Françoise Spiekermeier
Between late October and April, all is quiet. You can hear the seagulls flying, and the harbor is deserted. We go for our first coffee - with milk and croissants - at the Club Nautique, to meet the regulars and read the local newspaper. From the terrace overlooking the port, Dalt Vila, the old fortified town founded by the Phoenicians from Carthage in the 8th century BC, dilutes its reflection in the water. The wharves, dominated by whitewashed facades, are bathed in a soft, easy-going atmosphere, shaded by the occasional palm tree. The air is crystalline.
THE YACHT CLUB
Club Náutico IbizaLocated at the entrance to Eivissa's old port, the Nautical Club boasts Eivissa's only terrace overlooking the water. Theoretically reserved for members of the Nautical Club, the restaurant offers lunch or dinner in a relaxed atmosphere, in contact with an exclusively local clientele. We particularly appreciate the early-morning breakfast.
DALT VILA, THE OLD TOWN
Ibiza Museum of Contemporary Art (MACE): Ibiza has an artistic culture deeply rooted in its identity, marked by the presence of travellers and creators who have settled on the island over the years. Without belonging to any particular school, and mixing styles as diverse as their cultures and countries of origin, in 1959 they created the avant-garde collective Grupo Ibiza 59, whose works form the museum's permanent collection. The modern-architecture building is attached to an emblematic 17th-century building, in a quite successful marriage. The temporary exhibitions are well worth a visit.
Painter Rom Ero's studio: this local artist has produced a large number of Pacha Club posters and painted portraits of the island's divinities, from the god Bès to the goddess Tanit. He welcomes you to his studio if you contact him on our behalf on +34 671 33 88 53
52 B Carrer de Luci Oculaci, O7800 Ibiza
Traspas Y Torijano:
Two artists who arrived on the island in the midst of a hippie dream run a store in an alleyway leading up to the Santo Domingo cathedral: these two lovers of the island, who saved their love in danger, love to talk to the friendly customers about love, life and poetry, recounting their adventures and describing the power of the earthen amulets on display among all kinds of souvenirs.
S'Escalinata: a terrace with no tables or chairs... just multicolored poufs thrown onto the steps of one of the old town's most spectacular staircases running along the ramparts. It's incredibly charming, but places are expensive! This little restaurant offers no-frills cuisine: tapas to share over a pitcher of homemade Sangria. As night falls, the music and laughter intensify. No doubt you'll end up sitting down with your neighbors!
LA TORRE DEL CANÓNIGO, A SMALL LUXURY HOTEL OF THE WORLD IN TOWN
La Torre del Canónigo is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Housed in 3 historic buildings, in a beautiful 16th-century mansion just across from Traspas Y Torijano, the rooms feature a chic, minimalist style in off-white tones that reflect the island, embellished with noble materials and weathered wood, set off by vivid stone and ceramic floors, overlooking terraces and balconies with flowers, and mottled furniture just like home.
The swimming pool winds at right angles along the roof terrace of the fortified tower, offering a unique view over the port of the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
A real jewel in the city! Joan Roman 1, Ibiza 0780
JUST OUTSIDE IBIZA, GRAND PALLADIUM PALACE
A recently renovated hotel complex located on the Playa d'en Bossa opposite the Torre del Carregador watchtower, the 5-star XXL version has the privilege of bordering the beach and benefiting from a seafront location. Its all-inclusive version offers a variety of restaurants and bars within the complex like an entire village, and its large family pools, some with water jets, promise lively afternoons for the kids, while the grown-ups can enjoy a calmer space at the spa pool, following the hydrotherapy trail or taking part in a water polo or archery tournament, trying their hand at grass bowling or beach volleyball on the nearby beach. All rooms have a balcony or terrace. XXL version of practical luxury.
Grand Palladium Palace Ibiza Resort & Spa
Platja d'en Bossa, s/n, 07817 Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza
© Roberto Lara
SOUTHWEST
Sant Josep craft market: Country produce brought to you every Saturday morning by small organic farmers, makers of sandals and traditional straw baskets, manufacturers of organic cosmetics based on aloe vera grown on the island... all to be discovered in a friendly musical atmosphere. Again and again, smiles on our faces.
Café Racó Verd: here, good vibes come in many forms: the boutique is a concept store offering books, framed reproductions, decorative objects, and iconic pieces of clothing to embellish with trinkets. In the courtyard, the small wooden tables under the arbour allow you to enjoy fresh, colorful local cuisine. On the terrace bar, facing the street, you can sip fruit cocktails while listening to a mix of music from all horizons, from bossa nova to flamenco. And on every face, a smile!
Cactus Ibiza : in this somewhat hidden boutique, Raquel and Charlotte offer a choice of clothes from all over the world, Japanese kimonos, Tibetan necklaces, bohemian crochet dresses, accessories, local straw bags and jewelry to create your own Ibizenco style.
Another Cactus Ibiza: this nursery specializing in cacti and succulents is a sight to behold. The plants are grown on site in greenhouses, so are perfectly adapted to the island's climate. Cactus Ibiza offers rare and unique species. Their cacti grow to monumental sizes, just like in the deserts of Colorado or Mexico! And they're grown by a French family with deep roots here.
El Carmen: ideally located right on the beach, opposite the sumptuous Es Vedra rock, this family-run restaurant serves the traditional dish of Bullit de Peix. Somewhere between paella and bouillabaisse, it's a stew of boiled fish served with potatoes. The sunset over Es Vedra from here is spectacular.
A HOTEL IN SAN ANTONIO AND A RESTAURANT IN ES CUBELLS
Hostal La Torre Ideally perched between Cap Negret and Punta de sa Galera in an impressive mineral cirque overlooking the sea, the hotel places you right on the west coast, facing the sunset. Here, you can experience the sunset, admired while dancing to the chill-out rhythms of the house. You cross the island to come to this end of the world to sip a cocktail facing the sea. The rooms are simple, with an emphasis on white fabrics and light wood.
Es Xarcu Bar-restaurant Es Cubells: with a breathtaking view of the village church, this restaurant, popular with locals, offers a taste of the peaceful calm of this remote village, and excellent fresh grilled fish.
NORTH AND CENTER
Elements Ibiza: a beach club with a festive atmosphere, nestled in the hollow of Benirras beach, a hippie mecca where every Sunday evening you can enjoy the sunset from the sand to the rhythm of the djembe players.
Bar Costa : On the paseo de Santa Gertrudis, reserved for strollers, its lively terrace attracts like a magnet. On low tables, you can taste famous vintages to accompany Belotta Iberian ham, whose legs line the walls of the inn, next to a remarkable collection of paintings by local artists. Voted Best Gastronomic Bar in the Balearic Islands by the Association of Balearic Gastronomic Journalists.
Gallery Origins: In the pure tradition of hippie travelers, Raquel brings back from her travels objects and garments made by tribes, gleaned from the silk roads of Africa, Central Asia, the Himalayas and Mexico, such as sheepskin coats embroidered with fluorescent flowers, made in Pakistan.
Terra Masia Ibiza in SANTE EULARIA DES RIU: a 56-hectare organic farm where you can enjoy vegetarian fast food or a fruit and vegetable cocktail after filling your crate with seasonal, biodynamically-grown vegetables. Perfect for rediscovering the true taste of home-grown produce. Ibiza has taken the plunge by developing organic farming, which is part of the island's identity.
TO THE EAST, HIPPIE MARKETS
Las Dalias: the market created by hippies in the 70s is the last place where you can still meet them and buy their handicrafts every Saturday, all year round. In summer, it's best to visit at night on Sundays and Mondays.
Punta Arabia : This is the island's biggest hippie market, open on Wednesdays from April to October, located near Cala Martina beach.
Tourist information:
https://ibiza.travel/fr/
Ibiza Bohemia, published by Assouline
The hippie-chic atmosphere of Ibiza is captured in a collection of portraits of beautiful people, landscapes, and private interiors. It is an exploration of the island and its beauty, which defines its distinctive style. A magnificent album and bestseller from Assouline Publishing.
