Feature · Class & Villas

The classic beach bar, with the sound of the waves

On Avenida de Ultramar, where the La Caleta beach bar stood for decades, Grupo Cala Bandida has opened Caleta Bandida: sardines, fried fish and tapas to share, facing the Mediterranean.

Caleta Bandida calls itself an “uncomplicated chiringuito”: a place with no music, where the sound of the waves sets the pace from first thing in the morning. Tables are spread across a white terrace and under a reed pergola, right beside the rocky Montañar shoreline.

There are no bookings: you turn up, find a table and let the plan take shape, from breakfast to a long lunch.

Produce and Mediterranean classics

The food is built around good produce and familiar Mediterranean classics, with simple but well-executed cooking, in the group’s own words. Sardines have become a must on every table, alongside fried fish, tapas and dishes to share, and a cold beer to start the afternoon.

The La Caleta legacy

“La Caleta is part of Jávea’s history, and for us, as people from Jávea, it was very important to keep the essence that has made it such a beloved place. We want it to remain a traditional chiringuito, true to its origins,” says Lucas Gisbert, one of the partners of Grupo Cala Bandida.

Text by Class & Villas based on information published by Grupo Cala Bandida.