If you’d have asked me where Ibiza placed on my travel bucket list a year ago, it would have been near – if not at – the very bottom. Despite people telling me they loved the Spanish island for years (and people really, really seemed to love it), the idea of busy nightclubs, hordes of 20-something Brits abroad, and overpriced food felt like anything but a holiday.
Of course, when I was eventually convinced to go on a trip with friends, I fell in love with Ibiza. As it turned out, stories of non-stop partying and overconsumption had clouded the island’s culinary pedigree. While the former is certainly still true, there is a second side to Ibiza that stands gastronomically supreme.
So, let’s dive into that other side—a side where you can drink well, eat better, and generally luxuriate to your heart’s content, starting with the perfect home away from home for foodie travelers everywhere.
Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay is perfectly positioned on the serene shores of Talamanca Bay, offering non-stop luxury from room to restaurant. It not only boasts the best hotel breakfast I’ve ever countered (a significant win, across thirty-four countries and two decades of travel experience), but a diver, five-star range of food and drink outlets that mean you don’t actually need to leave the hotel to try something new – a feat which, after a night or two at the clubs, cannot be oversold.
The group’s eponymous restaurant is the main draw, serving Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature Japanese dishes, but there are also a number of dishes inspired by the island, and multiple areas – including the bar lounge, sushi bar, and main restaurant – to indulge in everything from sashimi and cocktails to a fully-fledged tasting menu. Chambao By the Beach, alternatively, is the hotel’s lidback chiringuito beach restaurant, specializing in freshly grilled fish, souped-up salads, authentic Valencian paella, and a wine list worth a long, long lunch.
In the daytime, the Bay Cafe and Beach Deck’s sophisticated menu gives you the rare – but absolutely brilliant – opportunity to snack on sushi on a sunbed, as well as order a huge range of cocktails, juices, and superior seafood (like their out-of control lobster roll, with wasabi mayo, chives, grated egg, and an absurdly generous amount of lobster).
Poolside dining at Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay’s beach restaurant areas
While Nobu isn’t in the center of the aforementioned action, it’s seafront location does give you incredible access to hidden gems like Fish Shack (Punta dels Andreus sin número, 07819 Cap Martinet). Just a fifteen minute waterside walk away, this tiny restaurant is renowned for its heaving plates of fresh fish, cooked to perfection, and no reservation policy (a true exception for decent restaurants on the island). It’s low-key, but largely unparalleled.
If you’re looking for phenomenal seafood in the thick of it, however, you’ll need to book in at Beachouse Ibiza in Playa d’en Bossa. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the restaurant-cum-beach club captures the essence of Ibiza living, located directly on its palm-tree-lined shores.The menu, crafted by culinary director Gennaro Vitto and executed by the brilliant Sergio Cardeñosa, is one of those you’ll want to order everything from, too. Masters in the art of all things Mediterranean, you can order everything from turbot ‘au beurre blanc’ (with caviar, of course) to truffled french fries (not just with a truffle sauce, but shaved truffle) straight to your sunbed, or pop up to the main restaurant for a more traditional lunch or dinner set-up. It’s dawn ‘til dusk dining at its best.
The lounge at Beachouse Ibiza
With that said, no trip to Ibiza is complete without a trip to The Old Town, so be sure to head to Café Montesol when you’re ready to dust the sand off your shoes. Featuring a long terrace perfect for people-patching, it’s an ideal location to linger over stacks of pancakes in the morning and tapas in the evening, for which chef Alex Larrea’s whimsical takes on local delicacies won’t disappoint. The oysters, Stracciatella (with red tuna and pistachios) and Pimientos del padrón y romesco can’t be missed, as can’t a few glasses of vino from Spain’s best small producers.
Tapas on the terrace at Café Montesol, Ibiza
Just a few minutes away, La Familia Ibiza is yet another hidden gem, offering classic tapas of the highest quality. Living up to its name – with warm, familial service that feels genuine and passionate in equal measure – it’s one of the best “local” food experiences you’re likely to find.
If you’ve hit a tapas threshold but still want the taste of the best the Med has to offer, I’d point you in the direction of Ammos Ibiza. Another brilliant beachfront spot, this restaurant has a generous menu of elevated dishes that honor both countries’ culinary legacies. Recommendations include the crispy feta tyropita, succulent lamb chops, and every dip you can possibly fit onto your table.
It’s also a stone’s throw from the island’s best nightlife, which brings us neatly on to where to drink in Ibiza.
The sunset over Ushuaia Ibiza
For a blend of hedonism and escapism, there’s nowhere better than Ushuaïa Ibiza. This open-air venue hosts some of the biggest artists in the world, offering an unrivaled festival atmosphere. From ANTS to Calvin Harris, the lineup promises nights filled with world-class performances, days whiled away across its many pools, bars, and terraces, and a respectable bedtime with an 11pm closure.
If you fancy it, of course. Come night time, Hï Ibiza is the place to be (and, conveniently, it’s located right across the street from Ushuaïa). With its distinctive multi-room setup and cutting-edge design, Hï offers a 360-degree experience. High-profile residencies, large outdoor terraces, and bold production make it the most technologically advanced club on the island. Black Coffee is the current sell, but the Wild Corner, which is quite literally a DJ placed between two rows of bathroom stalls, can’t be missed.
All of which is to say, Ibiza should now be at the top of your travel bucket list, too.