25 x best of the north of Ibiza (2017)
Secretly - as I have noticed - quite a few people are still catching up on the tail end of the summer in Ibiza. AND YOU ARE RIGHT! Because even though we come there almost every summer (once in the spring and once at the end of the summer), and sometimes even just for a few days: the Spanish island is never boring. Yes, we stay far away from some parts (Sant Antoni for example) and some addresses are mentioned again and again. Because it is possible. Definitely the north of the island, because it is actually the most beautiful and the most fun. Fuck party hard, here it's relax hard.
So if you are still allowed and don't want to waste time, take advantage of the list below. Recovery: list. Where should you really go in Ibiza, in the beautiful north, in the food and drink category. And get some sleep. Would you prefer something a bit original? Well. So over here. Don't mention it.
Okay, for starters, one that you'll find on absolutely EVERY list, just so we can get rid of it. Because well... It is and remains a tasty, affordable, always fun classic that you can enjoy all day long. And where the kids are nicely placed on one side (nice for everyone), where you can also go with a large group and where it is even a party when it rains (because yes, that also happens in Ibiza, especially when you turn the tail from the summer). So never gets old. If you want to be sure of a spot, reservations are a must, but anyone who arrives early or late (compared to regular lunch and dinner hours) will always score a table. On the menu there is a lot of vegetarian (pizza! falafel! quiches!), some vegan, a good burger and a truly delicious sandwich with steak and parmesan cheese. And then we just talked about lunch. Read more: La Paloma
New this season and oh so nice! In a small, beautiful bay where you may not have been before, Cala Nova, in the north-east of the island, this new must go opened. To chill with a cocktail and your nose at the sea, yes, but you also go to Aiyana Ibiza for a truly exceptional meal. Skip breakfast and have a hungry lunch.
The burrata with tomato salad is perfection and the fish of the day that comes packaged from the oven, seasoned potatoes under the fillet, is exactly that light but filling, tasty lunch that belongs to your holiday. A more extensive review will follow, but for those who are packing as we speak: GO! Aiyanna Ibiza
Right next to Gare du Nord (also recommended, see below), the new Los Otros concept store has recently been opened. A nice store, but perhaps even nicer is the 'concept' part of the 'store': you can more than go there for a drink after shopping and a simple but tasty (vegetarian) lunch. If your hair isn't sticky from all the salt (*emoticon-with-big-'what?!' eyes*), you can dive into the hairdresser's chair, and on Saturdays and Sundays you shouldn't miss the place at all because that's when there live music. Or just go for a chat with the inspiring owner, always a good idea. The others
The discovery of the season, although they are not new, this season. Just for us. Because we always thought it was very family style here... We were wrong! There are several beach bars on the nice (indeed kids-friendly, but certainly also adults-friendly) beach in the north-east of Ibiza, but two stand out - and they now both belong to the same owners. Number 1 is On the Beach, an authentic, laid-back, just right hippie/surfer-style beach bar where you dine and drink as you should at a beach bar: sunny, light dishes and summer drinks. A little further away is the newer The Boat House. Here too, hammocks all over the place (YAY) and the same nothing-to-happen beach atmosphere, although The Boat House is a bit 'slicker', fresher, more modern, so to speak, than On the Beach. Call it the more mature sister. Although we can't say with a knife to our throat where we like it better. On the beach en The Boat House
Hello! Want to book a room? Then book a room at the new, luxurious Gatzara Suites in the middle of the island in the lovely village of Santa Gertrudis. Firstly, because sitting in the middle is always good: you can go anywhere in no time. If the clouds are on the left, turn right and vice versa. Child can do the laundry. And secondly, because the Gatzara Suites are so wonderfully relaxed, beautifully decorated and above all because of the rooftop with swimming pool, which makes you (almost) ignore the beach. Perhaps not your most affordable accommodation option, but not the most expensive either. One of the nicest. Gatzara Suites
On top of a mountain... There is a dream of a hotel. I will rave about this in detail on this site as soon as possible, because there is quite a bit to say about it, but let me start with the following: find the small village of St Miquel, drive straight through it, turn left up the mountain and work up the mountain (heavy, if you have a rental car like us) – it's worth it. Once you have checked in, you will find, especially the outside area of the hotel, a small Ibizan paradise with three swimming pools, a gigantic spa, a bar for small bites and a burger and a hell of a restaurant one floor up. Everything enhanced by a dream of a view - unique even for Ibiza. Rocks and sea, in fact, and the sun sinking between the two. Phenomenal. You may well say. To be continued. Hotel Hacienda Na Xamena
And if you are in or near St Miquel, you will find a restaurant in the village that you can call a 'hidden gem'. La Luna Nell' Orto is romance at its finest thanks to the large garden full of fig trees under which the tables are laid out (there isn't really one inside, so when it rains they are closed, and closed after September anyway). Idyllic, that's what it is. And the food and drinks were good too! The menu is small, the staff professional. Delicious. La Luna Nell'Orto
Okay, this one might not be very original, just like La Paloma, but it is one you really shouldn't miss during your Ibiza trip. You can visit the green-white farm-to-table restaurant all day long, from breakfast (around 9 am), through lunch, a bit of shopping in between (nice stuff like pompom blankets, wicker bags, goodies for the kitchen and nice things for the wall) then on to drinks (with a bite! You do go to Aubergine for the better bites) and in the evening you dine under the canopy, between the flickering lights (read: so also good if you - which is also common in September - encounter a rainy evening). There are several corners to retreat to (we like that) so you can always find a spot (in high season reservations are a must) and the food is absolutely delicious. Many vegetarian dishes but certainly also a good steak from the outdoor barbecue. Aubergine
Actually a bed and breakfast, but nowadays you can also dine there, which is highly recommended. Especially on Fridays there is a nice 'hurrah, it's weekend atmosphere' (although that applies to every day in Ibiza) and at the back of the garden you dine with like-minded people and plump portions in front of you: shrimp ceviche, a steak tartare (on are French! Well done), carpaccio, a good steak and more from a kitchen that is a cross between a little Spanish, a little French and a little Dutch thanks to the Dutch owners. Last but not least: you can sleep well at Gare du Nord for a fair price - it is quite difficult to find an affordable place to stay on the island in a very nice place. Read more: Gare du Nord
Uh yes, the dream of 2016 and also of 2017, there is nothing to say about it. In any case, Los Enamoradis on the small bay of Portinax wins the top prize for the most wonderful design in the country. No, maybe from the entire hemisphere. The colorful 70's vibe, with a touch of Morocco and a dose of Ibiza, is nice and bold. Nothing has been held back - yes of course orange can become aqua - and that is why it is so inspiring. Inside it is photogenic, at the front, near the water, you can sit (or hang in a hammock), all day long and at the back it is perhaps the most beautiful. And the quietest, if you want to retreat with a book and a cocktail.
The compact menu features a small number of equally inspiring dishes. Don't expect burgers or fries here, but 'tacos' (actually they are burritos to roll yourself) with a tuna pot (more of a stew than anything else - yummy!), grilled shrimps, a chicken skewer with curry (yummy!) and salads. Lovers
The Giri Cafe in St Joan (St Joan is nice anyway, in case you haven't noticed that yet) is actually a must. It is attractive, yes, the eye also wants something (a bit of Bali, a bit of Morocco, a lot of Ibiza), but the food is above all excellent: The Giri serves a modern Mediterranean menu with many healthy (vegetarian) dishes, chicken croquettes (! ) with lime mayo and a main course with lamb, for example. By the way, there is also The Giri Residence, right, a guesthouse. Just as clever, just as recommended, although you do have to pay quite a bit of money for it - it's said. Want the luxury and the experience, but not the full price? The Giri Residence also has a spa. Dig into it first and end it with a healthy lunch. The Giri Café
Really good and special dining? The new restaurant Lamuella is the place to be, a restaurant that you cannot visit from Ibiza town. Can't miss it. Near San Lorenzo you will find restaurant, lifestyle concept and 'art space' Lamuella (1 word), a business inspired by the owners' many trips to India – Goa to be precise. 2 bobo paradises, 1 address. The Israeli chef cooked at 6 different Michelin-starred restaurants before running his own shop at Lamuella, including a successful vegetarian restaurant with yoga retreat in India. Lamuella Ibiza cooks at lunch, 'in-between' and dinner. During lunch mainly salads and sandwiches, in-between is good for tacos, toast and tortellini and in the evening all the brakes go wild. Lots of veggies, but not everything. In short, Lamuella is casually cool, healthy and there is a huge kids corner. LaMuella
Another dream of a small beach shop on the east coast of Ibiza. Familiar story and a picture. Recommended. Chiringuito El Bigotes
If you are tired of all the tapas, paella, salads and more, then Bambuddha is your man for seriously delicious Asian food. Expect a fancy dinner where it is also a bit ordi/posh... But if we are very honest, we sometimes like that too. Heels down, chest(s) out and lips pursed: you will be amazed. Moreover, the restaurant is more than great if you want a bit of a party vibe. And the dishes are to die for, no doubt. Restaurant Bambuddha
An Italian on a Spanish island. Yup. Anyone who is on the island for a week or more should spend at least an evening there. Firstly, because Ibiza is not necessarily cheap, and sometimes you just want a pizza for 15 euros, and secondly, because the affordable pizza (or pasta) here is also more than tasty. Number three is the attractive and large room that is the restaurant (always a place when it rains!) and the more than pleasant garden on the street side (you don't even notice it) when the weather is as it should be. One of the few restaurants that is always busy and where the crowds are handled with a smile. Nice and fast. Tasty. Oh, you can also go there for other Italian dishes, fish and meat. That's beside the point, because you're actually just here for that quick, tasty pizza – really. Macao Café
Drinks in Santa Gertrudis, Tulum-style? Voila. Gitano Ibiza
The owners of La Paloma restaurant opened a caterer in the middle of the island and named the business Picadeli. For any time of the day, provided it is during the day. Ideal for those who rent a house and prefer not to cook themselves (duh). Everything at Picadeli is in the style you are used to/expect from La Paloma: almost everything home-grown, vegetarian pizzas, bulging salads and falafel, and if meat or fish is on the table, it is only of the best local quality. . Picadeli
Okay, one more time, the Cotton Beach Club. Actually a bit too posh, too white, too expensive and too much looking and being looked at, but for those who fancy sushi or a nice drink, the Cotton Beach Club should not be missed. And… While you're there/now that we're on the subject: we honestly think the little chiringuito on the beach is just as nice and tasty (and above all, much cheaper). Best of both worlds: satisfy your hunger at the chiringuito, and have a drink at the Cotton Beach Club with a view of the beautiful beach, a dream of a sunset at the end of the day and a view of the boats that always leave behind from noon moor each other. We are only human. Cotton Beach Club
Anyone who thinks that Ibiza only has burgers, paella, steak, oily fish and tapas is wrong: healthier businesses are flourishing in Ibiza and Wild Beets, in Santa Gertrudis, is leading the way. You go there for lunch, vegan to be precise. Because although there are more and more vegetarian restaurants, or addresses that (can) cook vegetarian or vegan, there are not that many places that really specialize in a clean, plant-based meal. As well as Wild Beets. Detox juices, soups in the most beautiful colors (plant-based food often looks so beautiful) and rich salads and sandwiches. Wild Beets
If you want to be healthy and en route, turn off at Can Guimo. A cozy, colorful place where just such colorful food is served on the table (or in a to-go container!). Gluten-free and sugar-free? This is where you need to be. The sugar-free cakes are delicious (always delicious), the coffee is good, just like the shakes, but the best part is the love that the owners put into their business. You notice that in everything, and yes, you taste it too. Can Guimo
A golden oldie, but much less known among us Dutch than, say, La Paloma. Fine. The food has been top notch for fifteen years, as has the always friendly service (on the other hand, we have sometimes caught the people of La Paloma with a bit of arrogance, just to make a comparison). Grilled meat, delicious tomato salad, mashed potatoes… In short: straightforward dishes, excellently prepared. Can Balafia
Formerly a school, then an olive oil factory with a shop, now the roof under which restaurant Ses Ecoles is housed. The shop is still there, the olive oil too, but new are the delicious 'cocas', a kind of pizza and a steak that is worth writing about. The space is large, but make no mistake: the chefs cook excellently and only take on a few coverts per day so as not to overflow. Reservations are therefore recommended. Also a good address for a large group: the authentic building has several rooms and if there are enough people, you will have one of those rooms all to yourself. Oleoteca Ses Ecoles
Very new on the east side of central Ibiza. Okay, okay, you can't really call Santa Eulària Northern Ibiza, but we'll take it here anyway. Knee-ear who pays attention. Los Patios is already an asset to the island, especially for those who love art and good, uncomplicated food at a (high!!) level, for a very good price. Don't tell anyone before the hype becomes real. With the offspring? Don't be put off by the aforementioned text about art everywhere and the quality of the food: Los Patios has been set up for rum and the people love the small stuff! So you can just come along. Los Patios
Anyone who has ever heard of Ibiza has also heard of the hippie market. The market is called Las Dalias (at least that is the name of the most famous of the number of markets on the island) and to be honest we have to say that we actually don't want to go there anymore. Not much authentic to experience. But up to you of course! Can Currue is highly recommended, a nice hotel (where many weddings are held - not for nothing) with a good no-bullshit restaurant. Not hipperdepip, but (just) nice. Can Curreu
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