There are plans that, in themselves, herald the arrival of summer. Sitting by the sea, sharing a good meal, and letting time pass without looking at the clock is one of them. Few invitations spark as much enthusiasm as a simple, “Want to go to the beach bar?” A ritual that Rafa Zafra, chef of Casa Jondal (Ibiza), summed up with an anecdote when accepting the Best Beach Bar 2026 award: “I always say that when you go to a restaurant and the table isn’t ready and it takes five minutes, everyone gets angry. But when you go to a beach bar and your table isn’t ready and they tell you it’ll be half an hour, and that in the meantime you should have a beer, people are super relaxed, with happy faces, because there’s no rush to eat in a place like that.”
This spirit – of taking the time to enjoy and making time part of the experience – was the central theme of the latest edition of the Best Chiringuito Awards, organized by Tapas Magazine. This award recognizes those establishments that have succeeded in taking beachside dining to the next level, combining culinary excellence, a unique identity, and a close connection with their surroundings.
With the Mediterranean as a backdrop and just as the sun was setting, The Sea Garden at Barcelona’s Marina Port Vell hosted a gala that brought together personalities from the worlds of gastronomy, fashion, music, and culture in an impressive maritime setting.
Hosted by Ares Teixidó, the ceremony brought together personalities such as Aleesha Rose, Dominnico, Rubearth, Daniel Horvath, Mar Vallverdú, Andrea Grandrom, Álex Gibert, and the founders of Susmie’s, as well as numerous guests who enjoyed an evening full of networking, toasts, and the relaxed atmosphere characteristic of the Mediterranean summer.
With the support of Honda Automóviles España, Cointreau, Btravel, Pago, Solero by Frigo Helados and Healthy Poke, With the support of Honda Automóviles España, Cointreau, Btravel, Pago, Solero by Frigo Helados, and Healthy Poke, Tapas Magazine has once again traveled the entire Spanish coast to compile its selection of the 25 Best Chiringuitos in Spain 2026, a list that recognizes establishments that stand out for the quality of their cuisine, their service, their respect for local products, and an experience that goes beyond the table.
The evening’s culinary offering, prepared by Sibaris Catering, captured this Mediterranean spirit through a cocktail reception that included dishes such as tuna marinated in almond horchata and caviaroli, a small bread roll with anchovies from L’Escala, a sea urchin brioche, a red shrimp farcelle, or octopus a feira, before finishing the meal with a sweet touch of a salted caramel éclair, crema catalana, and lemon pie.
A tour of the best beach bars in Spain
Before revealing the winner’s name, the gala reviewed the history of an award that, since 2021, has established itself as a benchmark for coastal gastronomy. Having previously honored Azul Sunset Point, MariCarmen Casa Playa, La Luna, Ultramar Begur, and Balneario de los Baños del Carmen, this year the award has added Casa Jondal to a list of winners that brings together some of the most outstanding establishments on the Spanish coast.
The ceremony also served to present the list of the ’25 Best Beach Bars in Spain 2026′, compiled by Tapas Magazine. This list reflects the current boom in beachside gastronomy in our country and features establishments spread across Andalusia, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Galicia, the Basque Country, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands. Among them are Balearri (Getaria), Bésame Mucho (Tenerife), Beso Beach (Formentera), Casa Jondal (Ibiza), Casa Playa (Tenerife), Casanis La Plage and Chambao (Marbella), El Bigotes and Es Fumeral (Ibiza), Kauai Gavà Mar (Barcelona), La Loma (Cádiz), La Milla (Marbella), La Pelosa (Roses), Lobito de Mar (Ibiza), Meloxeira Praia and Náutico de San Vicente (O Grove), Moments Bar (Alicante), Nahú Beach (Cádiz), Oasis (Fuengirola), Punta Roca (Castelldefels), Sol Cala Saona (Formentera) and Xiringuito Escribà (Barcelona), among others.
“At Tapas, we have been recognizing the chiringuitos from all over Spain for six years – 150 in total,” explained Ignacio Quintana, CEO of Spain Media, at the start of the gala. Quintana also recalled the work that Tapas magazine has been carrying out over the last decade, giving prominence to the world of gastronomy from the perspective of lifestyle magazines. And before announcing the night’s winner, he recalled how he first developed his passion for culinary culture with his feet in the sand. “When I was a kid and we were at the beach, every summer my father would say, ‘It’s twelve o’clock, Angelus time, let’s go to the beach bar.’ And that’s how I discovered that midnight was a fantastic time to go to the beach bar and start enjoying the day.”
The most anticipated moment of the evening arrived with the announcement of the Best Chiringuito 2026. Amid the anticipation of the attendees and after the screening of a video dedicated to the project, Casa Jondal – the Ibizan restaurant run by Rafa Zafra and Ricardo Acquista – was declared the winner of this sixth edition. The chef then took the stage to accept an award recognizing a very distinctive approach to seafood cuisine.
“First of all, I would like to thank Tapas Magazine for this recognition, not only for supporting restaurants, but also for supporting beach bars, which I believe are the most pleasant way to eat outdoors,” began Rafa Zafra, before explaining where his love for this type of establishment comes from. “I think I became a chef because my parents would take me to eat at La Carihuela, a beach bar, and it was there that I discovered the pleasure and enjoyment not only of the food, but also of the atmosphere of a beach restaurant.”
In his words of thanks, the chef recalled that when he opened Estimar Barcelona and Estimar Madrid, he was asked in an interview what his next dream would be. “I answered that I would like to serve the food exactly as I do in Barcelona and Madrid, but with the pleasure of being able to enjoy that atmosphere, that breeze, and that sea, with my feet in the sand.”
Said and done. Cala Jondal is Rafa Zafra’s dream come true. A dream made possible thanks to the efforts of a great team. “I think this award is for the 150 people who work at Jondal. Restaurants don’t belong to the people who put in the money or the recipe; they belong to the people who put in their heart and soul. There are 150 people feeding 500 or 600 people every day, working like horses, and they have a sensitivity and warmth that make a dream come true.” And before retiring to a standing ovation, he declared, “It’s a source of pride that Jondal has won this award and that we are part of this circuit.”
The essence of the Mediterranean, served on the sand
Some restaurants stand out for their cuisine, while others manage to define a place. Casa Jondal belongs to the latter category. Located in Cala Jondal, in the south of Ibiza, Rafa Zafra’s project has successfully reinterpreted the traditional beach bar, transforming it into one of the Mediterranean’s leading gastronomic destinations, where fine dining coexists with the simplicity of eating with your feet in the sand.
The restaurant’s philosophy is centered on absolute respect for the product. Wild fish, seasonal seafood, and daily-selected ingredients take center stage on a menu where technique complements, but never eclipses, the ingredients. The market sets the rhythm of the kitchen, and each dish – whether grilled, raw, cured, or perfectly fried – aims to enhance the flavor without any artificial touches.
This approach to gastronomy has made Casa Jondal one of Ibiza’s most coveted restaurants and a benchmark for those seeking an experience where the surroundings, service, and cuisine are part of a single narrative. It is no surprise, then, that the restaurant was also awarded one of Tapas magazine‘s ‘T de Oro’ awards in the Balearic Islands, a recognition that already foreshadowed the place it now holds within Spanish gastronomy.
Casa Jondal’s selection as the Best Chiringuito 2026 confirms this trajectory and adds the restaurant to a list of winners that, since 2021, has recognized the establishments that best represent the evolution of beachside dining in Spain. This award demonstrates that the beach bar is no longer just a symbol of summer, but has also become a gastronomic destination in its own right.