Ibiza has long revelled in its iconic status as a party island. Nestled in the idyllic Baleares, its stunning beaches would already summon the crowds, but then came the club owners and the anecdotes of the rich and famous of the crazy nights out. Still, with so many tourists and a healthy local population, many chefs saw an opportunity to establish their own restaurants.
It’s now clear to see that there’s been a restaurant boom across the island, with there now being over 1,100 eateries to visit. Not all of them are grand, and the well-known ones get a lot of coverage. Here, we’re shining the light on what makes Ibiza a surprising paradise for food lovers and the top under-appreciated restaurants that locals and visitors should book a table at.
Ibiza Offers a Heap of Variety
In just about every corner of life, variety is something to revel in. Customers know this, and businesses know you know this. Streaming services know they can’t get away with offering only a handful of films; they need to give you thousands of options in order to convince you of their value-for-money. Online casinos, similarly, will frequently add different variations of classic games like baccarat, such as the Knockout, Super Speed, and Live Lightning variants, to keep players returning. And, with Ibiza having over 1,000 restaurants, you can bet that it’ll offer you plenty of variety too.
Being off the coast of Spain, you’d expect to see plenty of tapas restaurants – especially given the popularity of tapas-style eating with both the Spanish and tourists – and lots of Spanish-style seafood. That is certainly here in abundance, but there’s much more. High-class Japanese sushi, fusion restaurants that meld the meals of the Mediterranean, contemporary dining, French cuisine, Italian bistros, and creative vegan restaurants are all accounted for here.
Importantly, to enjoy the sheer variety and diversity of top-tier food available across Ibiza, it’s also wise to add some variety to your surroundings. Indeed, the coast is a tantalising backdrop and will generally be where the best fresh seafood restaurants reside, but head inland, and you’ll find plenty of relatively unsung hotel restaurants and independent eateries that are ready to offer you a unique experience in distinctly serene surroundings.
Restaurants to Get On Your Tour List
Situated more towards the northern coast, but quite a bit inland from the famed Cala Aubarca hiking trail, what was Cas Gasi has become Soho Farmhouse Ibiza. The little hotel was previously known for its great food, and it’s a relief to say that high food standards have been upheld in the transition into a Soho property. On-site, there’s the Main Barn for guests, but it’s the member restaurant, the Pen Yen, and its Izakaya-style menu that is the true gem.
Keeping with the inland theme, we look a bit further south to the Eivissa region where La Paloma has been cooking up fresh, homemade food from the family for over 20 years now. By day, it’s an idyllic spot to enjoy some lighter bites and its café setting. By night, you sit out in the enduring light surrounded by an orchard inside in cosy corners feasting on a creative menu that leans into Italian cuisine.
Finally, we’ll return to the coast to dive into what you’d expect a Spanish island restaurant to be best at. Of course, there are a great many to choose from, but perhaps one of the most underrated – even though many locals know it well enough by now – is Can Pujol. It’s everything you could want from a Spanish seafood restaurant, with their locally-sourced fish being the big selling point alongside a top-notch paella and a stunning view of the sea.
The Ibiza restaurant scene is teeming with variety and choice, so when you fancy something to eat on the island, be sure to try out one of these under-appreciated gems.
