Party or Peace: How To 'Do Ibiza'
An island where heavenly days melt seamlessly into heady nights...
Ibiza may be notorious for its debauched parties and growing numbers of super-clubs, but the island hasn’t lost its soul yet...
With stunning sunsets, scintillating beaches and shameless hedonism, Ibiza is an island where heavenly days melt seamlessly into heady nights – it’s no wonder millions of visitors travel to the island each summer!
Regardless of motive, Ibiza offers something for everyone – so here's our travel guide on how to get the best from this sparkling gem in the Med.
Where to stay:
Hotel MiM Es Vivé
Fresh from a €2.5m renovation this year, this art deco boutique hotel between Ibiza Town and Playa d’en Bossa offers a quiet place to rest with easy access to the island’s nightlife. The rooftop terrace facing Formentera is the perfect spot for an aperitif, including the best late night espresso martinis.Prices From €120, http://www.hotelmimibiza.com
Pure House Ibiza
For utter relaxation, head for Pure House Ibiza, located just ten minutes from the centre of Ibiza town. With only 4 rooms and an adults-only ethos, this chilled-out oasis is a little slice of unspoilt heaven, ideal for escaping from the rest of the world.Prices From €210, http://www.purehouseibiza.com
Hotel Gatzara
The locals refer to Santa Gertrudis as Ibiza’s Notting Hill; inventive vegan restaurants, hippy-bling boutiques and yummy mummies in expensively-cut batik. Gatzara, located in the middle of the village, overlooks a square that buzzes with life. A cool, clean space with white walls and Nordic-influenced bleached-pine woodwork, the hotel boasts elegance and sophistication.Prices From €150, http://www.hotelgatzaraibiza.com
Where to eat:
Breakfast
If you’ve had a heavy night, nurse yourself back to life at The Skinny Kitchen in San Antonio. The menu is packed full of delicious and hearty meals, including filthy fry-ups or healthy protein bowls, pancakes and skinny burgers.Lunch
Embrace Spanish tradition and enjoy a late afternoon lunch. Yemanja on Cala Jondal and Beachouse in Playa d’en Bossa are both great options for this. Order a jug of Sangria, sink your feet into the sand and watch the hours pass by – there’s no point rushing when the rest of the island is taking a siesta anyway. For a lighter meal, head to Passion Café (there are several). Fusing pomegranate and pistachio, quinoa and avocado, the cafe's menu is bursting with goodness. It’s fast-paced and very casual – most customers dine in their bikinis!Dinner
Get your glad rags on and head to Nobu in Talamanca for the best black miso cod you'll ever taste. Check out newly opened Izakaya for Japanese fusion cuisine served with a dollop of Dutch cool; or keep it low-key at El Chiringuito by Night by night on Es Cavallet, where a starlit sky and the sound of tumbling waves create the ambience for a romantic feast. If you are going to "do Ibiza" properly then STK is not one to miss off the list. While you sit comfortably in seductive lighting, indulging in lobster and truffle mac and cheese, you can watch dancers float and shimmy between the tables while guest DJs keep the energy high.Where To Drink:
No trip to Ibiza is complete without ticking off a quintessential sunset, and nowhere does that better than La Torre in Cap Negret, where nature’s finest moment is sound-tracked by the hypnotic purr of Balearic beats. In Ibiza town, you’re spoilt for choice with an abundance of first-rate bars. Tira Palla, a rooftop favourite has arguably the island’s best Mojitos and unbeatable views of the bustling town below. In Figueretas, cocktail connoisseurs make a beeline for Baboon, a bar that houses expert mixologists who’ve honed their skills across the globe and no trip to Ibiza would be complete without a drink at the iconic Café Mambo, which has become known as the sunset strip in San Antonio.Where to Party:
A mecca for the musically minded, there are no shortage of venues for the techno-loving, dance music enthusiasts among you. As the oldest club on the island, Pacha still draws a massive crowd, particularly on Sunday nights. Elsewhere, Monday nights at Amnesia are unmissable or you can also start the week with at DC10, which remains one of the island’s most respected underground parties. For an alfresco festival vibe and the biggest EDM stars head to Ushuaïa in Playa d’en Bossa. If daytime partying and champagne popping is your thing, you can’t go wrong with Blue Marlin, playground of the ostentatiously rich and famous. If you do decide to go to San Antonio (prepare yourself) then make sure that you book a bed at Ocean Beach to get yourself into the spirit. Nobody can truthfully say they don’t enjoy lounging in the Balearic sunshine with their best trunks on, drinking cocktails and watching minor celebs dancing in a swimming pool.
Where To Beach:
There’s no lack of beautiful beaches in the Balearics. There are actually more than 50 that hug Ibiza’s coastline, so it’s well worth setting aside time to hunt out your favourite collision of sea and sand. Formentera is the smallest of Spain’s Balearic islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s reachable by ferry from Ibiza Town and makes for a popular day-trip destination. It’s known for its clear waters and long stretches of beach backed by dunes and pine trees. Aguas Blancas - Sant Carles. A small beach with rugged cliffs and clear shallow waters, Aguas Blancas is the perfect spot for some swimming. Watch out for the nudists! Cala Bassa - Sant Antonio Bay. White sand, a shady pine forest and headlands that stick up in the sea. The rocky coves can be discovered on foot. You can reach the beach by car, or by ferry from San Antonio.
