Cala Nova, Sol d’en Serra, Cala Mastella

Cala Nova. The famous Atzaro agroturismo hotel also has a beach restaurant/cocktail bar that remains very much in tune with the Atzaro brand. Fresh local products and seafood make for some great meals and the tone is Spanish. This is more sedate and restaurant focussed than a beach club and it blends better with Cala Nova which is very much a family beach. Worth a visit if you are in the area but probably not worth making a special island crossing.

Sol d’en Serra. Ibiza´s east coast has a lack of stylish restaurants but Amante (plus Cala Bonita) makes up for that. A stunning spot perched on the cliff above the lovely bay of Sol d’en Serra with South Easterly views, it is a special spot for lunch or dinner. The Mediterranean based menu is excellent and there are plenty of sun beds to relax on after a long lunch. The beach below is not always the best for swimming off but once you are in the water it is lovely and clear.

Cala Mastella. The stuff of legend? Until recently you couldn’t book by phone at El Bigotes; reportedly there wasn’t one. The King of Spain, Juan Carlos 2, was allegedly turned away quite a few years ago for failing to know the rules. Whether the story is true or not is debatable but it ́s done its trick and El Bigotes is much in demand for a weekend lunch. Always seafood; fresh fish, a good paella, fish soup etc. Perhaps the best ‘Bullet de peix’ on the island, a wonderful local fish stew dish.

Cala Nova. Aiyanna is the new venture by the owners of the highly successful Amante Beach Club. It joins Atzaro Beach Club on the sandy Cala Nova beach, on Ibiza’s North East coast, and the beach will be further placed on the radar of well-heeled foreigners in addition to its very local audience. The restaurant serves up fresh, healthy and seasonal food in barefoot chic surroundings.                        

There’s something special about Es Fumeral. No showy plating, no over-complicated menus, just good food, beautifully cooked. The kind of place where the grilled fish tastes like it was caught that morning (because it probably was), and the tomatoes remind you what tomatoes are supposed to taste like. Mediterranean staples, simply prepared, grilled, raw, or lightly fried, with not a garnish out of place. A quiet reminder that simplicity, done right, is its own kind of luxury.