Ibiza is the little paradise island in the middle of the Mediterranean sea best known as the clubbing capital of the globe. There is of course more to the island than just superclubs, think stunning beaches, hidden secrets and ancient artefacts.
Duane Lineker last summer launched Ocean Beach Ibiza which has helped change the face of daytime partying on the island. Duane, who is the nephew of footballer Gary, has been living on the white isle for many years and so in our opinions is just the guy to point any first timers or return visitors in the direction of the best that the island has to offer…
1. Clubbing
For the last 5 years my favourite club has undoubtedly been Pacha; they hold a 60’s & 70’s themed party called Flower Power every month, everyone typically dresses up for the event and they fully decorate the club with memorabilia. When you’re living in Ibiza the music on the Island is very much dance led, so it’s nice to listen to some of the old classics for a change! Although Pacha has been my favourite for years, there are lots of new and exciting venue’s openings on the island this year; so it will be interesting to see which will be my favourite in 2013.
2. Day parties
Ibiza isn’t just about the big clubs, I much prefer the open air parties during the day, including the infamous Sunday’s down at Blue Marlin, in Cala Jondal, and more recently the parties held at Ocean Beach Ibiza in San Antonio – during the day on Tuesdays they have an amazing visual performance with a stunning pool backdrop to match.
3. Where to be seen
The best place to seen on the Island is Lio over in Ibiza Town. Lio opened in 2011 a new Restaurant & Cabaret concept from the Pacha Group. As well as being a beautiful restaurant with world class food and amazing views, they hold some great events in partnership with other venues around the world including parties from The Box in New York, CDLC in Barcelona and 1Oak in Las Vegas. The list of celebrities seen there are endless however a few I have personally seen include; Heidi Klum, Seal, Usher, Rafa Nadal and Naomi Campbell.
4. On a spree
If you’re doing Ibiza on a spree, start with dinner and drinks at Lio; then head over to Pacha. If you’re still standing, carry on the night at one of the many after-party venues or the casino – however I very rarely make it that far!
5. On a budget
Nights in Ibiza can be pricey so if you are on a budget head to San Antonio’s sunset strip, grab some drinks and watch the sunset at Café Mambo or Savannah with friends. I also have a bit of a guilty pleasure for a night in the West End in San Antonio – it usually end’s at around 5am in the Karaoke Bar, say no more!
6. Chilling out
A perfect day of relaxation would be having a lazy lunch at El Chiringuito or taking a boat over to Formentera for the day. Formentera has so many amazing beaches to choose from and the fresh fish served at the beach restaurant Juan y Andrea is incredible.
7. Beaches
My favourite beach would have to be Playa Illetes on Formentera, the white sand and clear blue water make it one of the nicest beaches I have seen in the world – better than Barbados and the Maldives. It has kept a lot of its local charm and is only a 25 minute boat ride from Ibiza, definitely take a trip to if you are visiting the island.
8. Shopping
Ibiza Town is great for shopping; Revolver has to be one of my favourite shops on the Island with collections from Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang and Junk de Luxe it’s the perfect place to pick up a few pieces in the summer.
9. Eating out
For breakfast, head to Ritas in San Antonio if you want a healthy option or if you are feeling a bit worse for wear Fatso also in San Antonio should do the trick. For lunch I’d recommend the Kyoto Sushi Bar at Ocean Beach again in San Antonio and for dinner you can’t go wrong at Casa Colonial in Santa Eularia – my favourite dish is the Steak Dibalo.
10. Island secrets
One of Ibiza’s best kept secrets is Atlantis; it’s a beautiful place but you will have to ask a friend who knows about it to show you exactly where it is, locals want it to stay hush-hush!
