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Spain
Bar Leon is a delightful little bar on the busy Calle de la Virgen (the street sign uses the Catalan name Carrer de le Mare de Deu) in Sa Penya, Ibiza Town. You're guaranteed a warm welcome from Erwin and his dog Jimmy, when you sit down outside the bar and watch the world go by. By day this street is dead, but at about 10pm lots of bars like this spring up with tables outside and lots of atmosphere. If you buy a bottle of water, give the bottle to Jimmy once you've finished with it - water bottles are his favourite toys! By far the most charming bar on Ibiza.
Calle de la Virgen (Carrer de la Mare de Deu) 62, 07800 Ibiza. www.bar-leon.de
A hidden beach that's a perfect chillout.
One of the most beautiful and secluded beaches on the island - and yet it's just around the corner from San Antonio. A nice little bar with very reasonable (if simple) food, clean sand and beautiful water. It's not exactly a secret, but is never crowded even in peak season despite its small size. The other sun worshippers are usually Spanish or Italian, and you'll be very unlikely to find noisy gangs of Brits. Good for families as well. When you get off the taxi boat you'll be at the Aquarium which is also beautiful and well worth a look.
Take a taxi boat from San Antonio for a few Euros, or it's probably walkable. Take a taxi to Hotel Tanit and walk towards the sea
A beautiful bar just along the coast from the Sunset Strip. Great cocktails, good cheap food, a pool (with twice weekly foam parties) and fantastic music. The 'secret' parties are legendary. It has sun-loungers available for free, live football on an indoor big screen (great if you're away during the World Cup) and the best atmosphere of any of the San Antonio bars during the day. This is where the island's workers often go to chill out. Also hosts pre-parties for some of the big club nights.
Calle Soledad 53, Calo des Moro beach. It's orange canopy is easily visible from Cafe Mambo etc if you look along the coast away from San Antoni. Next door to Coastline Cafe/Sunsea Bar;
www.ibiza-kanya.com
This auction house-cum-bar is in an artisan village, Santa Gertrudis. It's a great place to watch the world go by with a Rioja and fantastic tapas.
Santa Gertrudis is about 10km from San Antonio;
tel: 971 197 023;
email: casitodo@telefonica.net
Plastik is a club/bar hybrid that started off in 2000 as a record shop and internet café. It’s in San Antonio, which is traditionally known for the worst excesses of Ibiza, but don’t let that put you off. Plastik operate a door policy to make sure the vibe/crowd stays cool, and has recently been refurbished with Thai-style decor. Top name DJs play there, or just drop in. It’s a refuge in the heart of what can otherwise be a tourist trap.
My favourite beach is Cala Conta, on the western most point of Ibiza - white sand and cool blue waters.
The beach can be reached by car or bus. Ferries depart regularly from San Antonio harbour.
My favourite bar is Plastik in uptown San Antonio - it's a really cool place to have a drink and chat to friends.
The beach at Las Salinas is the island's most southern tip. It's beautiful and the best place to go and sunbathe if you're feeling beautiful in your bikini (ladies). Certainly don't go if you're having a “fat day” as you'll stand out wearing anything more than something to hide your modesty. In fact most people don't even do that. Salinas beach is renowned for attracting an attractive and fashionable crowd. Besides the stunning beach and crystal clear sea, there are plenty of cool places to relax and enjoy a cocktail - my favourite is the Jockey Club, and Sa Trincha is good too.
Can be reached by hire car, bicycle (be careful of the traffic) or bus from Ibiza Town (10 km) or Playa d'en Bossa (6 km).
Salinas beach is at the very bottom of Ibiza, lined with some classy restaurants and bars. The views are beautiful and make it all the better to sit down and relax in with some sangria – the perfect way to relax after a night on the town.
Hire a car, catch a taxi or hop on a bus from Ibiza Town;
www.ibiza-spotlight.com/beach/las_salinas_i.htm
Watch the sun set at one of the many cafes and bars lining this famous strip of white sand. Savannah, Cafe del Mar and Mambo are all great. It’s a unique experience to listen with thousands of other people to chilled music from Pete Tong and other top DJs. The feeling is amazing when everyone applauds a set, with the sun setting and the partying just beginning.
San Antonio, Ibiza;
www.cafemamboibiza.com;
www.cafedelmarmusic.com
Bora Bora is situated in the middle of Playa d’en Bossa, and it’s a crazy place. A beach with a wicked bar, and people dancing on tables while the sun is up. This place is legendary, and if you’re into the club scene it’s an Ibiza must-do, if only for the fact that everyone gets involved!
In the middle of Playa d'en Bossa;
www.ibiza-spotlight.com/bora-bora/
I love this place for Sa Trincha's bar and the Jockey Club. Chill out under the warm rays of the sun while listening to some of the coolest sounds of the summer. A place for the happy smiling people. Magic.
10km from Ibiza Town, at the southern end of the island. Hire a car or catch the bus.
My favourite bar in the world. Sit on the rooftop at sunset and get amazing views of Ibiza Old Town. Expensive, but fine food too.
San Rafael, just in front of the old white church;
tel: 971 198 056
Go at sundown to hear all the hippie drums and see all the cool fire dances. In short, the way ibiza was 30 years ago in its pre-Ibiza Uncovered days.
Then get dinner at the restaurant on the right-hand side of the beach, not the yucky one on the left. The nicer restaurant also has an amazing gift shop.
Reached only by car-follow signposts for San Miguel.
Situated within the port area of Ibiza town, Mao Rooms was opened in 2001 and is brought to you by London's Chinawhite.
The cocktails and food are all lovely and are best enjoyed while lazing about on the day-beds covered in silky fabrics and cushions.
D'Emili Pou 6, Ibiza Old Town;
tel: 971 194 331;
www.chinawhite.com/nonmembers/ibiza.html
Formentera is a very small island with a few wonderful shops and eating places but it is the beaches that are most memorable. Beautiful white sand and crystal clear waters. It's a little bit naughty but camping out over night on one of the otherwise deserted beaches to await the sunrise is a truly wonderful experience.
There are regular ferries from Ibiza Town to Formentera. The journey takes 20 minutes.
A mystical, ancient quarry where the stone was carved for the walls around the Ibiza Old Town. It’s like the Giant’s Causeway but with rectangles, glistening crystal clear sea, idyllic surroundings and a hippie folklore.
The angular landscape has also been doctored by travellers with faces, engravings and a mind blowing painting of a Buddha. It’s a great place to spend a day. The only thing is it’s a 40 minute descent down a cliff face to find it. It’s not easy. In fact, my girlfriend fell out with me for the rest of the day due to the even longer ascent. It’s worth the grief though. Stunning.
Head to Torre des Savinar and head to the cliff edge to see your target and begin the descent.
Forget Cafe del Mar (hugely overrated) - the Blue Bar in Formentera is the best beach bar experience in Ibiza & Formentera.
Situated on the beautiful, unspoilt Platja de Mitjorn, the Blue Bar is a relaxing place to cool down, eat and drink by day, with DJs by night.
tel: 971 18 70 11;
www.bluebarformentera.com
A cafe at the junction in a one-horse town is an entertaining place to see other adventurers stop and decide whether to turn right or left. Half the vehicles return to take the alternative whilst the other half simply go back from whence they came. The more chilled out have refreshment first.
Santa Innes (also called Saint Agnes) is accessible by car.
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