For such a tiny island it’s strange to think that the cuisine can change much from the coast to the interior, after all you can never be more than 15 minutes from the sea in ibiza, but there is a noticeable surf v turf focus to the menus based on a restaurant’s  location. Whilst the beach restaurants have an expected heavy sea food bias, the countryside restaurants focus on organic produce and also can be more ‘meaty’. They are all about intimate patios, lush green gardens and wooden pergolas draped in beautiful bougainvillea or scented Jasmin. In the evening they are both charming and intoxicating and very much as ‘Ibiza’ as their more famous sandy neighbours.

 

Restaurant Countryside

Can Picossa, our beautiful 5 bedroom rental villa in the countryside near San Jose, is only a short drive to the local’s favourite, Restaurante S’Espartar, run by the delightful owner Maria and her chef husband Pep, serving a broad menu of delicious local speciality dishes (both meat and fish). The villa is also close to one of the island’s prettiest and tastiest restaurants, Can Berri Vel, opposite the church in the tiny village of San Augustin.  More central in the island, and only 5 minutes from our rental villa Can Carabasso, you hit the road running form Ibiza to San Juan that is dotted with amazing local restaurants. Balafia is one of our long time favourites  for a sumptuous meat grill where bookings have to be made weeks in advance in peak season. Close by is Nagai, which has been serving some of the island’s best sushi for many years in its pretty walled patio. Just off this road in the tiny pretty village of San Lorenzo is the famous La Paloma which still stands out for being excellent for both lunch and dinner and has a wonderful organic menu.

Restaurant Rustic

In contrast to these long standing island establishments is Juntos Restaurant, in San Mateo which, whilst being  the relative newcomer, has taken the farm to table concept to a totally new level by buying it’s own substantial farm where it grows all its organic vegetables and much more of its seasonal menu, as well as selling to the local community. Others that are impossible not to mention are Aubergine on the San Miguel road and A Mi Manera on the San Juan road, but there are many, many more excellent countryside restaurants with their own special vibe and menu. Indeed, the stylish and spacious 4 bedroom rental villa Can Tanques is only a 5 minute drive to the bustling hippy chic village of Santa Gertrudis, seen as the island’s most central point (which means it’s not far from anywhere) and you could write a whole  guide just featuring the restaurants in the village, but if we have to pick out a couple we recommend you head to La Plaza right on the village plaza for dinner, or Bottega de Buco for authentic homemade pasta and Italian specialities. You can read about all our restaurant recommendations in our very own extensive Island Guide, or, of course, you can stay in one of our lovely Ibiza holiday villas and experience them all first hand! See our villas.