Aaah Ibiza, the White Isle. And about the only place any celebrity, designer and fashion insider seems to go over the course of the summer. And me. Next week. It cannot come soon enough.
In the run-up to my trip (in which I will attempt to do a Frugal City Guide, or maybe just a City Guide), I spoke to fashion industry friends – and Ibiza almost-locals – on the coolest (and most affordable) places to go and the best(and somewhat) secret places on the Island.
REBECCA TAY, Editorial Director, THEOUTNET.COM
1. Ibiza is known for its hippy culture, so I love embracing it and exploring the car boot sales and weekly hippy markets. Strolling through Las Dalias in San Carlos is one of my favourite things to do on a Saturday before hitting the beach.
2. There are so many good restaurants in Ibiza, but one of my faves for cheap and cheerful Spanish fare is Ca N’anneta (or Bar Anita, as the English call it). It’s a tiny little authentic cafe in San Carlos that serves good comfort food – bocadillos with cheese and iberico ham, for instance.
3. Galeria d’Elephante has changed over the years I’ve been going to Ibiza. It was originally a gallery for a private collection of African art, but in the last couple of years it has transformed into a treasure trove for jewellery, textiles, furniture and beachwear.
4. We often stay at the Ibiza Rocks House at Pikes, which is a quirky little boutique hotel. I especially love their breakfast, which is serves in the restaurant that overlooks the pool – which had its own little cameo in George Michael’s Club Tropicana video!
5. The beaches in Ibiza are like nowhere else in the world. There’s something about the Mediterranean currents around the island that magically keeps the water crystal clear. I have a lot of favourite beaches – Cala Comte for the sunset views, Las Salinas for the people watching and soft white sand, and Es Cavallet and Cala Pada for their slightly calmer, quieter vibe.
DEBORAH BRETT, Contributing Editor at Red Magazine, Editor at Large at Wardrobe Icons and blogging at Mini’s Fashion File
1. A great budget place to eat is Destino – this is my all time favourite restaurant in ibiza and it’s not expensive. The original one is in the village of Sant Josep in the SW of the island although there is a second one which serves the same exquisite food in Santa Gertrudis in the centre of the island. You need to reserve but its low key and relaxed in style with modern tapas food from chilli prawns and meatballs to lentil salad and raw courgette salad in soya. Odd combinations but beyond scrumptious.
2. There aren’t really too many hidden beaches in Ibiza but there are definitely some beautiful smaller ones that we adore. In the West we love Gracioneta which is a tiny cove north of Sant Antoni with a sliver of sand, but it’s so charming. Great swimming and a lovely beachside Chiringuito (beach restaurant).
3. You have to visit Sluiz on the outskirts of Santa Gertrudis. It’s an enormous aeroplane hanger of a shop filled with clothes, accessories, home decor and furniture. You won’t find your usual designer brands here. Instead everything is kooky, off beat and has a sense of humour. You really do find the most unexpected things here that no one else stocks.
4. If you have time its well worth going to the old town in Eivissa called Dalt Vila. It’s the fortified Phoenician and Roman fortress that sits atop the town and you can climb along its ramparts and walk through the streets of the old town. Its a wonderful thing to do at sunset, looking out across the bay towards Formentera and getting a sense of how the island used to be.
What To Wear When You’re There…
1. Straw hat, £14.99, H&M
2. ‘Baby Audrey’ sunglasses, £189, Celine at Sunglasses Shop
3. Jersey striped maxi dress, £75, Iris + Ink at The Outnet
4. Crochet bikini, £63, Lisa Maree at The Outnet
5. Eliza Gran basket bag, £50, Wanderlust Wares
6. Denim raw hem shorts, £7 in the sale, New Look
7. Leather espadrilles, £45, Next
8. Cotton kaftan, £69, Boden
9. Cotton vest, £12.99, H&M
10. Yellow gold and diamond initial signet ring, £138, Boticca
11. Sea salt spray, £3.99, Mark Hill
12. High protection 40 SPF suncream, £27, Jurlique
13. Straw clutch bag, £10 in the sale, Joy The Store
LAUREN STEVENSON, Co-Founder and Director of PR Agency, Aisle 8
1. One of my favourite restaurants is La Brasa, an almost secret restaurant, hidden by flowers at the base of the castle in the old town.
2. One of my favourite beaches still has to be Las Salinas – I always end the day by going to Cap D’Falco, an almost retreat-like cliff top beach five minutes from Las Salinas. Watching the waves lap the rocks and the sun go down is breathtaking.
3. My favourite place to shop is on the beach at the Beachouse on Playa Den Bossa. The local girls bring down their wares to sell and I’ve bought the most beautiful white crochet kaftans and beach throw ons – half the price than in the stores in Ibiza Town.
BEN COOKE, Hair Stylist and Co-Owner of Lockenego Hair Salon (Ben, on the right, actually cuts my hair and he got married in Ibiza last year!)
1. La Paloma is a stunning family run restaurant in the middle of the
island in San Lorenzo. It’s not cheap but definitely not expensive compared to
some of the new uber places in Ibiza. The food is all locally sourced and has a very homemade taste
and feel to it – it’s really special for
dinner.
island in San Lorenzo. It’s not cheap but definitely not expensive compared to
some of the new uber places in Ibiza. The food is all locally sourced and has a very homemade taste
and feel to it – it’s really special for
dinner.
2. Sa Trinxa has been my favourite beach for about 15 years. It’s
on the far left of Las Salinas beach in the south. It’s a good 10 minutes walk
but well worth it. The whole experience at Sa Trinxa grows as the days goes on,
the Dj takes you on a building musical journey and the people watching is
exceptional.
on the far left of Las Salinas beach in the south. It’s a good 10 minutes walk
but well worth it. The whole experience at Sa Trinxa grows as the days goes on,
the Dj takes you on a building musical journey and the people watching is
exceptional.
3. Amante Beach Club will now always have a place in my heart as I
got married there last year. Very close to Cala Llonga, Amante sits almost
alone on a small and very pretty cove. Book a sun bed and stay all day in the
sun and then for dinner. If you’re lucky they sometimes do moonlit movies.
got married there last year. Very close to Cala Llonga, Amante sits almost
alone on a small and very pretty cove. Book a sun bed and stay all day in the
sun and then for dinner. If you’re lucky they sometimes do moonlit movies.
4. PK2 is my new favourite spot. This has a proper old school Ibiza
feel to it. I’ve been going to Ibiza for over 20 years and only discovered the restaurant last year. Very relaxed and super chilled out this is a great place to hang out
at if you need to ‘get away’ from it all for a day – that’s if you can find it
in the first place!
feel to it. I’ve been going to Ibiza for over 20 years and only discovered the restaurant last year. Very relaxed and super chilled out this is a great place to hang out
at if you need to ‘get away’ from it all for a day – that’s if you can find it
in the first place!
BONNIE RAKHIT, Fashion Editor and Founder of Thestyletraveller.com
1. Go to Formentera – ‘Beso’ is my favourite beach – it means Kiss and they do the best sharing cocktails where you can watch the celebs stepping off their yachts.
2. As far as daytime beach bars go, there are so many to pick from! One of the most beautiful sunsets on the island is Experimental in Cap Des Falco – to get to it you drive through salt flats on Salinas beach so it’s a beautiful drive.
3. I’m always a big fan of Blue Marlin but this year a new place opened called Beachouse – and I love it. Lunch here is good too.
4. Go to KM5 for dinner, full Moroccan Bedouin tents and candlelights. If you eat dinner here you get free entry into the club, too.
5. I absolutely love Dalt Vila – and at the bottom there is a restaurant La Bodega – really affordable and the most delicious tapas – my favourite is the chorizo and padron peppers.
6. At Cap de Falco there’s a beautiful shop called Treasure Chest – the buyer travels the world over winter and brings back cool hippy things to sell. The markets at Formentera are cute, too.
1. Passion Cafe – this is in Marina Botofoc – it’s probably the most progressive health food spot,
loads of green juices and salads with hemp seeds! Bio Bites is also a pretty good healthy organic restaurant in Marina Botofoch with lovely views of Dalt Villa.
loads of green juices and salads with hemp seeds! Bio Bites is also a pretty good healthy organic restaurant in Marina Botofoch with lovely views of Dalt Villa.
2. Fish Shack – up on the rocks at Talamanca Beach, tell a cab driver to go to Sa
Punta the Pacha restaurant and then look for mis-matched plastic patio
furniture, its literally a shack. An amazing lunch experience they open at 1:30 with people waiting. It’s cash only with no menu, just whatever lengthy list of fish
they have that day.3. Mezcaleria in Dalt Vila – really cute Mexican restaurant with the most insane
mescal/tequila, I love it there it’s super small and a lovely little secret.
Punta the Pacha restaurant and then look for mis-matched plastic patio
furniture, its literally a shack. An amazing lunch experience they open at 1:30 with people waiting. It’s cash only with no menu, just whatever lengthy list of fish
they have that day.3. Mezcaleria in Dalt Vila – really cute Mexican restaurant with the most insane
mescal/tequila, I love it there it’s super small and a lovely little secret.
4. As for shopping, the old town just has amazing tiny shops just walk and get
lost!
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