South East Ibiza

Restaurants & bars

La Bodega has two venues, one on the Talamanca beach strip to the north of Ibiza Town and one on the edge of Dalt Vila. They serve tapas and sharing plates, washed down with a fine list of wines. The Ibiza Town venue is on the pavement of a busy street, so it makes for great people watching too. Nearby Tessa serves up old family recipes inspired by sea and land while you enjoy a view of the harbour and Dalt Vila. They also make great Italian food and pizza.

If you’re after a fine dining experience, Bista Sa Cova is a feast for the eyes and the tongue. With exceptional views of Dalt Vila lit up at night you will be served French-Mediterranean fusion food with Peruvian influences. The restaurant is only open for dinner in the summer season months.

Experimental Beach sits amongst the salt flats of Las Salinas. Part of the international group Experimental Cocktail Club (which has venues in London, Paris, New York, Venice, Menorca and Verbier) the Experimental Beach offers lunch or dinner on your sunbed and, of course, world class cocktails made by skilled mixologists.

Right in the middle of the Ses Salines nature reserve with views out across the blue waters to Formentera and Es Cavallet beach, La Escollera restaurant on the sand serves Mediterranean classics like paella as well as international favourites like sushi and curry. They even have salt-baked sea bass cooked with salt from the salt-flats surrounding the restaurant.

If you feel like a change of scenery Casa Maca is a boutique hotel with a large bar and restaurant, found in the hills behind Ibiza town. A short drive inland takes you away from the bustle of the South East’s coastline, and from this distance you can enjoy a horizon framed by the Dalt Vila skyline. The hotel itself is an artfully restored 300-year-old farmhouse set amongst a grove of fruiting trees. The menu here is high-end Mediterranean, much of it cooked on open fire, and supplied by the hotel’s own organic garden.

See & Do

Ibiza’s walled old town Dalt Vlla (which translates to Upper Town) is a labyrinthian network of pretty streets that offer incredible views out over Ibiza Town and the sea. Over 2500 years old, the area is a UNESCO World Heritage site and hidden in its streets are fascinating stories from the island’s past.

Dalt Vila was built by the Phoenicians, who called it Iboism. Once upon a time it was the most important coastal city in the Mediterranean. The walls that surround the narrow streets and city squares were built by King Charles I and Philip II of Spain to defend the city against the French and the Ottomans. The impressive fortified walls are punctuated with antique military cannons.

Apart from its aesthetic appeal, Dalt Vila’s streets are a treasure trove of history. There are official routes you can follow around the town, or you can make your own way around. The central tourist office on the Paseo de Vara de Ray hands out free guides with which to explore the streets, and there are plenty of information plaques that offer interesting trivia about the various houses.

On a hot day, the ascent through the streets can be very sweaty and it’s best to wear shoes that are comfortable for walking in. As you reach the higher tiers the views get more and more impressive until you get to the castle at the top.

Ibiza Castle is a patchwork of well-preserved architecture, built over the years as the island passed through the hands of various conquerors. It has unbeatable 360-degree views of the surrounding town and the sea and is worth exploring when you reach it. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Snows sits next to the castle.

When you’re done with walking, you can book half-day tours of the island on classic Vespa scooters. The Vespa Tours’ routes take you inland, through the countryside and charming villages of Ibiza. Soak up the beautiful scenery with a cool breeze in your face, and stop for a swim or two in one of the many pretty coves you’ll drive past.

If you’re into culinary exploring, the Ibiza Food Tours will take you on a gourmet journey around the island, sampling local pastries, tapas, wines and liqueurs. During the tour you’ll learn the history of the culture and cuisine on the island, visit Ibiza’s oldest restaurant and finish with a homemade ice cream and the famous medicinal drink Hierbas Ibicencas, made with herbs from the island.