Saturday 2 February 2008

An evening at the Javea Parador and Amarre 152

I started the evening by heading down to the Parador on the Arenal. It’s a great place to have an aperitif and watch the sun go down. Some people are put off going to the Parador thinking that it is for residents only, but that’s not the case. Although it wouldn’t win any architectural design awards (it looks like a 70’s concrete block from the outside), inside it is quite different.

The main lounge in the hotel is enormous and has a traditional style parquet floor about the size of a football pitch. The bar is smallish but looks onto the terraza which overlooks the gardens and views of the Arenal beach. By the side of the garden is the little inlet from the sea which leads to tonight’s restaurant, Amarre 152.

At the bottom of the garden there are some Roman remains from when the Roman commander of the region had a villa right on this point of Javea’s beach. Slightly hidden from view at the bottom, behind the tall palm trees is the mystery villa (more about that later), built for Franco’s Minister for Tourism.

Anyway, one gin and tonic later and we head out of the front door, cross the road and take the 2 minute stroll to the restaurant.

Amarre 152 looks onto the inlet from the sea where people dock their boats. It has apartment buildings above and around it but once you get to its terrace you feel like you are in a very quiet and sedate place. A gentle breeze comes off the river.

The linen is crisp, the cutlery heavy and the glassware very nice too. This sets the tone for the restaurant which offers very good service and perhaps the best food I have eaten in Javea.I would recommend going for the Menu Amarre (minimum 2 people) which involves you being served a succession of three starters which just get better and better. You then choose a main course from the menu. The meal ends with dessert, coffee and a cava sorbet. I’ve emailed the restaurant to ask for a menu to put up here.

In all, I guess you are looking at about £30 a head but it really is exceptional food. Good wine list, great service and unusual location – thoroughly recommended.

Contact Details: Restaurant Amarre 152, Puerto de la Fontana, 03730 Javea.
Tel: 96 5790629




You can see more Javea restaurant reviews at http://www.javeavillas.co.uk/javearestaurantreviews.htm