Noura x ME Ibiza
There are plenty of reasons to spend a few relaxing days at ME Ibiza, including its vast turquoise pool, the newly opened Thai Room Spa & Wellness, the magical sunsets in the bay of Santa Eulària des Riu, the comfortable and quiet rooms, the rooftop with its infinity pool, and now the delectable Lebanese delights brought by the acclaimed restaurant Noura. Noura has arrived in Spain with ME by Meliá following its successes in Paris, Cannes, and Monte Carlo. ‘Noura’ means ‘light’ in Arabic, and this is perfectly reflected in the restaurant’s ambiance. Just a few steps from the beach, the restaurant features a terrace area, a bar, and an open indoor space facing the sea, gardens, and main pool, where Mediterranean light fills every corner. Noura’s cuisine is Lebanese, using local and organic ingredients. It sounds delightful and tastes even better.
During the day, Noura shines under the summer sun, but it’s equally recommended to enjoy the sunset from one of its tables. This is exactly what I did, glass of (Lebanese) wine in hand, as the first dishes were served. Lebanese cuisine is one of the most celebrated Mediterranean cuisines, known for its delicious mezzes and masterful use of spices. A great way to experience it is by ordering a variety of dishes to share. We started with traditional appetizers like hummus, mutabal, and tabbouleh, followed by dishes such as Labneh Bottarga (soft cheese with fried artichoke and lime zest), Cheese Rikakat (fried cow cheese pastry), and Kebbe (fried meatballs of marinated beef and lamb). For the main course, we enjoyed roasted cod with vegetable ratatouille and slightly spiced pil pil sauce, and a meat grill with chicken, kefta (spiced minced meat skewers), and lamb marinated with lemon, all served with tarator sauce (made with tahini).
These dishes and more are part of a menu that is perfect for a first-time visit to the restaurant. For dessert, we chose from options like Lebanese ice cream with rose, pistachio, and milk cream, traditional Lebanese pastries, and Lebanese red fruit pudding flavored with orange blossom. We opted for the ice cream, all three flavors were delicious, especially the rose. Thus, a visit to Noura is highly recommended, whether you are staying at ME Ibiza or just visiting the island, as the restaurant is open to non-guests as well. It’s an ideal spot for tapas by the pool or a dinner under a reddish sky at sunset.