Eating, drinking and dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Ibiza, Balearic Islands.
Restaurants
Es Bigote
El Bigote ("the moustache") refers to the proprietor of this beach-shack restaurant overlooking a bay with crystal-clear water and first-class snorkelling. You have to make a reservation in person (there is no phone) a day in advance before being allowed to eat the fish you catch, washed down with jugfuls of local wine.
Cala Mastella, north-east coast, near San Carlos
Es Torrent
Located in a beautiful bay near Porroig, this restaurant does excellent seafood. Book a week in advance in summer and order your fish the day before.
C/ Porroig, Sant Josep
(+34 971 802 160)
The Jockey Club
An informal brasserie on a beautiful beach, popular all year round thanks to its fresh fish, good music and international menu. Bring a yacht – everyone else seems to.
Las Salinas, Sant Josep
(+34 971 395 788)
La Brasa
For dinner, this place serves local dishes in a gorgeous courtyard garden backing on to the city ramparts; ask for a table amid the fronds of banana plants
Carre Pere Sala 3, Ibiza Town
(+34 971 301202)
El Ayoun
The atmosphere in this restaurant’s dining room, lounge and terrace garden is a cool Moroccan Arabian Nights-style.
Calle Isidor, Macabich, San Rafael Centre
(+34 971 198 335)
L’Elephant
An elegant dining room with wonderful views of Old Ibiza Town from the terraces and rooftop bar. The French cuisine is as stylish as the crowd this restaurant attracts.
Plaza Inglesia, San Rafael
(+34 971 19 80 56)
Las Dos Lunas
An exclusive restaurant, much favoured by the Spanish jet set. Upscale Italian cooking, done with some panache. But, outrageously, menus offered to female diners omit prices!
Carretera Eivissa-Sant Antoni 5.4km, 07816 Sant Rafel
(+34 97 1198 102)
Macao Café
At the far end of the Marina in Ibiza Town, this stylish waterfront bar is popular at sunset and has a good reputation for serving delicious seafood and Italian dishes. Booking is essential.
Plaza Sa Riba 10, Ibiza Town
(+34 971 314 707)
Cafés
El Chiringuito
A beach cafe that caters to a clientele requiring being waited on hand and foot; snacks from the varied, Mediterranean menu are brought to the sunloungers. Playa des Cavallet is a nudist beach.
Playa des Cavallet, Ibiza
(+34 971 395 355)
Café Benirràs
This popular Italian café on the hippie-fied Benirràs beach is one of the island's most spectacular spots for watching the sunset.
Benirràs beach, Northern tip of the island, near Port de San Miquel
Montesol
Located in a grand, colonial-style hotel, this is the perfect spot to sit and watch the world go by.
Paseo Vara de Rey, Ibiza Town
(+34 971 31 01 61)
Bon Lloc
A traditional roadside tapas bar that serves authentic Ibizan dishes and is particularly popular at breakfast and lunchtime.
Nuestra Señora de Jesus
(+34 971 311 813)
Bars and clubs
KM5
This popular venue is decked out with Bedouin tents and loungers, KM5 is so-called because it’s around 5km out of Ibiza Town on the road to San José. It bills itself as ‘the perfect escape from the craziness of Ibiza’s pounding club culture’.
5km down the road from Ibiza Town to San Jose
(+34 971 396 349)
Base Bar
Get the lowdown on the best parties over cocktails in this cool, waterside hangout, before boarding the Disco Bus.
Carre Cipriano Garijo 16, Ibiza Town
(+34 971 317 786)
Pacha
This enormous, 3,000-capacity club/worldwide brand that is celebrating its 40th anniversary somehow manages to retain a cosy, intimate vibe.
Avda 8 d'Agost, Ibiza town
(+34 971 31 36 12)
Amnesia
Another Ibiza super-club, gay night on Wednesdays is one of the best parties on the island, possibly the world.
Ctra. San Antonio, San Rafael
(+34 971 198 041)
Privilege
The biggest nightclub in the world with a 25 metre-high ceiling, huge indoor pool and windows offering a view over the island. Most people don’t come here for the views though.
On the main road, halfway between Ibiza Town and San Antonio, on the opposite side from San Rafael.
(+34 971 198 160)
Space
One of the original Ibiza super-clubs, established in 1989 and the first to open on Sunday nights and in the morning when other clubs had shut. It is located right under the flight path of planes landing at Ibiza Airport.
Playa D'en Bossa, Ibiza
(+34 971 315 127)
DC10
In a former airport hangar, a stone’s throw from the runway of Ibiza Airport. It's a covered terrace with a sideroom that squeezes in 1,500 clubbers for its wild all-day Monday Circo Loco parties. Bring sun cream.
Carretera de las Salinas KM1