Bikini Beach, Sal, Cape Verde

Hidden from the public on a stretch of white sandy beach, exclusive to guests of the neighbouring hotels awaits Bikini Beach: a beach club which prides itself on being 'built 40 metres into the Atlantic Ocean'. The club plays host to a pool party Friday and a Sunday brunch, which is great if you fancy a livelier change to the hotel in which you are staying along the beachfront. Other days' events include a HipHop/R&B theme, as well as a 'Sushi Lovers' day. However if you fancy a nice evening meal, different from the all-inclusive please-everyone food, Bikini Beach is a must... It has two outdoor bars, as well as plenty of seating to allow you to enjoy an evening under the stars. Inside there is also lots of seating, where you can indulge in the delights from their menu.

Cured Jamon wrapped Croquetas

The dinner menu had a varied range, if not a bit seafood-led, what with fishing being a main trade on the Atlantic island. There were a number of fish-themed starters including prawn cocktail, as well more wide-reaching tastes such as beef carpaccio and ‘cured jamon wrapped croquetas’. The mains, again, had a number of seafood-inspired delights such as salmon-en-croute or a lobster roll. There were, however, options for the meat-eaters among us, myself included: fillet steak or half a peri-peri chicken, to suggest a few. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to vegetarians due to the lack of options, however they did offer fresh avocado pasta as a main. The menu also offers lunch deals, which in my opinion are best enjoyed with an ice cold (alcoholic) drink during one of the pool parties. However, I digress – this may be covered in another post.

For starters we each had a portion of ‘cured jamon wrapped croquetas’ – aka ham croquettes. Although tasty, they were nothing special – merely Parma ham wrapped around a battered croquette. Nonetheless, I would recommend these as the potato was fluffy and light, and the ham wasn't overpowering. What was special were our mains. Between us, we opted for 'The Big Bikini Beef Ribs', which were described as 'fall off the bone', served with a generous helping of fries, corn and salad. Now, personally, when I think of a food being described as 'fall off the bone' I think that it will be tender and soft, taking a little persuasion to come away from the bone. I did not, however, imagine the rib to be picked up and witness the meat literally sliding down the bone and back on to the plate. This could have made a humorous evening had we lifted the bone and the meat fall down our outfits of the evening, alas it wasn't to be! The meat was succulent and soft, and full of flavour. The fries, corn and side salad were a nice accompaniment, although the salad may have been slightly larger than strictly necessary. The 'Ultimate Fillet Bikini Burger' was served with prosciutto ham, mushroom and melted brie. Again the meat was soft, and the bun slightly crispy- enough so that it didn’t turn soggy when the meat juices ran. The brie complimented the softness of the meat – if you know your cheese like we do, you’ll understand brie isn’t easy to melt, and yet it was done so beautifully… enough to get a bite each time, but not leave you with sticky fingers. We accompanied our meal with fruity cocktails.

The service at Bikini Beach was quick and polite (we were one of the only tables in there as it was midweek and early evening), and the food brought out piping hot. Our only delay being that our server did take a while to bring out the bill at the end of the evening, however this was then swiftly dealt with before we moved outside to the bar, and the language issue was a mere hiccup, nevertheless we quickly overcame this. The whole evening cost €88, which, given the location, exclusivity and the quality of food, was justifiable even if you are staying at an all-inclusive hotel.

Overall, I think Bikini Beach is a tropical little gem along the coast of Sal island, and a must visit for all who stay there, even if just for one of their cocktails. After you've finished your food, you are then able to go out on to the veranda and enjoy drinks under the stars. A wonderful place to go for all guests of Sal, Cape Verde…

Location: 5/5

Menu: 4/5

Food + Drink: 4.5/5

Service: 3.5/5

Total: 17/20