Ibiza | Formentera
Casa Rosada, Slim Aarons, 1989
Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands, an archipelago of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. It's well known for the lively nightlife in Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni, where major European nightclubs have summer outposts. It’s also home to quiet villages, yoga retreats and beaches, from Platja d'en Bossa, lined with hotels, bars and shops, to quieter sandy coves backed by pine-clad hills found all around the coast. Here is our guide to Ibiza, Spain.
STAY
NOBU HOTEL The Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay includes two saltwater pools, a Six Senses spa, a John Frieda hair salon, and multiple restaurants, including its Japanese fusion namesake. Most of the rooms have views over Talamanca Bay. The location is ideal—right outside of Ibiza town and highly accessible to other parts of the island.
AGUAS DE IBIZA One of only two Ibizan hotels that are a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, this 112-room hotel is located in Santa Eulalia on Ibiza’s eastern coast, just a few minutes walk from the Marina. Its contemporary Mediterranean-style rooms are all designed with feng shui-inspired sea views.
FINCA LEGADO A farmhouse-turned hotel by owner and designer Andi Lackner, a well-known event organizer from Vienna. Lackner dreamed up a countryside paradise that feels more like a private home than a hotel. Lush gardens overflow with hot-pink bougainvillea, olive trees, and rosebushes, and there’s a quiet terrace hidden around almost every corner. We particularly like the pool beds: The low metal platforms are topped with cushions covered in fabrics designed by Lackner himself.
LOS ENAMORADOS Overlooking Portinatx harbor on the rural northern edge of Ibiza, this former hostel is the creation of ex-basketball player Pierre Traversier and Roze de Witte, a former magazine editor. Adorned with curios from around the world, Los Enamorados has a distinctly ’70s, bohemian vibe. The hotel has a stunning terrace devoted to sun-worshipping by day and gin and tonics by night. Guest rooms come with snorkels, beach towels, and—in a bold move—no televisions. Ibiza is famous for its trendy boutiques, but Traversier and de Witte have created an Aladdin’s cave where you can buy international gems (like Japanese kimonos and Balinese textiles), local crafts, and pretty much everything you see in the hotel.
LA GRANJA A tiny sign stamped with a G is the only indication you’ve arrived. Set in the rolling farmlands near San Rafael, this secluded Finca has been reimagined by Design Hotels founder Claus Sendlinger into an earthy, restrained retreat that doesn’t skimp on luxury. The pool is perched on a hillside and views stretch over the fields and olive groves to San Antonio Bay. La Granja’s interior oozes cool Danish minimalism—low furniture, a navy-and-taupe palette, zero clutter, and cool concrete floors. Bathrooms are stocked with locally made oils (in dainty glass bottles), and single-use plastics are not a thing. If you can’t secure a reservation—there are only nine rooms—book chef José Catrimán’s farmer’s table dinner. The multicourse meal, served communally beneath the pine trees, celebrates the best of La Granja’s garden bounty.
CA NA XICA While at only 20-suites strong, this gorgeous retreat takes up an impressive swath of landscape (the indoor-outdoor layout of the hotel makes great use of it all). Both the kitted-out spa and Salvia restaurant merit a visit even if you chose to stay in town.
HACIENDA NA XAMENA Rent a car and take the quiet winding roads across the island, through pine forests to the small and isolated beach resort of San Miguel. When you arrive you will see an unassuming whitewashed property, suspended on the coastal front, 600 feet above sea level, in the heart of a preserved natural park. This hotel is truly one of the most luxurious spas and hotels on the island. The resort cascades over five floors above a dramatic cliff. All of its 77 rooms and suites, its restaurants, and the private panoramic terraces have heart-stopping views over the dramatic turquoise waters of the bay far below.
MIRADOR DE DALT VILA This charming hotel was built in 1904 and is located in the heart of the historic walled quarter of Dalt Vila. The area is famous for its spectacular views and rich history, and the 16th-century walls that surround it are a dramatic vision of Renaissance architecture. Spend days at the outdoor pool and nights in the hotel's popular restaurant Es Mirador specializing in avant-garde Mediterranean cuisine.
SIR JOAN A spectacular panoramic view of Ibiza’s port and Old Town can be seen from the terrace of this hotel, which includes two signature restaurants— the modern Asian cuisine Izakaya and The Butcher for upscale burgers.
GRAN HOTEL MONTESOL Established in 1933, this was the first hotel on the island. With its neocolonial-style façade and contemporary interior, the hotel is located in the heart of the city, next to the harbor. Many of the rooms have private balconies facing Ibiza Port and Dalt Vila. The hotel's Café Montesol is a perfect retreat for Spanish tapas. Enjoy sunset cocktails on the rooftop bar featuring views over Ibiza.
OCEAN DRIVE TALAMANCA Located at the eastern end of Talamanca Bay and a 30-minute walk into Ibiza town, this hotel has 117 sea view rooms and suites.
INSOTEL FENICIA PRESTIGE Located in Santa Eulalia, this midcentury modern, 172-room hotel is surrounded by lush gardens and a large pool. It is very close to the beach as well as Ibiza's only river in Santa Eulalia. This is the perfect hotel for a quiet getaway but also close enough to nightlife.
7 PINES Nestled in a pine grove on the cliffs of the west coast of Ibiza between Cala Conta and Cala Codolar with unobstructed views of the ocean.
CAS GASI At the boutique hotel Cas Gasi, Margaret Von Korff and her husband restored a stunning 19th-century farmhouse surrounded by 450 olive trees, orange groves, and a sprinkling of fig trees with a deep dedication to its Ibicenco legacy. Paintings from island artists, elegant antiques, and white-washed walls set the scene for a luxurious getaway that feels like visiting a dear friend’s joyous Mediterranean retreat.
ATZARÓ On a sprawling orange farm in the northeast of the island, Atzaró boasts luxe amenities and a decadent spa just 10 minutes from local beaches. The owner, Victor Guasch, was born in the farmhouse at the heart of the property and transformed his family home into a high-end hotel 15 years ago. During the winter, the hotel’s yoga classes draw locals from around the island.
HOTEL RIOMAR On the east coast, the Marriott has reinvented Santa Eularia’s oldest hotel, Hotel Riomar. You won’t recognize the famous 70s haunt with the modern decor and art right on the white sandy beach.
CAN SASTRE Can Sastre is a rural boutique hotel in the center of the island that will transport you away from the madness.
DINE | DRINK
JONDAL A beachside restaurant next to Blue Marlin that serves some of the best food on the island. Standouts include the crab leg and cacio e pepe topped with caviar. There is also a massage area, boutique, and a beach bar with live music.
AUBERGINE The farm-to-table food at Aubergine by Atzaró, the cherished Ibiza restaurant, is homemade delicious, and full of organic ingredients from the Atzaró Vegetable Garden. Order the namesake dish.
CASA MACA Casa Maca overlooks beautiful Dalt Vila from a sloping hill above Ibiza town. Sundays here are always bustling given that the kitchen lights up an outside grill for a Spanish barbecue. I began lunch with a thick slice of Sobrassada sausage and Manchego cheese before diving into a medley of grilled meat and seasonal vegetables. A haunt for the island’s British ex-pats, Casa Maca also serves up a traditional Sunday roast, complete with a Yorkshire pudding. Whatever your fancy, plan on posting up here for an entire afternoon.
HOSTAL LA TORRE Located high above the cliffs with outstanding views, this is the only place to be for sunset in Ibiza
EL CHIRINGUITO Locally sourced dishes, ice cream & cocktails are offered in a relaxed, beachfront locale with two boutiques selling jewelry and straw bags.
BLUE MARLIN A beach club with international fare and renowned DJs.
ES TORRENT A go-to for lunch. It’s in a pebbly cove on the south coast and serves the freshest seafood – order the grilled fish with shrimp.
EL SILENCIO With a menu created in collaboration with Pharrell, El Silencio brings you dinner with a view. Located in a serene cove in the lesser-known area of Cali Moli (a big hitter in the 70s), El Silencio is the new beach house brought to you by iconic Paris club Silencio.
LA PALOMA La Paloma is one of the island’s most popular restaurants located in the town of San Lorenzo. The daytime restaurant, La Paloma Café, serves a casual, Middle Eastern–leaning menu with falafel, hummus, and fresh, farm-driven salads. By night, different owners take over and the garden fills up with island visitors eating an Italian-inspired menu. Whatever meal you choose, make sure to book in advance and ask to sit in the garden beneath the lemon and orange trees, twinkling with lights.
SUNSET ASHRAM Global menu served in a chill, beachfront restaurant & bar with sunset views, plus DJs & live music.
COTTON CLUB AT CASA MILA Cotton Beach Club brings Mykonos-style luxury with its all-white furnishings and famous champagne lunch. The tuna tartare and grilled octopus is a must-eat and for drinks, it offers one of the most extensive wine and cocktail lists on the island. A live band will be blaring so it’s best to come with a party attitude, not on one of your more delicate days. Post-lunch head down to the beach where you can lounge on the double sunbeds.
LA ESCOLLERA Seasonal beachfront restaurants are ubiquitous in Ibiza during the summer, but one of the island’s most notable is also open year-round. Make a reservation for a table by the window at La Escollera, a family-run restaurant and the go-to spot for fashionable locals. Here, you can dine on views of Es Cavallet beach, which stretches to the island’s Southernmost tower, Torre De Ses Portes, and out to Formentera. As for the handwritten menu: start with the codfish croquettes before indulging in one of their crispy paellas. Top off your meal with a shot of Hierbas Ibicencas, a local anise-flavored liqueur and a walk along the nearby salt flats.
IZAKAYA A short walk from the lively Eivissa port in Ibiza Town, Japanese restaurant Izakaya has potentially the best sushi on the island – which is saying something as it’s everywhere. But it also has the most incredible cocktails. Try their twists on classics like the watermelon martini or Japanese mule as you dine around their emerald pool. Make sure to pair it with their melt-in-your-mouth wagyu and foie gras gyoza, but let the friendly staff guide you for the best menu experience.
AIYANNA A more bohemian experience, Aiyanna is a laid-back luxury, brought to you by the team behind Amante. It’s a little more playful and rustic than its sister beach club, in a tranquil location overlooking Cala Nova bay. Its restaurant won the White Ibiza Best New Restaurant award back in 2017 and serves the best of Eastern Mediterranean. Expect organic, seasonal produce is grown in Aiyanna's own garden in dishes like mezze sharing platters and superfood salads.
AMANTE Cocktails, seafood & grilled meat highlighted in a loungey beachfront spot with movie nights.
PIKES CLUB The renowned club that Freddie Mercury had his infamous birthday party and the location of the ‘Club Tropicana’ music video.
AMARE BEACH HOTEL Amare Beach Hotel proves otherwise, providing some serene adults-only glamour to the clubbing mecca. Relax by the pool and press a buzzer for your drinks service – no moving required – and enjoy live saxophone performances daily. For sunset cocktails, the panoramic views on the rooftop are second to none – get your piña colada orders in pronto. Restaurant Hayaca serves the best Latin American cuisine, from Colombia-style chipá with suero and hogao (cheesy bread with a traditional sauce) to fried plantain with prawn mayonnaise.
LAYLAH A cocktail bar conveniently located near nightlife spots in the Ibiza marina area.
ROTO Local fare including seafood, meat dishes & desserts are offered at this trendy seaside restaurant.
VIVO Seek refuge at VIVO, an inviting tropical outpost on the cusp of Santa Gertrudis in a beautiful church square.
CHIRINGUITO CALA XUCLAR There are plenty of high-profile chiringuitos (casual beach shacks) on the island (like Es Xarcu and Es Torrent), but for a true sand-in-your-toes experience, you can’t go wrong with this little family-run restaurant. Make sure you have a four-wheel drive to get down the steep and dusty road to the tiny cove, where you’ll be rewarded with a rotating menu of daily fish specials, cooked to perfection with crisp sides of fried potatoes and grilled vegetables.
WILD BEETS In Santa Gertrudis, Wild Beets draws inspiration from Ibiza’s hippie history with a contemporary vegan menu that could charm even a carnivore. Although the restaurant also includes a thriving juice bar, the kitchen shines in transforming clean ingredients into delectable brunch plates like raw walnut banana pancakes or zucchini lasagna layered with cashew ricotta, pistachio pesto, and red pepper marinara.
LA MUELLA La Muella is an open-air restaurant in the countryside in the north of Ibiza. A true gastronomic experience makes it worth the ride, and the restaurant also boasts a kids area, a yoga studio and a small club.
S’ESTANYOL A tiny, private paradisiacal cove surrounded by rocky cliffs, lush green foliage, and views of the Mediterranean Sea, S’Estanyol is a fiercely guarded local secret, and the home of hip new Ibiza beach restaurant, Cala Bonita. This little slice of paradise is one of the few remaining underdeveloped beaches, where locals and visitors in the know seek refuge from overpopulated tourist areas during the busy summer season. Somehow, after all this time, it’s remained peaceful and quiet – a complete escape.
BESO BEACH In Formantera, a short ferry ride from Ibiza, and great for squid paella and gazpacho, plus there's a DJ and shopping.
JUAN Y ANDREA A longstanding beachside venue with outdoor seating for cocktails & huge seafood platters.
ART | CULTURE | ACTIVITIES
DALT VILA
Dalt Vila, Ibiza’s fortified old town, rests on a promontory overlooking the city’s harbor and the glistening sea. This UNESCO Heritage Site falls into a peaceful quiet during the winter, broken only by the rustle of wind and the purrs of friendly neighborhood cats. Its ambling streets lined in white-washed houses are worth a long, restful wander. Start at the top and make your way down, stopping at the Museu Puget. Housed in a 15th-century home, the free museum highlights the works of two local artists, Narcis Puget Vinas (1874 - 1960) and his son Narcis Puget Riquer (1916 - 1983). Both the older and the younger Puget bring the traditions of Ibiza’s small villages into clear focus and beautifully render the essence of the island in an earlier time.
BLOSSOMS OF SAINT AGNES Hike Through the Blossoms of Saint Agnes. Ibiza’s crowning glory during the winter months sits in the valley of Santa Inés (Santa Agnès in Catalan). Beyond the village, with its two local restaurants and white-washed church, is a patchwork quilt of almond trees, which bloom into a blanket of blush and white blossoms during the month of February. A 30-minute walk to Mirador Las Puertas del Cielo—or a short drive, if you’re not up for the climb—gives you breathtaking views of the valley’s early spring. At the top, you’ll see a local restaurant, Restaurante Las Puertas Del Cielo, poised in a pine grove. Continue on the path past medieval ruins to the lookout of the same name (Mirador Las Puertas del Cielo) for a stunning seaside vista over Ses Margalides island.
CLIFFS OF CALA LLENTIA The solar clock 'time & space' sculpture at the cliffs of Cala Llentia. Guy Laliberte (the Cirque du Soleil founder) commissioned the brilliant Australian artist Andrew Rogers to build this incredible piece of art back in 2014. It's a great spot to watch the sun go down.
IBIZA HORSE VALLEY Explore North Ibiza on Horseback. Ringed in Mediterranean blue and whipped with winter wind, the Es Murta nature park leads to a narrow valley that’s home to 16 horses, two roosters, and an irreverent cat named Captain. At Ibiza Horse Valley, a sanctuary for maltreated and abandoned island horses, you can take an awe-inspiring tour of Ibiza’s wild north on horseback.
SHOP
ES CUCONS It’s part of one of the original boutique hotels on the island, not far from Cala Salada beach. Pick up a famous straw bag to take home.
LA GALERIA ELEFANTE A treasure trove of clothing, accessories, and home design pieces, La Galeria Elefante was opened by Victoria Durrer-Gasse nearly ten years ago. Located in a historic finca just outside Santa Gertrudis, each room reveals something new—colorful racks of vintage dresses mixed with boho basics from Mes Desmoiselles and Victoria, the in-house line. But it’s about more than just fashion. Many of the artisanal items she sells are produced in partnership with international NGOs, with proceeds supporting these organizations. They also have a small yoga studio behind the shop, where some of the island’s most sought-after teachers run weekly classes.
L’ATELIER 56 A fashion boutique in Formantera.
CERAMICA MEDITERRANIA A ceramic showroom in Formentera.
Text: Veronica H. Speck Photo: Casa Rosada, Slim Aarons, 1989 © Getty Images