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Condé Nast Traveller: The 19 best restaurants on Ibiza right now

04 . 03 . 24.

Ibiza’s dining scene once played second fiddle to the island’s fabled nightclub scene. However, as the island’s original ravers have grown up, the restaurants have become the hottest tickets on the island.

Every restaurant on the Condé Nast Traveller 19 best restaurants list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has eaten at that restaurant. The list includes both high-end and affordable eateries that offer an authentic and insider experience and features the Sabina Clubhouse Restaurant.

Find out more about Sabina Ibiza’s Clubhouse restaurant

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How To Do Ibiza Now, According To Vogue

By Kerry McDermott and Kate Lloyd

Whether Ibiza ever went out of fashion is debatable, but there’s no question that the White Isle is currently enjoying something of a renaissance. It has witnessed a string of scene-shifting new openings in recent years – like the luxe Six Senses in Portinatx, on the island’s north coast, which unveiled its chic Beach Caves in 2022, and The Standard in the Old Town. And though Ibiza will forever be associated with hedonism, the original clubber’s paradise has much to offer a different breed of pleasure-seeker these days. This summer, a wave of new restaurants, like the Ibiza outpost of Mayfair favourite Maine , and a pop-up from Michelin star chef Nieves Barragán, is securing its position as a foodie destination, as well as a party one.

Designer Silvia Astore, who splits her time between London and her hideaway in the hills around Sant Josep de sa Talaia, has long been hooked on the free-spirited lifestyle unique to the island, and confirms it is humming with renewed energy. “There has always been a hype on the island,” she says. “However it has definitely been thriving. There are new openings constantly, and now with many more fashion-based events we are definitely seeing a different crowd starting to discover the island’s magic.” Sure enough, model (and former British Vogue cover star) Mona Tougaard, shoe designer Amina Muaddi and Rihanna ’s stylist Jahleel Weaver are just some of the industry insiders to have been spotted there on trips recently.

Whether you’re hoping to immerse yourself in sound baths, superstar DJ sets, the island’s flourishing slow food movement or simply the sunshine, read Vogue ’s guide to the places to know before you go.

The view from a junior suite at Six Senses Ibiza.

Within months of The Standard opening in 2022, the hotel, which overlooks the castle in the Old Town, had already played host to bright young things like actors Florence Pugh , Sheila Atim and Will Poulter, and designers Maximilian Davis and Chet Lo. Vogue ’s own Rosie Vogel-Eades, global director of talent and casting, fell for the cute rooftop bar and pool when she checked in. For 2023, it’s added Casa Privada, a 14-suite rentable villa that has all the mod-cons of a luxury hotel (including a yoga studio) with added privacy – perfect for a big group trip. Sir Joan is similarly well-placed for pals looking to take advantage of the party scene: it overlooks Ibiza port and the buzzy restaurants and bars of the Old Town, and has the vibe of a stylish music exec’s office, all wood-panelled walls and music history books. (Breakfast there – a feast of nourishing salads, pastries, indulgent egg dishes and more – runs on until 1pm for those with particularly sore heads.) Meanwhile, three years after its opening, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay remains an oasis of relaxation, still close enough to the clubs to be a party pit-stop but so pristine and serene it could be on a different planet from Pacha – especially now it’s home to its own Six Senses spa and fine dining Spanish pop-up, Gusto , from Sabor chef Nieves Barragán.

If you’re looking to get away from it all rather than dive headfirst into the heart of the action, choose one of the island’s charming agriturismos instead of a traditional resort. Can Domo is impossibly chilled, within walking distance of the beach at Cala Llonga, and something of a foodie destination in the evenings. Vogue contributor Pippa Vosper – who is among the recently converted, having visited Ibiza for the first time for a wedding – recommends Can Sastre (“chic and quiet and with the rustic decor I hoped to find on the island”), and has already earmarked Los Jardines de Palerm , a small boutique hotel in a 400-year-old finca in San José, for her next trip. Style director Poppy Kain, meanwhile, recommends booking a room with a private terrace at Atzaró : “The on-site spa is incredible, the staff are so friendly, and it has its own herb and vegetable garden,” she says.

Maine Ibiza , tucked away next to a flamingo-filled nature reserve at the southern tip of the island, is one of a number of thrilling new restaurant openings on the island this year. With a menu that spans crowd-pleasing seafood and spectacular salads (the tomato carpaccio is a must-try), as well as a killer cocktail list, the bohemian-luxe eatery is quickly becoming the spot for a party crowd looking for a place to fuel up before a big night out ( DC-10 is just up the road). Zitya – launched on the site of the legendary Naif, the restaurant where the likes of Mick Jagger and Kate Moss partied the night away in the 1990s – is a leafy patio eatery serving up Rhodian dishes that span from fresh watermelon and lentil salad to indulgent desserts. And if you’re still not done with your night post-sweet treat? You can see if you can get into the invite-only finca, the restaurant’s hidden late-night watering hole.

By Joy Montgomery

By Daniel Rodgers

You’ll find in-demand lunch tables at Jondal on the south of the island, where you might spy Moss at the next table as you tuck into your langoustine and fries, and El Silencio , where the kitchen is overseen by Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco. (If you do score a reservation here, linger on after lunch – it’s one of Ibiza’s best spots to watch the sunset.) Astore – whose Kandy dresses in fruity shades have fans in Lila Moss and Florence Pugh – also recommends long-standing favourite Es Xarcu , and further inland, La Paloma and Cana Pepeta . Interiors enthusiasts should check out Amalur and Macao in Santa Gertrudis, and make time to hit up the boutiques in this pretty village afterwards.

Ibiza is also awash with less sceney (and, let’s face it, less expensive) spots for a long, lazy and low-key lunch. Head to Fish Shack at Talamanca for plump, fresh prawns and cold beer, says fashion features editor Laura Hawkins, who calls it a “perfect palate cleanser” after visiting Ibiza’s polished beach clubs. Elsewhere, authentic chiringuito Ses Boques is particularly beautiful and popular with locals, while El Chiringuito is “a classic”, according to Vogel-Eades. “My favourite thing is the oyster shucker who walks from table to table,” she says. “I think he’s been there for 22 years now, an absolute Ibizan legend!”

The rooftop bar at The Standard overlooks the Old Town.

The fashion crowd has been gravitating to Six Senses since Loewe threw a party at the hotel in 2022 to celebrate its ongoing collaboration with the island’s original bohemian boutique, Paula’s Ibiza. But the real jewel in the resort’s crown? The spa, which Vogue ’s European beauty and wellness director Jessica Diner name-checks as the best on the island. Its visiting practitioners include osteopath and acupuncturist Boniface Verney-Carron (who also happens to be Mr Arizona Muse ), and breathwork expert Sapphire Leena , who was born and bred on the island. Explore the organic gardens after your massage and sea salt scrub – or just bliss out on one of the plush daybeds.

As places to spend some quality time with your summer reading list go, they don’t get much better than Amante , near Cala Llonga. Book a lounger ahead of time and arrive early to get a good spot overlooking the stunning cove. Staff will be on hand to top up your rosé, so the only reason to move is for a dip.

Poppy Kain recommends seeking out Cala Carbo, a hidden beach that’s home to two good restaurants, one more casual than the other. “Same owner, same fish,” says Poppy. “The difference at the cheaper restaurant is that you sit on plastic chairs – but the menu is basically the same. Have a long lunch, go for a swim, and watch a pink sunset from here.”

If you’re making a day of it, pack a towel in your beach bag and hop on the ferry for the 30-minute trip to the island of Formentera (or better yet, charter your own boat: the Sir Hotel group’s 60ft Sir boat can accommodate groups of up to 12 people), a bohemian baby sister to glitzy Ibiza. Hire a bike once you get there to explore the glorious beaches – the almost Maldivian white sand of spots like Migjorn and Llevant put even Ibiza’s gorgeous coastline in the shade. When lunchtime rolls around, skip the famous but underwhelming Juan y Andrea (unless you’re on the hunt for an A-list sighting – virtually guaranteed on this terrace), and book a table at Beso Beach instead.

The outside dining space at Maine Ibiza.

Poppy’s other tip? La Galeria Elefante in Santa Gertrudis, “a beautiful treasure trove of global beauty, with different rooms filled with decorations and pieces from around the world, from Indonesia to Guatemala. This is my favourite place to shop and hang out,” Poppy says.

And if you’re in need of a special outfit for a night out, make a beeline for Annie’s Ibiza in the Old Town, where Kate and Lila shop for designer vintage on family holidays . “It’s easy to lose hours rifling through the precious vintage dresses, as well as new season pieces selected by founder Annie Doble,” says British Vogue ’s commerce writer Alice Cary. “When she’s not travelling, Doble is on hand to help you choose between sparkly Area looks, vintage slips and her own line of corseted minidresses. Some nights it’s open until the small hours, which is perfect in a fashion emergency – like when you make the spontaneous decision to hit the club.”

Getting there

Thought arriving by private jet was strictly for the one per cent? Not any more. Aero is a self-styled “semi-private” jet service operating between London and Ibiza. (And between Ibiza and Mykonos , if you’re really pushing the boat out.) Rather than having the plane all to yourself, and taking off at the time of your choosing, the flights are scheduled, and you’ll share the 16-seater with other small groups. With passengers paying from £990 per seat each way, it’s still a big financial leap from an economy airline ticket, but certainly more affordable than the £30,000 it would cost to charter your own PJ, Kardashian-style. Plus: no queues, no threat of lost luggage, and the on-board products are by Dr Barbara Sturm.

By Hayley Maitland

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Condé Nast Traveller; Best Hotels on Ibiza

1. CAN SASTRE, BEST HOTEL OF IBIZA & FORMENTERA

Can Sastre is called one of the best hotels of Ibiza and Formentera. We are delighted by the review that Coné Nast Traveller has written about us. This is what they wrote:

THE BOUTIQUE HIDEAWAY

The boutique hideaway

Ten minutes from cool Santa Gertrudis, Can Sastre describes itself as an agriturismo. While there isn’t much sign of farm life, this five-room hotel feels like you’re stepping into the home of owner Bibi and her husband Ray. Their beautiful blonde children dash about (silently) underfoot in towel capes while their parents will ask after your night out, or help with supper reservations, but otherwise leave you completely unhassled. The Dutch couple bought and revamped the space in summer 2018 and the white finca exteriors are draped in bougainvillaea with hammocks slung in shady corners. In the bedrooms, things are simple, with whitewashed walls and wicker baskets alongside palm-fringed lampshades. There are organic Meraki lotions from Denmark in the bathroom, which you can also buy to take home from the hotel boutique.

At sundown, help yourself to an enormous glass of blush rosé at the poolside honesty bar and order the just-cooked edamame doused in salt. For breakfast there are scooped-out wooden bowls of cool acai topped with candied fruit and nuts and beetroot juice for sipping with a bamboo straw. Ask ahead and platters of fresh bread, Iberico ham and manchego cheese can be arranged for lunch. Things here feel homespun and instantly relaxing – it’s as good a spot to hide entirely from the rest of the island as it is a launchpad from which to explore Ibiza’s farm-to-table restaurants, beach clubs or mega-club scene.

By Tabitha Joyce – Condé Nast Traveller

Read the full article here

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Inside an Airy, Light-Filled Haven Overlooking the Mediterranean

By Mitchell Owens

Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna

Her husband was adamant: The investment manager would accept any place for a vacation home other than Ibiza , the Spanish island known far and wide for its wild nightlife, hedonistic discotheques, and celebrity sightings. “We started with the Hamptons , then Greece , and then Mallorca , because he plays golf , and it has plenty of courses,” says his ebullient wife, Emma Roig Askari, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair Spain, a TV commentator for Atresmedia, and a Christie’s ambassador. Her secret weapon was simple: to take her recalcitrant husband to Ibiza offseason, “when the valleys are full of flowers and there’s beautiful sunlight. Little by little, he got interested.”

A sculpture by María Oriza Pérez stands on a travertine table by Mármoles Mabello in the main living room. Lit by an enormous skylight and furnished with a mix of antiques and new pieces, the room features multiple seating areas and opens onto an expansive terrace.

Cap Martin Sofa by India Mahdavi

Ralph Pucci

Mamounia Moorish Glass Lantern

Round Cotton & Jute Rug

Serena & Lily

Three years of diligent searching later, the London-based couple and their relieved grown children—“They were so happy that we’d finally decided on something”—found a mountainside to call their own. There, with Rolf Blakstad of Blakstad Design Consultants, an esteemed Ibiza firm founded in the 1950s, they began to build a dream house overlooking the sea and inspired by the island’s laid-back traditional style. What eventually emerged was a low, rambling white residence with enough bedrooms for family and friends and enough land to cultivate a garden of largely native Mediterranean plants, courtesy of British landscape guru Tania Compton, better known for her work at English country estates and being the contributing gardens editor of The World of Interiors, one of AD ’s sister publications. “As much as I love our house, the biggest pleasure is the garden,” Roig Askari says. “I’m a firm believer in the transcultural: Nothing is better than an expert from one country and culture working on a landscape in a completely different country.”

A pendant light by Gordiola hangs above the kitchen island. The chairs and stools are vintage.

Bauche Dining Chair by Charlotte Perriand for Steph Simon

Lettuce Ware Covered Tureen

When it comes to houses, though, it’s clear that Roig Askari—who decorated this place herself—believes in regionalism but with a twist. “My homeland is very much about wicker,” the Valencia native explains. But her pale, sun-tinged rooms—largely complexioned in straw yellows, bleached woods, dusty pink, various shades of white, and dashes of leaf-green—incorporate a mélange of internationalisms that work within a Spanish context. There are midcentury tapestries by the likes of Jean Lurçat and Joan Miró, skylights inspired by those in Valencia’s Arab bath houses, and, of all things, a sensual staircase modeled after one that the viceroy of vaulting Rafael Guastavino Jr. of Grand Central Terminal fame designed for Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University—only Roig Askari’s version is encased in snowy stucco rather than bare red brick. At the top of the staircase is an oculus cribbed from the Pantheon in Rome. “It doesn’t have anything to do with Mediterranean culture,” she admits of the opening, “but it’s one of my favorite things. Light that comes from above is very spiritual.”

A hand-embroidered Egyptian textile covers a guest-room wall. Custom daybed in a Pierre Frey fabric; Manopoulos chess set; 1950s French pottery.

Outlined Daybed by Anderssen & Voll for Muuto

Design Within Reach

Greek Mythology Chess Set

Peacock Pottery Vase

Roig Askari’s rooms are suffused with a magical glow—don’t worry, UV filters are omnipresent—that changes as it moves from sunrise to sunset, illuminating all manner of worldwide flotsam and jetsam but which, strangely enough, melds with the greatest of ease, given the unerring eye that brought them together and the tonal relationships that smooth out the mixmaster origins. “I did as much research as I could to justify my aesthetic choices,” she explains of unlikely details, such as a reproduction Roman mosaic fashioned in the Vatican workshops that ended up in a courtyard. “The Romans conquered the Balearic Islands in 123 BC, from the Carthaginians,” she says, so similar mosaics must have ended up in Ibiza. A pause follows, then she adds, “When you’re walking around the house, it’s like walking through my brain a bit. Beauty is universal, and Cycladic things look just as modern as anything you can find in a contemporary art gallery. And isn’t art history always about interpreting and reinterpreting?” More to the point, though, she says with a laugh, “It all goes together because I like it.” That wide-armed acceptance ranges quite widely, from a Tang dynasty camel to Bordallo Pinheiro platters shaped like cabbage leaves to 1950s French pottery to a postwar Osvaldo Borsani coatrack. Small wonder that admiring friends report that every object, no matter how small, no matter how modest, is what Roig Askari considers to be beautiful.

In the primary bedroom, a Curtis Jeré mirror hangs above a 1940s French oak desk and chair found in London. 1950 chair by Dirk van Sliedregt for Rohe Noordwolde; Moroccan bedcover from Creel and Gow .

Aegean Stripe Linen by Carolina Irving

John Rosselli

Silk Ikat Cushion by Les Ottomans

That includes the questionable but fascinating oeuvre of Hungarian artist Elmyr de Hory, one of the greatest forgers of the 20th century, known for sublimely skillful works by superstar painters and for hoodwinking galleries and celebrities. A fake Juan Gris painted by him hangs proudly on one of Roig Askari’s walls. “De Hory killed himself in Ibiza, so that’s my justification for owning it,” she says, adding that “when you put something not that expensive alongside something that is truly expensive, they talk to each other; they are happy together.” And for art historians and gallerists who might blanch at the thought of anyone spending money on a de Hory, Roig Askari has a sparky piece of decorating advice that the more straightlaced among us should consider following: “A little bit of tackiness can bring you a lot of happiness.”

Emma Roig Askari’s house appears in AD's May 2024 issue. To see this Ibiza home in print, subscribe to AD .

Emma Roig Askari outside her Ibiza getaway.

A print by Carolina Irving Textiles cushions the mudroom bench. Vintage ikat pillow; 1950s French mirror.

By David Sokol

By Sarah Archer

By Chelsea Hodson

A sculpture by María Oriza Pérez stands on a travertine table by Mármoles Mabello in the main living room. Lit by an enormous skylight and furnished with a mix of antiques and new pieces, the room features multiple seating areas and opens onto an expansive terrace.

In a corner of the living room, a collage by François Dreulle and other objects sit atop a 1940s French bar cabinet found at a flea market. Vintage French floor lamp.

Above a fireplace in the living room hangs a painting by Javier Chapa . At left, a 19th-century Testa di Moro sculpture sits atop a vintage wicker console. The chair (in foreground) is by Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet . Vintage stools found at a flea market surround the drinks table.

In the main living room, a Roger Capron cocktail table is surrounded by vintage French pieces. Custom sofa upholstered in a Pierre Frey fabric; tapestry by Joan Miró ; 1963 ceramic bas-relief of Picasso’s Guernica (on easel).

The second living room is furnished with a tapestry and wicker furniture found at a French flea market. The vintage sofa is upholstered in a Pierre Frey fabric.

The pantry cabinets are painted in Ladurée green. Tiffany & Co. vegetable terrines; Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage leaf platters; Themis Z mugs.

A collection of Danish pottery is displayed in niches along the staircase.

A bench by Muebles de Junco y Mimbre stands atop a Moroccan rug by Darkum Deco in the dressing room.

The bath’s 19th-century marble tub was found in Valencia. Vintage French chair and table.

The bath opens onto a terrace. Vintage French chinoiserie chair; bench by Harteria.

A bedroom features a display of nine paintings by Néstor Sanmiguel Diest . Pillows by Veronica Toub  using vintage fabrics.

A freestanding pavilion housing the summer kitchen was inspired by a 19th-century Moroccan watercolor. Table by Harteria.

In the summer kitchen, artist Bouke de Vries created an installation using the couple’s collection of iron age and Hellenistic vessels dating from the 8th to 1st centuries BC.

The inviting pool area.

Another view of the pool area.

The poolside loggia features a mirror made out of a garden planter that once belonged to French movie star Alain Delon and a wicker table found on Ibiza.

In the outdoor dining space, pendant lamps by Muebles de Junco y Mimbre hang over an oak table by Harteria and vintage French rattan chairs.

A seating area on the terrace.

The property’s landscape was fashioned by British garden designer Tania Compton .

By Lola Ogunnaike

By Jessica Ilyse Kurn

By Zoë Sessums

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The 15 best things to do in Ibiza

By Chloe Sachdev

Beyond the hippy days and techno raves, the best things to do in Ibiza can be attributed to the island's staggering natural beauty of windswept beaches, coves, rocky red cliffs and pine forests. Spend your days swimming and snorkelling, hiking or renting a boat to explore hard-to-reach bays. Away from the beaches, visit the cute villages and town squares that make this Balearic Island beat, each with its unique vibe but full of local cafes, restaurants and shops. With a Phoenician settlement founded in 654 BC, much of the island is steeped in history, with UNESCO heritage sites of ancient settlements dotted around. Spend some time traipsing around Ibiza Town, a labyrinth of bustling shops and restaurants with an ancient past seen in its cobbled stone streets and castle that looms large over the island. Here, we share a snapshot of things to do in Ibiza, including what to see and explore to get to know this mythical island.

Best things to do in Ibiza

Visit Dalt Vila and the castle of Ibiza

A World Heritage Site, Dalt Vila (Upper Town) is Ibiza Town’s old quarter. It’s located above Ibiza Town inside a magnificent ancient fortress with Renaissance town walls, cobbled stone streets and tight alleyways. Originally built to defend the island, it’s now a charming labyrinth of bustling restaurants, bars and shops such as  Annie’s Ibiza  (a favourite amongst the fashion set, including Kate Moss when she’s in town) and  La Oliva . This cheerful restaurant spills out on to the cobbled stones. Visit during the evening to see this old part of town at its liveliest.

Go shopping

Pound the pavement around Ibiza Town for a wonderful hodgepodge of shops. Start at the newly pedestrianised boulevard of Vara De Rey, shopping at haunts like  Ruta Market , a colourful store selling affordable fun fashion. Here, you’re also surrounded by high-street stores like Massimo Dutti, Mango and Zara. Head inwards along the winding streets of Ibiza Town for a pick‘n’mix of high and low international and local fashion, including local Balearic label  Charo Ruiz . Pick up a traditional straw basket from Can Vinyes, one of the oldest basket weavers on the island, now in its third generation. For vintage finds, stop at Holala Ibiza for all manner of thrift ware, or head to  Vincenta Ganesha , a treasure trove of collectable vintage, including the original Paula’s Ibiza. Further towards the port and around the marina is where the glitzier shops live – Dior, Loewe, Dolce & Gabbana, etc.

Visit the villages

Make time to visit the little villages that make up the heart and soul of the White Isle, each with its own distinct vibe. Santa Gertrudis, in the island's heart, attracts well-to-do boho-chic families and is filled with lovely restaurants, bars and stores selling perfectly fringed knick-knacks and organic cotton floaty dresses. Further east are San Carlos and Santa Eulalia. The former resembles a beautiful time-warped village with bright white buildings and an 18th-century church. Visit Bar Anita, a traditional Ibizan café that has remained unchanged since the 40s. To the west are the villages of San Jose and San Antonio. The latter may be famous for its all-out party scene, but it also has some of the island’s most stunning beaches and sunsets. South of the island, you’ll find the charming villages of Es Cubells, Sant Francesc and Sant Jordi, which have free open-air film screenings in the town square throughout July and August. Head north to Es Portinax, a tourist-heavy town now with hotels like the ultra-luxury Six Senses Ibiza and eclectic Los Enamorados. Don’t skip San Miguel, a quaint village with a cute selection of bars, restaurants and cafes, including Can Xicu de sa Torre, an old-school wooden Ibicencan bar.

Go clubbing

In Ibiza, there is a club for everyone. For a glitzy time, head to  Club Chinois . For dinner and a cabaret, book a table at  Lío.  Get your rave on inside an old airline hanger at DC-10, which attracts the all-black techno-set. Daytime party-goers should head to  Ushuaïa ,  Destino  and  Cova Santa , or for a thumping super-club experience, visit  Hï  and  Amnesia . Then, of course, there's the one that started them all:  Pacha . It was the first club on the island, and it still pulls in a crowd from first-timers to loyal gig-goers, depending on the night. The hippy market Las Dalia now boasts one of the most exciting clubs on the island,  Akasha , featuring a roster of local and international DJs, an impeccable sound system and an intimate crowd (max 300-capacity space).

Condé Nast Traveller

Jahnavi Bhatt

Geetika Sachdev

Shalba Sarda

Visit the hippie markets

The hippie markets are a lovely little portal into Ibiza’s unique happy-go-lucky culture.  Punta Arabi  at Es Canar is the oldest and biggest market on the island. It’s held every Wednesday and Friday with over 500 stalls. The legendary colourful hippy market in San Carlos,  Las Dalias , is open from Saturday to Tuesday. Every Sunday, the little village of Sant Joan plays host to its cute market with organic food, crafts and clothes stalls and live music. For something more traditional, head to San Miguel Artisan Market. There are only a handful of stalls held every Thursday, but there is traditional Ibizan folk dancing and live music.

Visit Formentera

Only 45 minutes by ferry and often referred to as Ibiza’s little sister, Formentera has a lower-octane vibe. Here, life is about taking it slow. Swim off the red rocks at Caló des Mort or enjoy spiked lemonade pomadas with your toes in the sand at ramshackle kiosks that dot the beach like Kiosko 62. Rent a boat and head to Espalmador Island. Part of the Natural Park of Ses Salines of Ibiza and Formentera, it’s an uninhibited white-sand sliver of paradise surrounded by bluer-than-blue water. Or head for a long lunch at one of the many beachside restaurants such as Beso Beach , Juan y Andrea , or Casa Pacha Formentera .

Rent a boat and visit Es Vedrá and its surrounding coves

Es Vedra, the uninhabited islet that rises from the ocean, is part of the legend of Ibiza – some say its magnetic powers draw people back time and time again. Rent a boat at Cala d’Hort or Cala Tarida and make a day of it, visiting the mythical rock and surrounding coves, such as the magical Atlantis, a quarry-like rock structure opposite Es Vedrà. Or, if the conditions are ripe, kayak from Cala d’Hort to Es Vedra.

Visit the beaches

There are hundreds of beaches in Ibiza. Here are a few island favourites. About 10 kilometres southwest of Ibiza Town, you’ll find the specular red rock cliffs of Sa Caleta (Es Bol Nou) beach. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring the ruins of an ancient Phoenician settlement. Just 2 kilometres from Ibiza Town is Talamanca Beach. Its soft sand strip is dotted with low-key restaurants, cafes and the high-key Nobu Hotel. For old-school magic, head to Salinas Beach and walk to  Sa Trinxa  restaurant, where the Balearic beats spill onto the sand. The wild and windswept shore of Cala Conta in San Antonio boasts some of the best sunsets on the island and is also home to the iconic  Sunset Ashram . Equally spectacular is Cala Salada with its Listerine-blue water and slabs of red rocks, which are sprinkled with suntanned bodies in high summer. Northwest, Cala Benirrás Beach attracts hippies and families for its famous sunset drum sessions. Up north, snorkel around the rocks of the stamp-sized beach of Cala Xarraca, before finishing up at the chiringuito.

Go for a hike

One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Ibiza is by foot. Like beaches, there are hundreds of hiking routes to choose from. Here are some of the scene stealers. Sa Talaia is the highest mountain in Ibiza. At 475 metres high, you can start the trail from the church of Sant Josep, through the beautiful countryside before taking in a 360-degree view of Ibiza. Up north, The Moscarter Lighthouse is a rocky hike that starts from a small cove in Portinax and leads you cliffside until you reach the 52-metre high summit. Or, take an intermediate hike from Cala Salada to San Antonio, which takes you past spectacular beaches such as Cala Yoga and Gracioneta. To curate your hikes and outdoor adventures, contact specialist agents and/or guides such as  Rockid .

Visit some art galleries

The last few years have seen a boom in Ibiza’s art scene. Near the salt village of Las Salinas beach, you’ll find Le Nave Salinave . It’s an old salt warehouse turned gallery by NYC-based art collector Lio Malca – past blockbusters include an immersive Keith Haring exhibition. Wrapped in the town walls of Dalt Vila, inside an old bunker that served as an armoury, is Museu D’art Contemporani D’Eivissa (MACE). It’s a contemporary art gallery dedicated to modern work, some international and others with an Ibizan connection. Down a rocky path near Jesús is Espacio Micus , a space that started as a workshop in the 70s by abstract artist Espacio Micus. After his death, his daughter Katja turned the space into a gallery that exhibits contemporary artists alongside her father’s original work. In San Antonio, inside the eye-catching hyper-eclectic hotel Paradiso is ADDA Gallery . Founded by Anna Dimitrova, this gallery has all kinds of quirky fun installations that play with light and colour. On the San Juan road, stop at Lost Artist Ibiza farmhouse-turned-Ibiza-studio of British artist Christopher Stone, featuring his signature bronze sculptures.

Horse around

Explore Ibiza’s spectacular countryside on horseback. The White Isle has unique riding companies dotted around the island – from the mountains to the beaches – such as North Ride Ibiza and Ibiza Stud in Santa Gertrudis. For those wanting to give back, try Ibiza Horse Valley – a not-for-profit sanctuary that saves from abandonment or mistreatment. The refuge, located in a 40-hectare canyon, is to gently rehabilitate the horses, allowing them to live in a herd in a close-to-wild setting. Once physically ready, the horses re-enter the riding world. With a herd of about 17 horses, half-day group excursions are offered all year round through the mountains and valleys in the north of Ibiza. All riders from all levels are welcome.

In Ibiza, dancing and movement don’t just happen in a club or after-hours. Sober dance parties and movement circles on the White Isle are practically part of the mainstream. For those wanting to lose themselves in dance and connect with others in a safe space, check out the Ecstatic Dance Ibiza Tribe and their timetable of events in various locations with killer sound systems and DJs. For those wanting to have more of a workout, check out Primal Moves . Now a global phenomenon, Primal Moves was started in Ibiza by Nick Brewer, a former prisoner who uses the movements of yoga, pilates and full-body locomotive patterns to form this bendy cult workout.

Look inside

Ibiza is well-known as the capital of alternative new-age therapies, with many believing the island has a unique healing energy. There is something for everyone, from shamans to chakra healers and everything in between. Six Senses Ibiza is fast becoming known as a luxury wellness HQ, with retreats throughout the year that bring together the best of the best from around the world for talks, classes and reflections. Jeremie Quidu is on every yogi's speed dial for those wanting private group classes and specialises in everything from sound meditation and crystal therapy to healing circles.

Discover the unique flora of the White Isle at Ibiza Biotechnological Botanical (also known as Bibo Park). One of Europe's most technologically advanced botanical gardens, there are over 30,000 plants on-site that range from rare to medicinal and even musical (the world’s first ‘vegetable piano’ lives here). The park is dedicated to biotech and interesting on-the-go experiments, such as plant-powered biological batteries for smartphones and a drinkable H2O machine that allows you to drink water straight from the sky. Away from the science, it’s a space to promote the general ecology of the area – there are pine forests to zen out in and loads of activities on offer, such as guided tours, seed planting, and bird watching.

Find your inner hippy

What started as a peaceful anti-war protest in the ’90s still gathers peace lovers and hippies to Benirras beach every Sunday to dance and beat drums to the rhythm of the spectacular sunset. Everyone is welcome, and during high season, you can expect hundreds on the beach, all dancing hypnotically as the sun slips below the horizon.

First published on CNT UK

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Sabina Ibiza: an eco-conscious Balearic hideout

By Maya Boyd

Anton Bilton is describing the non-denominational temple at the heart of Sabina Ibiza , his new eco-community on the island’s south-west coast. There is talk of its energetic stillness, of crystals embedded in the foundations to create a protective force against negativity, and the feeling of calm it evokes. ‘It allows one to silently reconnect with the authentic self,’ he says. A temple in the middle of a modernist village may seem incongruous, but Bilton is no ordinary entrepreneur. Passionate and profoundly articulate, he’s also a lateral thinker, plant-medicine evangelist and founder of the Tyringham Initiative, which according to its literature is a ‘think-tank for the evolution, expansion and deeper understanding of “new-paradigm consciousness”’. And he likes a party – Pete Tong can often be found on the decks at his home; for his 50th he chartered a boat from Venice to Hvar for three days and nights, with non-stop DJ sets and not much sleep.

‘The idea of The Temple was triggered by a trip to the Lost City of Petra in Jordan four years ago,’ he tells me. ‘This was not some false cathedral; it was 200 temples carved into rock. It made me wonder – what sense of community did that bring? And where are we building our temples now?’

Pictured: Clubhouse bar at Sabina Ibiza

Bilton had long considered creating a get-away-from-it-all retreat for his family – he has five children and is married to the model Lisa B – and their extended group of friends. His own property on Ibiza, a restored finca in the north, had become the all-back-to-mine base for a crowd that includes Simon and Yasmin Le Bon, Jade Jagger and James Blunt, who serenaded Lisa in the grounds for her 40th-birthday party while jeweller Stephen Webster swam naked past the windows of the underground nightclub. Inspired by the Bahamas’ Lyford Cay and perhaps more so by Careyes , the haute-hippy enclave on Mexico ’s sunshine Jalisco coast, Bilton sought a spot ‘where we’re not wearing suits and not competing with each other for business. Where it’s just a day on the beach or by the pool.’ A fruitless search for land in Croatia left him uninspired yet undeterred. When the Ibiza site became available in 2015, he pounced.

Pictured: Curving architecture

Sabina is an ambitious yet ecologically aware project (with hi-tech water preservation and geothermal heating) that will eventually comprise 50 villas created by 12 leading architects. The credits include British minimalist hero John Pawson, Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan – known for his tropical modernism – and Arizona-based Rick Joy, whose low-slung, lateral creation at Sabina is redolent of his finest achievement, Utah’s Amangiri. Can Calabaza – a five-bed modernist lair by Ibiza’s own Jordi Carreño – is one of a handful of houses available to rent. It has cool stone floors and an open-plan layout peppered with over- sized tribal art, rattan lampshades and glass walls that slide back at the touch of a button. Like all the villas, Can Calabaza faces the ocean. Outside, there’s a swimming pool the colour of sea foam. Gravel crunches underfoot like apricot kernels; there are lavender and wild-thyme notes in the minerally sea air, and the scent of bone-dry pine needles rises from a nearby ravine.

Pictured: Roasted aubergine with beluga-lentil ragout

Sabina’s setting – a hillside above Cala Tarida puckered with ancient, crumbling terraces – is protected from behind by mountains that rise up to Sa Talaia, Ibiza’s highest point, and by an open expanse of the Mediterranean in front. To the north is the boho haven of Cala Comte and the islet of Sa Conillera, said to be the birthplace of the elephant-whispering Carthaginian general Hannibal. On a clear day, it’s possible to see the olive-cloaked mountains of mainland Spain. The landscape at Sabina is fundamental to the architecture, a co-dependence between the cultivated and the wild.

Pictured: Can Calabaza interior

All roads here tumble seawards to Sabina’s central hub, the Clubhouse (design brief: a ruined Phoenician palace). This is where Bilton’s handpicked tribe gathers – little ones at the kids’ club, teens in the bowling alley – before heading to the tennis courts or the herb-scented subterranean spa. The Clubhouse walls are hung with commissioned artworks; polished peppermint stools circle the cocktail bar; a reference library is stashed with art volumes.

Pictured: Outdoor seating

Lunch is served by the pool – all breezy farm-to-fork earthiness with a hefty slice of the Middle East, overseen by Israeli chef and Noma alumnus Shahar Tamir. There’s tuna tataki and wood-fired pizzas; Caesar Salad with cured egg yolk; a Thousand Year Potato, preserved in seaweed for three months and layered with thin slices of wild sea bass. It’s no coincidence the Clubhouse operates under the watchful eye of Amit Segev, co-founder of La Paloma, the San Lorenzo trattoria that’s a key gathering point for a certain, loose-limbed bohemianism. Its regulars – a patchwork crew of island-dwelling yogis, healers, models and artists – will doubtless form the Clubhouse restaurant’s core customers when it opens to all later this year.

Pictured: Terrace

Unsurprisingly, Sabina’s villa owners are a reflection of the Biltons’ social set – ‘maverick minds, lateral thinkers’, according to Anton. This translates to a coterie of new nomads from the USA and India, Switzerland and Bangladesh. The first villa here, a five-bedroom pad designed by Ibiza-born Jaime Romano, was bought by Diana d’Hendecourt Thermiotis, a Greek-Venezuelan countess and the unofficial queen of Gstaad. ‘I would never have bought into Ibiza if Sabina didn’t happen,’ she tells me. ‘I’m here because of Anton and Lisa. They’re so much fun.’ Thermiotis tells me she met her new neighbours at one of the many pre-opening get-togethers in the Temple’s amphitheatre with drumming, shamanic dancing and a local crowd that included half of Pacha and DC10 – the sort of deeply exclusive after-party that it’s almost impossible to get an invite to.

‘I’m quietening down, rather than settling down,’ reckons Bilton. ‘It’s just a different kind of communal activity than having huge parties all the time.’ The island has been a hotbed of ideas since the 1950s but has been evolving over the past few years to embrace a more thoughtful and sustainable way of life, with a new-found maturity, softer energy and smaller, more intimate gatherings. A conscious collaborative effort, if you like, as the hedonists go holistic and former 24-hour party people take a look at their watches.

Keep scrolling for more pictures of Sabina Ibiza

To make an enquiry about villa rental, visit sabinaibiza.com or email [email protected]

Pictured: Olive trees

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CNT Editors

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Can Calabaza

Anton Bilton in the garden

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This Hotel Is Using Technology to Help Guests Lucid Dream—Here’s What Happened When I Tried It

By Charley Ward

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

I am sitting in a lavish four-poster bed adorned with drapes and sipping on herbal tea. The scent of lavender hangs in the air. I am wearing pajamas—and a VR headset. I breathe deeply, in and out. In front of my eyes, flowers morph from yellow to red before their petals dissolve into clouds. The clouds slowly turn into pillows, which drift through the air before shapeshifting into gently rippling bed sheets. A soothing voice speaks: “You are now entering the hypnogogic state.”

I am not being hypnotized. I am trying the Kimpton Fitzroy London ’s “Room to Dream” experience, a world-first initiative designed to help guests lucid dream from the comfort of one of the hotel’s glorious bedrooms. For the uninformed, a lucid dream is one in which you are aware that you are asleep yet are able to control your actions. It might not sound that alluring, but lucid dreaming is an area increasingly of interest for scientists; some studies have shown it can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and PTSD, increase creativity, enhance learning, and provide myriad other perks.

“Anything that can be treated with hypnotherapy can be worked through with lucid dreaming,” says Charlie Morley, a lucid dreaming teacher, researcher, and the architect behind the experience. He has used lucid dreaming to help people move forward from post-traumatic stress disorder, tackle confidence issues, move past phobias, and even boost their athletic ability.

And it’s not just researchers that are interested in its benefits. On TikTok, the #luciddreams hashtag has over 1.4 billion views. Over on Reddit’s r/luciddreaming sub, you’ll find 494k subscribers busily sharing tips and experiences. Lucid dreaming is going mainstream.

The Kimpton Fitzroy London’s “Room to Dream” experience, a world-first initiative designed to help guests lucid dream from the comfort of one of the hotel’s glorious bedrooms.

Lucid dreaming as wellness

In this era of  sleep tourism , it’s no surprise that hotels are starting to take notice. An ever-increasing number of programs are being developed at top hotels to help guests enjoy a good night’s snooze, and thus reap the benefits of the improved sense of wellness so closely linked with quality sleep.

Book into the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort and you can rest on a lounger with headphones and a mask in a glowing purple room, before enjoying a spell in a meditation pod. Six Senses Ibiza runs a comprehensive three- to seven-night regime comprising a consultation with the property's resident sleep doctor, 45-minute general wellness screening, yoga nidra, massages, fitness classes, sleep amenities, and sleep tracking. In London, The Cadogan has partnered with a Harley Street hypnotherapist on a Sleep Concierge service to help you nod off blissfully, which includes a sleep-inducing meditation, pillow menu, use of a weighted blanket, and a house-designed bedtime tea.

But Kimpton Fitzroy’s initiative marks the first time a hotel has attempted to help guests achieve consciousness during sleep. I’m intrigued—as far as I can recall, I’ve never had a lucid dream. But like many people Morley has worked with, I mostly tend to recall negative dreams upon waking. “There's a wonderful quote from Rick Hanson, one of the mindfulness meditation pioneers,” Morley says. “He says the human mind is like Teflon for positives and Velcro for negatives.”

Indeed, for years I’ve recurrently dreamed that I am repeatedly and exasperatedly asking my mother a question that she refuses to answer. I always felt it was an indicator I need more therapy, but perhaps all that’s required is the healing power of shut-eye?

Kimpton Fitzroy’s initiative marks the first time a hotel has attempted to help guests achieve consciousness during sleep.

A bedtime ritual

If I’m going to lucid dream anywhere, it’ll be at the Kimpton Fitzroy. After dark, the floor-to-ceiling marble interiors that surround you as you hop from lobby to bar to restaurant already gives the space a dreamlike aesthetic; dimmed lowlights set the mood for gothic vignettes in every aesthetically-pleasing nook. Soon I’m tucked up in the drapery-adorned confines of my king-sized four-poster. It’s time to get to work.

Alex Erdekian

Diana Oates

Jessica Puckett

Meaghan Kenny

The ritual involves drinking a calming tea spiked with a few drops of mugwort tonic, with a couple more under the tongue for good measure—mugwort is an ingredient known for increasing the likelihood of lucid dreaming. Next, a spritz of pillow spray and some lavender-fragranced balm on my pressure points, and it's into the VR headset for the immersive five-minute lullaby. The whole experience is as bonkers as it is soothing. I scribble down my intentions in the dream journal. There’s additional space to record your dream in the morning; if you give these notes to the staff, they’ll send them off to AI artist Sam Potter to create an illustration based on the imagery shared, which somehow makes things feel even more bonkers.

Nonetheless, I do feel very relaxed. Whether it's down to the inordinately comfortable bed, the ritual, or perhaps the wine at dinner, I’m asleep in seconds. That night, I dream I’m at a house party. It’s loud and busy, so I leave the noise and emerge onto a field; a vast stretch of vividly green grass. The sun is shining and the sky is a piercing blue. My friend joins me in the field. He tells me that he had to end his relationship because his partner wasn’t putting in enough effort. He was sad but resolute, as it’s the right decision. Then, things start to look up: He’s even been given £140! I congratulate my friend—good for him!—before, bizarrely, going off to do a fitness class in a nearby gym.

If your dream journal to the Fitzroy staff, they’ll have AI artist Sam Potter create an illustration based on the imagery shared.

The morning after

So, the big question: Did I lucid dream? Sadly, although it was incredibly vivid and memorable, it wasn't a lucid dream. For one night, it was perhaps a tall order—Morley runs a selection of retreats from five nights up to seven weeks to help those interested gain the right mindset to achieve this state—and I’ve never been the suggestible type that falls under the spell of the streetside hypnotist. But I was struck by how positive my dream was.

In my usual recurrent dream, I am angrily seeking answers that I’m clearly not going to get, over and over again. This time, I witnessed someone simply accepting they’re not going to get their desired outcome and confidently move forward regardless.

I mention this to Morley. “Congratulations,” he says. “You had a resolution dream.”

Apparently, the cessation of a recurrent nightmare is a sign that the trauma, whatever it is, has been confronted and integrated in the psyche; something, unsurprisingly, associated with improved wellbeing. A dream in which the nightmare finally ends differently tends to precede this. It means, if the studies are correct, I should no longer have any more fruitless arguments with my mother during sleep.

After dark, the floor-to-ceiling marble interiors of the Fitzroy give the space a dreamlike aesthetic.

I can’t say for sure whether that’s true or not, especially as it wasn’t exactly the same dream. But it is true that I haven’t had that particular dream again since my stay at Kimpton Fitzroy. As far as hotel wellness offerings go, it was a much greater gift to take home with me than the all-too-fleeting effects of a 45-minute massage.

“We did a study on 65 people with high levels of post traumatic stress disorder that was published in the Traumatology journal,” says Morley. “After one week, people had such powerful experiences with lucid dreaming that 85% of participants no longer classified as having PTSD using the official diagnostic criteria. The panic attacks and anxiety had stopped, and that was true at the four-week follow up as well.”

This notion makes me feel emotional. It means we may all have the tools within us to improve our own sense of wellbeing, without the time or monetary investment therapy requires. The tea, drops, balm, and pillow spray are yours to keep, so I’ve continued to practice the relaxation techniques at home to see if I can achieve a lucid dreaming state (although I’m not sure I’ll be investing in my own VR headset any time soon).

Regardless, this experience has given me a new appreciation for the restorative powers of a good night’s sleep. What I thought would be a bit of a gimmicky novelty actually proved rather thought-provoking. It makes a timely reminder that, no matter what happens to us, we alone have the power to take control of our own narrative—be that in our waking lives, or even in our dreams.

You can add Kimpton Fitzroy’s “Room to Dream” package to your booking for a £50 supplement. See here for more information. A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK .

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