As our first guests of the summer arrive at La Veranda, they鈥檒l be arriving to more than just a beautifully set terrace on the Mediterranean 鈥 they鈥檒l be arriving to a story. A story of long days spent in extensive tastings, of thoughtful choices never taken lightly, always moving towards one single purpose: the creation of something special. La Veranda is not just for breakfast. This is a dream come true, made with heart, designed with love, and served with a sense of purpose.
It wasn鈥檛 long ago that the idea came into being, a revelation, a silent vision: a place where mornings are soft, mindful, and harmonious with nature. It took only two months from the time of the first sketch to positioning the last piece of furniture. But those weeks were a whirlwind of passion, persistence, and dozens of decisions. It all began with a single question: 鈥淲hat do we want people to feel when they sit inside La Veranda?鈥 And the answer was immediate 鈥 warmth, simplicity, and a quiet joy. All that we did was circular to that.
Design with Intention
We knew from the beginning that we didn鈥檛 want something flashy, or so designed as to seem overwrought. We aimed for timeless simplicity 鈥 natural textures, soft earthy hues, and a design that encourages you to pause and inhale.
Rather than flowers or decorative vases, we decorated the room with metallic glazed, handmade, ceramic pomegranates, which are a traditional Spanish symbol of abundance. The import of the gifts he brought was subtle and highly symbolic, faintly woven all through the set, hinting at generosity and earth鈥檚 quiet largesse.
We thought through everything 鈥 how the tableware would feel in your hands, how the light in the morning would be coming across your seat. Everything was selected to provide a grounded, calming way to begin the day.
The Menu: Crafted with Love
The menu was perhaps the most fun 鈥 and most challenging 鈥 aspect of the process. We edited and recombined everything on the menu. The pancakes needed to be somehow airy but also filling. We scoured the earth for the best olive oil out there and we鈥檙e seriously proud of what we brought back.
And then, there鈥檚 the bread 鈥 fresh each morning from village bakers in the neighboring town of Finestrat. It is the spirit of the region that it carries and before we even realized, it became the soul of our table.
We didn鈥檛 need fancy dishes. We longed for honest food 鈥 something warm, nourishing, made with love. Friends, colleagues, and family desisted testing any part of every form. We watched not for accolades, but for that brief silence after something tastes just so.
People and Partnerships
None of this, of course, would have been possible solo. We collaborated closely with local tradesmen, farmers, builders, and designers. Some days flowed effortlessly and left us feeling invigorated; others served up the same old challenges 鈥 delays, doubts, decisions re-scrambled four times over.
But the support never went away. Each contributor left something behind 鈥 an idea that became a defining dish, a sketch that determined the flow of the room, a personal touch that now greets every guest.
The Final Touches
The final weeks leading up to the opening were a whirlwind. Every little thing was tuned and retuned, checked against our initial vision 鈥 a place where everything comes together in a continuous flow. It was a time of deep focus, camaraderie, and the dawning realisation that we were on the verge of the start of something beautiful.
A New Beginning
Now, La Veranda is ready 鈥 less a restaurant than the refuge of slow mornings. A place where guests can start the day gently, hidden from the madness of the world, hearing the birdsong and breathing in the aroma of fresh bread.
In the distance, on our terrace, I can see the imposing summit of Puig Campana 鈥 a mountain shrouded in legend. The sun sets where it does, people from Dominica say, because a giant once kicked a piece out of that very mountain and into the sea, making a path for the light to travel. It鈥檚 a lovely reminder of what we see every morning here 鈥 golden light that floods through the valley, as if nature had woken up slow in this spot.
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 till 12:30
We welcome you to drop in and sip from the hush, secret spell of the morning. From the very beginning, to the long conclusion at the plate, La Veranda has been a love letter to hospitality 鈥 and we鈥檙e not only proud of what we鈥檝e created, but how we went about bringing it to life.
Now we can鈥檛 wait to welcome you all in.
Partida Les Arenetes 14, Finestrat 03509
Tel: 692 886 439