John’s Ibizan Guide
BEACHES – from simple to swanky. Nearest:
Nearest
Cala de Boix 5 mins – Our fave. Big simple sandy beach 4 mins away. Turn right on the main road. Nice hut (chiringhito) on beach doing snacks and drinks. It’s not funky, just down to earth and unspoiled. Good for swimming.
Cala Mastella 10 mins. Really lovely little sandy beach, with a great little shack of a restaurant that does amazing sole, chicken and calamari too. Drive to Cala Boix and turn right just before the road ends at the car park. 3 minutes on is the beach after the Es Bigotes turn.
Insta: kioski_calamastella or call +34 690373176
Pou des Leo 5 mins. Not a day beach, but have a sunset drink here. Sweet rocky cove with fishing huts. Has a small bar on it and they do food and play music here on Sundays. Turn right on main road from villa. 1 mile, then left to Pou des Leo. Great for an evening Caiphiroscar (sic) before dinner.
Cala Nova – Do this. 15 mins. Beautiful broad sandy beach, great for kids, lovely water –Two ends of the beach: south end, Satnav Atzaro Beach at Cala Nova there’s a big cool Atzaro restaurant above the beach. Atzaro is a bit, well, shi-shi as my Mum used to say. You get there by going to Es Canar, which is low rent but don’t be alarmed. Head for Cala Nova and then Atzaro Beach sign. North end. Quite cool restaurant called Aiyanna at the other end of the beach. I prefer this one. In the middle of the beach is a fabulous, effortlessly classy restaurant called Es Fumeral. You can satnav it and they have valet parking behind it.
Es Figueral 10 mins. Not a beach to spend the day as it’s a bit touristy. But great for paddle boards and kayaks. Call Lauren to book boards/kayaks first. +34 666000173
Benirras beach – great. 20/25 min drive to N of island. Great location, nice food. Book lunch/dinner at Elements restaurant - +340971333136 – it will get you a parking space behind the restaurant. They stop you driving righty down to the beach if you don’t have a booking. Sunday night the beach is packed and there’s a market. Boats: You can hire cool old style fishing boats out for the afternoon or morning. https://www.bohemianboatcharters.com/ +34650874577. Very professional. Bring a picnic. Maybe eat at Elements after.
Further. More bling beaches in the South: about 35/45 mins drive
Jondal Beach
This is the swanky end of the island. But nice restaurants and one nice beach club. Tropicana. On south of island. 40 min drive
Club Tropicana. Book restaurant in advance and ask for the number to book the beach beds. Classy beach, good service white beach beds, great atmos. +34971187520. Price: don’t ask
Blue Marlin – the famous beach place on Jondal. Tends to attract fools spraying champagne, but if you want bling, it’s the thing. Not my cuppa char. .
Salinas Beach – beautiful sandy beach. Long drive.
Jockey Club - on Salinas beach on south of island. 40 mins from villa. Cool and funky, white sandy beach. Not cheap. At all. Sa Trinxa – cooler more laid back.
(None of these are really kids’ places.)
RESTAURANTS
Always book. I book my faves before I travel. I’ve marked our favourites with asterisks.*
Nearest
V casual:
**San Carlos 5 mins – the meat restaurant you pass on the right as you leave San Carles. Amazing steak. Relaxed not chic, run by young Uraguayan dudes. Not for vegans. Great for families.
By the sea:
El Bigotes 10 mins a basic but a hidden gem on a little cove. 7 mins from villa. Cala Boix road, turn right on 90 degree bend just before you get to Cala Boix, head for Cala Mastella. A half mile on left see a track with basic sign. Family fish restaurant on water, v simple, v famous. Book well in advance, there are 2 sittings for lunch – one for grilled fish, the second for fish stew. 00 34 650 797 633
**Cala Mastella Kiosk 10 mins – next bay to Es Bigotes. Really lovely little beach, with a great little shack of a restaurant that does amazing sole and kids stuff too. Drive to Cala Boix and turn right just before the road ends at the car park. 3 minutes on is the beach after the Es Bigotes turn. Best to book Kiosk” de Mastella - +34 690373176. NB cash only.
**Es Fumeral 15 mins on Cala Nova beach. One of my favourites on the island. Lovely, classy, relaxed, very pricey.
*Juntos House 35 mins. Gorgeous farm to fork place in San Mateu. Beautiful spot, great food. Elegant but relaxed. Love this.
Aiyanna 15 mins. On Cala Nova beach, quite funky but still chilled.
Amante 30 mins - very chic restaurant on a cliff . Great spot, very cool for a quiet lunch or dinner. Very ‘Ibiza’.
*Ses Boques 40 mins. On the south but simple authentic place in a great setting.
*Cala Bonita 35 mins – nearer Ibiza town. relaxed and v chic – one of my favourites. Pretty, smallish beach with beds, tastefully chilled restaurant on the beach. Great spot. 25 mins drive. Great for a long lunch. Like the style here.
*Sa Caleta 35 mins Great family run trad Spanish restaurant, outsanding fish, not swanky and not anstronomical. Overlooks a low cliff and the sea. Love this.
Es Torrent - pretty little beach with famous fish restaurant for lunch. Classy. Gorgeous, quite grown up. Book well in advance. Worth one boozy and astronomically expensive lunch. Not a kids place really.
Experimental Beach – v cool bar/restaurant, on a rocky promontory at the very south of the island near the airport. Long 45 min drive. Cool DJ fab views, cocktails. A bit ‘Made in Chelsea’. Gets dancy later.
Inland:
*Macao - Santa Gertrudis. 35 mins. Lovely restaurant in a beautiful courtyard.. Suggest you head to Sluiz ( a funky furniture warehouse), for a drink first, then drive the 5 mins into the restaurant after. Book early
Le Monde same village as Macao but cheaper and more relaxed. Go to Sluiz beforehand as above. Book +34 971 19 79 49
Organic/farm to fork type places
**Juntos House – 35 mins. finca with stunning open courtyard in front. Beautiful and amazing food.
Giri Café – San Joan – book a table in the garden. Lovely rustic setting, Relaxed but elegant.
SHOPPING
Day to day: .
Supermarkets – Spar for basics. Suma in San Carles – most of what you need and a good butcher. And great fish and meat in Eroski Santa Eularia.
*Hippy Market - called Las Dalias. Just outside San Carles to the south. Check online for opening times. Worth a wander. The night market is best. Cooler. As in heat. Kids love it. The club in it is called Namaste and is as near as you get to a proper Ibizan club this end of the island. Your yoof with like it.
http://www.lasdalias.es/#about
**Sluiz – massive great home interiors warehouse. Just South of Santa Gertrudis. (Where Macao is). Has food and a bar. V cool. Go visit before you have dinner at Macao, because it’s just outside Santa Gertrudis. http://www.sluizibiza.com/en/
House instructions
Wifi password: Ibiza2024
BBQ – flip gas tap on top to on.
Oven – if not working, fiddle with the switches on the top left. That’s as technical as I get on that one.
CAR
Land Rover Defender. 2010. Fully refurbed in classic green.
Note: Make sure lights, aircon, and esp the phone charger button are OFF before you leave the car.
Do NOT use the key fob. Lock car manually
Fuel: Diesel. 2 petrol stations in Santa Eularia. One on the road out of Santa Eularia to Ibiza Town.
Number plate: 1376 GSH
Problems:
Insurance: Zurich Policy no: 00000 137 584 512
Assistance numbers:
- Roadside; +34 932 671 040
- 24hr +34 934 165 040
Any questions? Any problems?
House Manager: Jesse Jackson; +34 613200190
Email: bizadude@gmail.com
John mobile: +44 7801479291
Taxi services:
Radio Taxi Ibiza +34 971 398483
Posher: Chauffuer service: mrmibiza.com. Boss: Midge +34 661 028 161. midge@mrmibiza.com