Sakumi: Ciutadella Harbour looks towards the Pacific and the Indic

Bep Al·lès/Ciutadella - Some restaurants arrive in a harbour simply to blend into the scenery; others set out to alter its rhythm ever so slightly. Sakumi, on Ciutadella’s Passeig des Moll, belongs to the latter category. In a setting where diners might expect fresh fish, lively terraces and the familiar rituals of the Mediterranean, this new restaurant introduces a cosmopolitan note: Nikkei cuisine, that fascinating crossroads between Japanese precision and the citrusy, spicy, colourful energy of Peru.

The concept comes with an appealing backstory: an international experience shaped far from Menorca —with Bali as a point of inspiration— now returning to the island to settle by the sea. That sense of travel runs through the restaurant’s gastronomic language. Sakumi does not aim to be just another sushi bar; it plays with nigiri, signature rolls, tiraditos, ceviches, gyoza and pokes, while also embracing a more Mediterranean, fire-led register with dishes cooked in the Josper. This is where the house may find its most interesting balance: not confining itself to an Asian repertoire, but allowing local produce and flame to complete the story.

Diners may come in search of the exotic, yet the restaurant seems intent on offering something more composed than mere surprise. When properly understood, Nikkei cuisine is not a parade of glossy sauces and decorative heat, but an architecture of contrasts: freshness, acidity, umami, restrained sweetness and texture. In this respect, the ceviches and tiraditos are the best measure of the house; the nigiri and rolls, its most immediate showcase; and the Josper, the promise of a cuisine with more depth than fashion.

Sakumi also plays an important card: its location. Dining in Ciutadella Harbour still carries a powerful emotional charge, especially as night falls and the boats, lights and passing crowds turn the waterfront into a small summer theatre. In this context, a Japanese-Peruvian proposal with a Menorcan soul can work beautifully for both visitors seeking a different address and locals eager to step outside the more predictable circuit.

This is not a restaurant for nostalgics of classic seafood cooking, but for open, curious palates willing to be led elsewhere. Sakumi arrives with the vocation of becoming a destination: a Nikkei stopover in the heart of the harbour.

Technical details

Restaurant: Sakumi Menorca
Cuisine: Nikkei, Japanese-Peruvian fusion
Address: Passeig des Moll, 80, Ciutadella Harbour, Menorca
Reservations: +34 971 940 352
Website: sakumimenorca.com
Atmosphere: Cosmopolitan and harbour-side, ideal for summer dinners or a special evening
For foodies: Ceviches, tiraditos, nigiri, signature rolls and Josper-grilled dishes
Estimated price: Around €30–50 per person depending on the order
Best time to go: Sunset or dinner, when the harbour becomes part of the experience