Larger plates range from sharing salads to platters of sushi.
We decided to go for the Pad Thai, with chicken and prawns, Crispy Duck Pancakes, and Mixed Sushi Platter - the perfect sharing spread.
The Pad Thai was both sweet and sour at the same time, with the delicate heat of chilli running through. The vegetables were crunchy, prawns juicy and the crushed peanuts on top added a lovely contrasting texture.
I was pleasantly surprised by the duck pancakes, which arrived deconstructed, with the soft pancakes served in a wicker box and crispy duck on the side.
We piled the pancakes high, drowning the duck in the homemade hoisin sauce, before topping them with finely sliced cucumber and spring onions for a refreshing crunch.
The sushi was up there with some of the best, delicately sliced fish, perfectly rolled rice and of course, fresh wasabi and pickled ginger to bring the whole thing together.
Our platter had a mixture of tuna, salmon and crab, mostly rolls and some nigiri - it was a fight for the last piece.
Pudding was a mashup of two of my favourite things: cookies and brownies. La Sala calls it the ‘Brookie’. Basically, a warm gooey brownie with a soft chocolate chip cookie baked onto the top.
It came with a hot caramel sauce, which when poured on top, soaked through the layers creating a truly indulgent treat.
A few spoonfuls of this and a little vanilla ice cream (which came on the side), and you’re ready to spend the next few hours in a delightful food coma on the sunbeds - but maybe a cocktail for the ‘road’ isn’t a bad idea either.
Made fresh by the talented mixologists, you can get everything from a Strawberry Daiquiri to a Porn Star Martini. Or try their unique specialties like the Sala Cosmopolitan or BUDDHA on the Beach.
If wine’s more your thing, there’s an extensive wine list featuring favourites like Albariño, Pouilly-Fumé and Whispering Angel or treat yourself and go for some bubbles.
Beyond the restaurant’s wonderful food, La Sala by the Sea also has a spa area and there are even masseurs available to knead all your stresses away.
Keep an eye out for their award-worthy Pool Parties too. Beach days just just better!
@lasalabythesea | lasalabythesea.com
