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Spain
Aura Ibiza is a sociable spot in the middle of the countryside that has become in a must for those who want to have a fine dinner and a cool night out all in the same place.
It's a bar/lounge/restaurant that has become popular within Ibiza's in crowd. It has an excellent atmosphere, affordable gourmet tapas (starting at 8€) and great cocktails!
The music is excellent and every week there is a party going on.
Aura is in The Carretera de San Joan Km. 13.5
Check the website and the map here: www.auraibiza.com
It’s recommend to book in advance: 971 32 53 56
Just returned from a week's trip with my teenage daughter where we had an excellent mix of quiet beaches and trendy beach bars.
Stayed in Carla Sant Vicens which is a quiet family resort in the north of the island, but having a hire car meant it was easy to visit all parts of the island. Es Torrent beach in south near Port Roig (we went to it as it was recommended as a reader's tip) is very small, very beautiful and very exclusive (ie expensive restaurant on the beach and expensive beach loungers to hire). Also strongly recommended is Cala de Serra - but if you want to visit this one go early in the day as it's very small and gets very busy.
Excellent food is available from the beach shack. We would go in mid-afternoon for a late brunch and an afternoon sleep in their deckchairs.
Highlight of our trip was going to Formentera, a stunning island with Caribbean style beaches - white sand and blue water. Ferries go every half hour from Ibiza port. It's expensive - 40 euros each, but well worth it. Just go early to make a day of it. We hired a moped to get around the island so don't forget your driving licence! We had lunch in Flipper and Chiller beach bar - very trendy. The afternoon was spent at yet another stunning beach, Playa Trocadors at the northern tip of the island. If you can organise it, spend a night on the island and watch the sun go down at the Big Sur bar near the beach as the last ferry back is 9pm.
Back on Ibiza island, if you are feeling flush, have an evening meal in Santa Getrudis - lots of very nice restaurants. The harbour area of Ibiza town is also great fun with lots of bars and buzzy night life - we spotted Kate Moss, much to my daughter's excitement. Only place to avoid is San Antonio - a real dump! One place we didn't get round to going to was Playa den Bossa which has all-day discos on the beach - I'm sure my daughter would have liked it more than me though.
We used the Rough Guide to Ibiza plus the readers' tips.
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
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
The coolest place to stay in Ibiza. Art Deco building, super-stylish rooms and a decked pool area to lounge in with a cocktail bar close at hand. Utter bliss. Don't miss the Electric Cabaret Bar at night for some naughtier action.
c/Carlos Roman Ferrer
www.hotelesvive.com
I remember a trip to Ibiza back in September 2001 with a group of lads - respectable lads, not Ibiza Uncovered types. Anyway our departure was a late flight that gave us just enough time to watch the England beat Germany 5 – 1 in Munich, a great start to the week!
After a great week spending our days lounging around the pool at Coastline or listening to the chilled out sounds at Café Mambo and our nights clubbing in the White Isles’ top spots, for our penultimate night (the one we were going to take it easy) we managed to blag free tickets for Roger Sanchez at El Divino.
El Divino was Pacha’s equally swanky neighbour in Ibiza Town and the new kid on the block backing onto the town’s marina. It was the most expensive club to get into on the island, with the most expensive bar on the island and if you wanted to go VIP, the prices of a table were the best part of 2,000 euro – unless you blagged it!
The gang of us got into the club no problem, one of our number was good friends with the promoter, and we set about checking El Divino out. It’s small but it certainly fits its ultra bling bling billing. But I wanted to test just how far our blagability could go, so I tried my luck at getting into the VIP area.
Now this was a strictly solo mission and I knew that I if I got caught and thrown out on my ear the lads would deny all knowledge of me! So like all good blags, timing was essential. I watched my entrance and the young security guy who was guarding it to watch his routine. He wasn’t asking names and didn’t seem to know faces but he seemed to be lucking at attitude and I knew I could bluff it. My timing came when two very English looking girls, pale skin and short skirts, were allowed through, so I followed closely behind.
The big man stopped me closing the chain in front of me, but I looked him straight in the eye, holding his gaze as I said, bold as brass, “I’m with them mate.’ He looked me up and down, looked back at the two girls, who were heading towards a large group sat around the centre of the VIP area, and then let me in.
I felt like a million dollars, but knew I was still being watched, so I followed the two girls that had just unknowingly adopted me and sat down with them. Understandably they both looked shocked as this strange Salfordian blag artist took root in their company, so decided that honesty among friends was my best policy. I told them the story, ‘I’ve just blagged my way in, saying I was with them and I was being watched, so could I sit here just for a few minutes until the heat dies down, then I’ll get out of your way.’
I think the two girls, still in disbelief, admired my guts for doing what I was doing, and told me that it was fine by them, but the table they and I were sat at belonged to the Club’s owner, who’s entourage were all eyeing me up suspiciously.
Naturally I decided not to outlive my welcome and left to wander around the decadently decked outdoor VIP area. As I was admiring the gargantuan yachts, which were moored behind us, my attention was drawn to another group of four young ladies who evidently required my assistance.
They too looked English and in their early twenties, and were sat with a group of middle-aged men. Very suspect I thought, so I decided to investigate. One of the girls immediately grabbed my arm and said, ‘oh thank God your English.’
‘Well Yesh,’ I said in my best Connery Bond accent.
As it turns out the middle aged guys they were with, one of whom was a dead ringer for a healthy looking Michael Stipe, were all German. They had invited the girls back to the VIP area for drinks and now they were asking if they wanted to, ‘come back to their yacht for dancing yah’.
The girls were trying to shake their offer but the Germans were quite persistent. As I sat down I could sense I was about as welcome as a WW2 joke in Nuremburg, and the Germans kept trying to shove me aside, real alpha male stuff. So I decided to be friendly and play the dumb gracious Brit. I made them laugh at my poor grasp of German and eventually I got the conversation around to the subject of football, more specifically the night in Munich six days before.
I was trying to explain how I thought the result would have been different had German midfield enforcer Jens Jeremies been playing, when the Germans beat a retreat that would make the one from Stalingrad look like a stroll. ‘We’d been trying to get rid of them all night,’ said the girls, amazed, ‘what did you say to them?’
Bemused I said, ‘I don’t know I just mentioned football.’
By the end of the night I’d managed to make friends with the guard on the VIP gate and bring the lads in to a table of our own, all free of charge and all totally blagged!
Ibiza Old Town, backing onto the marina;
tel: 971 318 338;
email: info@eldivino-ibiza.com;
www.eldivino-ibiza.com
I know San Antonio has a bit of a reputation, but this is completely unjustified. Yes, there is the West End and the clubs (hurrah!), but people must not forget chilled out bars like Mambos, Cafe Del Mar and Coastline, and the infamous, breathtaking sunset. No better place to spend a special occasion with a cocktail, watching the spectacular fire eaters who come out at night.
The San Antonio promenade is full of young teenagers, families and older people walking in the evening. Bar M and Orange Corner along this area are fab for lunch and people watching, Itaca does gorgeous caprhina cocktails and the beach is practically empty and peaceful, believe it or not.
There's an amazing Tex Mex restaurant and the Curry Club is one of the best curry places anywhere. Hotel Arenal is in a perfect location with huge rooms, an indoor and outdoor pool, air con and great staff (I should know, I was a rep there for 2 years, and I stayed there). So before you write it off, choose this all-rounder of a resort to spend a week. I guarantee it won't be your only visit.
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 bar is Plastik in uptown San Antonio - it's a really cool place to have a drink and chat to friends.
If you want to get away from the crowds and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the island, then head north to San Carles and Cala San Vincente. It's a world away from the tackiness of San Antonio. Rent a villa in a pine forest overlooking the bay (San Vincente). The air smells of oranges and you won't hear any pumping house. San Carles is a buzzing village full of locals and (rich) hippies. The life of the village centers around Bar Anita. You can hang around here talking to the locals and watching the world go by all day. Best meat restaurant in Ibiza is there - Can Pages - on the road from Santa Eulalia to San Carles. If food, wine, slow days and a rustic kind of romance is what you're after, then this is where you'll find it!
North/north west of the island. Nearest large town is Santa Eulalia;
www.ibizaholidays.com/cala_san_vicente/default.asp
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
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
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
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