Food lovers visiting Ibiza in 2026 will know that over the past decade, the island’s gastronomy scene has become just as newsworthy as its headline-grabbing nightlife. And one exciting new arrival for this summer is contemporary French dining destination, Jaïs Ibiza.
Created by celebrated chef, Jaïs Mimoun, the chic garden restaurant is his first opening outside of France and brings his renowned interpretation of French gastronomy to the Balearic Islands.
Born in Paris, Chef Jaïs grew up in the restaurant world thanks to his parents, founders of the Moroccan restaurant Le Tagine in the 11th Arrondissement. After training in top Parisian kitchens including Le Bristol under Éric Frechon, he became head chef of Petit Tonneau at just 22 years of age. In 2012, he opened Le Petit Célestin with his brother Yanice, followed by Jaïs in 2016, a venue designed to fully express his culinary creativity. Following the success of Jaïs Ramatuelle and Jaïs Courchevel in 2025, the chef has big plans for 2026: the reopening of Jaïs Ramatuelle, the Le Petit Célestin rooftop at the KUBE in Saint-Tropez – and, of course, his first outpost in Spain, Jaïs Ibiza.
Always on the search for a new spot to enjoy with friends or on a romantic dinner date, we didn’t need asking twice when we were invited to experience the Jaïs magic for ourselves. So on a sultry July evening, we put on our breeziest-yet-elegant summer finery and headed towards San Jose on the long, famous road that connects Ibiza Town with the island’s South West.
Hidden behind traditional white-washed walls and shaded by a lush green roof of tree tops, we entered Jaïs Ibiza’s charming garden, decked out in an instantly recognisable blue and white colour theme. Amidst the somewhat overused boho aesthetic that dominates Ibiza’s eateries, it was refreshing to see the electric shade of blue pop against traditional white piping and the greenery of the garden – trés chic!
We started our night with a welcome cocktail, a zesty Tokyo Mule with yuzushu, Grey Goose vodka and tonic, and a delightfully smokey Paloma made with Patron Silver tequila, agave, lime juice and Thomas Henry Pink Grapefruit.
As refreshing as our aperitifs was the soundtrack, an irresistible mix of the greatest ‘80s pop and electro pop anthems – an unexpected but fun surprise.
Soaking up the glowing lights illuminating the dark foliage, cocktail in hand, we swayed on our chairs to the music while examining the menu.
Known globally for its refined blend of Parisian sophistication and vibrant, convivial atmosphere, Jaïs’ reimagined expression of French cuisine is shaped by Mimoun’s Moroccan heritage – and we were curious to see how this translated in this new, Mediterranean setting on a menu centred around exceptional seasonal ingredients, artistic presentation and modern creativity.
We didn’t need to wait long, as the first round of delectable plates arrived at our table. The silky Red Mullet and Tuna Carpaccios were just perfect for a warm summer’s night, offering tasty yet light bites to get us into the mood for more.
A bowl of fresh mussels soaked in an aromatic broth and topped with crunchy ‘salicornia’ tips paid homage to Ibiza’s famous seafood and native coastal ‘asparagus’, often found near the iconic Salinas beach and salt flats – the perfect start!
Waiting for our mains, we couldn’t help but admire the waiters’ cool Jaïs Ibiza uniforms, a classic white t-shirt with swirly blue illustrations on the back.
Having already spotted Chef Jaïs’ personalised chef’s jacket – with the cutest embroidery of a lobster spinning tunes in a DJ booth at a ‘Caviar Disco’ on the back – we’ve had to hand it to the French: they certainly do things with flair!
And with the luxury fish roe featuring heavily on some of the restaurants’ signature dishes, such as Linguine with Lemon and Trout Roe or the Paella Wagyu Cecina with Caviar, it’s certainly a fitting detail.
Onto our mains, and we swooned over a tender cut of veal and possibly the best piece of fish yours-truly has tasted: a grilled, meaty turbot fillet adorned in cherry tomato confit – truly ‘incroyable’.
Accompanied by a bowl of moreish mashed potatoes, we couldn’t ask for more; washing down the delights on the table with a crisp glass of Verdejo white wine from the expertly stocked onsite wine cellar.
Room for dessert? Always! The final surprise of the night arrived in the shape of the biggest slice of lemon tart we had ever seen, the zesty-sweet citrus and shortcrust base topped with an enormous cloud of toasted, caramelised meringue. Holding up the plate in delightful disbelief, it was literally bigger than my head.
Rounding off the night with a digestive glass of Hierbas Ibicencas on the rocks, we concluded that Jaïs Ibiza will surely claim its space amongst the island’s fine dining destinations – forging its own path by dancing to the beat of Chef’s own, irreverent drum.
Merci beaucoup!
Jaïs Ibiza is located at Crt Ibiza-Sant Josep, Km.3, 9, 07830 Ibiza. Follow on Instagram at @jaisibiza.
