About Time: You Discovered the Other Side of Ibiza in 48-HoursBy Angelica Malin

Planning 48-hours in Ibiza? We’ve got all the answers. I’m going to be honest: I had some nasty pre-conceptions of Ibiza. I basically thought the whole island was like The Inbetweeners Movie – all loud bars, strip clubs, pitchers of drinks called ‘Fruity Woo Woo’ and people puking on the street. Basically, like the whole island is auditioning for an episode of Locked Up Abroad. And, sure, Ibiza has that side to it – if you want the wild, manic, vodka-fuelled side of Ibiza, it’s not hard to find. But Ibiza is so much more than the cheap pints and greasy spoon cafes called ‘Wembley Arena’ – there’s soul here, and class, and spirituality, and rugged beauty, the likes of which I’ve rarely seen in a destination only 2 hours from the UK.

Ibiza really stole my heart; there’s so many hidden gems on the island, from romantic open-air, candle-lit restaurants by the bay to vibey, fun beach day clubs. The truth is, you just need to know where to look. Here’s how to discover the real Ibiza, About Time style:

48-Hours in Ibiza: Where to Stay

For a Chilled Stay: Sol House Ibiza

If you want to be in the heart of things, the location of Sol House Ibiza cannot be beaten; the new and totally renovated Sol House is located right on Punta Pinet Beach in the buzzing San Antonio Bay. It’s perfect for buzzy group holidays and romantic getaways alike – the excellent location in Sant Josep de Sa Talaia makes this hotel the perfect spot for exploring the best of Ibiza. The hotel’s amenities are top – fresh, modern décor, a great swimming pool, outdoor dining spaces and the spectacular SolSets Roof Top Nine Bar. There’s little touches throughout the hotel, like daily pick ‘n mix in-room, DJ nights in their rooftop bar and all-day breakfast by the pool (as well as some great goat’s cheese salads and salmon tartars on the rooftop). This hotel is made for lazy, sunshine-filled days, with a sun terrace with sun beds, Bali beds, bar service and amazing sea views. We loved spending evenings in their awesome rooftop bar and winding down with a coconut rum cocktail as the sun sets; Sol House is the perfect hotel for an easy Ibiza holiday.

For an Exclusive Stay: ME Ibiza

A member of Leading Hotels of the World, if you’re looking for an exclusive and luxurious stay, you must visit the ME Ibiza. This hotel has more of a chilled-out vibe than many hotels in Ibiza, located in a secluded bay towards the North of the island. A beachside retreat with some great food and drink, including RADIO Rooftop Bar and Ángel León, tapas and cocktails by a 4-Michelin-starred chef, this hotel is a foodie’s dream. Their facilities are great; come pamper at their Codage Spa, a contemporary spa experience on a terrace with 360º views, or spending the day partying at neighbouring Nikki Beach. If you’re a water baby, you’ll love the hotel – ME Ibiza has an array of pools, including a rooftop infinity pool, downstairs pool with daily DJs, bali beds and a delicious poolside menu, and a special children’s pool. Pure luxury, in a relaxed and serene Ibiza setting.

For a Special Stay: 7 Pines Resort Ibiza

Seven Pines is really something special. Newly opened in Ibiza, this luxury resort is the perfect place to unwind in a calm and exclusive setting; a seafront gem nestled amidst a pine forest and surrounded by azure waters, the cliff-top resort offers spectacular unobstructed views. The rooms are like nothing you’ve seen before – the 186 expansive suites at Seven Pines are set in sprawling gardens in a village-style resort. The open plan one and two bedroom suites enjoy an abundance of natural light, with contemporary design and neutral tones with turquoise accents that ooze serenity and style, some even with their own swimming pools. There’s some stunning restaurants and bars in the resort too, including The View, which combines European gastronomy using Korean cooking techniques. We think this resort is going to be big in 2018; a must-visit in Ibiza.

48-Hours in Ibiza: Where to Eat in Style

For a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience: Amante

If you’re never visited Amante in Ibiza, you’re in for a real treat. This is not like any restaurant you’ve seen before: trust me. Set atop the cliff face, with views overlooking the bay, this open-air, candle-lit restaurant across split levels is a real feast for the eyes (and the senses). I’ve never experienced a restaurant with quite so much vibe – from the eclectic chilled lounge music, to the comfy bean bags and wickedly good cocktails, everything about Amante makes you want to see the whole night out there. Which is exactly what we did, from cocktails at sunset, to late-night feasting at the sea-facing bar and back for more cocktails in the darkness of night, you can really spend your whole night here. The cuisine at Amante is truly spectacular; we feasted on deliciously creamy burrata with cherry tomatoes, Wild Sole with chilli-spiked broccoli and divine homemade Paccheri pasta pasta with tomatoes and Pecorino. For cocktails, try the divine blend of gin, passion fruit, strawberry and chilli – best enjoyed on a bean bag facing the sea. If you visit one restaurant in Ibiza this summer, make it Amante. It’s the kind of place you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

For a Gypsy Paradise: Aiyanna Ibiza

The most Instagram-worthy spot in Ibiza – laid-back, luxe and at one with its natural surroundings, Aiyanna Ibiza is the new beach restaurant from the team behind Amante Ibiza. You’ve never seen a restaurant so beautiful – perfectly positioned on the stunning Cala Nova bay in the North of the Island, Aiyanna promises panoramic views across the Mediterranean sea, wooden decked terraces, a dining space inspired by modern design and nature, delicious food and a warm welcome to everyone. Beyond the beautiful decor (think multi-coloured parasols and bean bags for chilling) and incredible sea views, the food here is really something special.

We feasted on Turkish flatbreads with melted cheese and pistachio, plates of delicious beetroot carpaccio and homemade Rigatoni pasta with San Marzano tomatoes and parmesan cheese. Oh, and did we mention the best mango and passion fruit cheesecake ever? You can then spend the afternoon on the surprisingly desserted beach and enjoy drinks from the restaurant until the sun sets. Take my word for it: this is one restaurant you don’t want to miss in Ibiza.

For a Beautiful Dinner: Sunset Ashram

Sunset Ashram is a really unique and spectacular restaurant in Ibiza – situated on Cala Conta, one of the most beautiful beaches of Ibiza, with a horizon filled with islands and an unforgettable sunset. During the day, come here to enjoy their beach bar, which has a relaxed self-service menu and great music, all in the picture-perfect setting of turquoise waters and white sand. And in the evening, the restaurant really comes alive as a stunning setting to enjoy the sun set, with music from their DJ all night and delicious food. Basically, a really good vibe. There’s two menus to choose from; a Mediterranean menu, offering up homemade dips, fresh fish and pasta, and a high-end Sushi menu, with everything from salmon nigiri to yellowtail carpaccio. It’s not cheap (around $25 for starters alone), be warned, but for views and vibes like this, it’s something you can’t really get elsewhere in Ibiza.

48-Hours in Ibiza: Where to Sunbathe, Drink + Dance

For a Rooftop Party: Sol House Ibiza

Good rooftop bars are far and few between in Ibiza – most are crowded, loud and you’ll find yourself wrestling a bodycon dress-clad woman to get a drink at the bar. But not at Sol House rooftop bar, oh no. This bar is so much more serene and picturesque than anything else on the island, with great music and DJs throughout the week, reasonably priced but delicious cocktails (I’d recommend the frozen Pina Colada because I’m basic like that) and an all-day food menu if you fancy a munch (try the burgers, they are great). They’ve also got a stunning infinity pool, if you want to visit during the day and rent one of their luxury bali beds for the full Ibiza experience. We say: come to the bar for a sunset cocktail and stick around for the chilled-out vibe and cool crowd. On Wednesday and Sundays, there’s special DJ nights at the bar, where tourists and locals alike come to enjoy the night in style. Sundays never looked so good.

For a Luxury Day: Cala Bassa Beach Club

Cala Bassa Beach Club is one of the coolest spots on the island for seeing out the day. Located on a beautiful secluded bay, with crystal waters and a real rugged beauty, this sprawling beach club is the place to come in summer. It’s about as luxury as it gets ($50 for two sun beds, hello), with fluffy day beds on the beach, DJ playing all day, fancy sushi, champagne corks forever popping and an elite crowd. Spending a day here is not for the faint hearted – you could easily wrack up a few hundred euro bill with lunch and activities at the day club – but if you feel like splashing out, Cala Bassa is quite the experience. I wouldn’t recommend their Tapas-style restaurant for dinner; the food really missed the spot (at $90 for two people, no less), but their gourmet restaurant is much better. For something special, the style, location and vibe of the beach club makes it well worth a day trip.

For a Sunshine Spot: Maya Beach Club

If you’re looking for quality, Maya Beach Club is a great place to visit in sunny Ibiza. Here some of the best bartenders and mixologists in Ibiza will serve you ice-cold beers, awesome cocktails and fruity sangria, as well as fresh sushi and sashimi for grazing. It’s super chilled at Maya Beach Club; snuggle up on cozy sofas and wicker nests to sound of their DJ and enjoy the view. Theres’a also two private spaces perched on the clifftop, offering mesmerising views of the Cala Vadella coast, with king-size beds, cocktails and delicious food. In fact, the food at Maya Beach Club is one of its highlights – there’s a great menu of Mediterranean delights, including homemade pasta, Paella, grilled fish and sushi. We say: the perfect way to spend an idyllic sunshine-filled day on the island.

48-Hours in Ibiza: Where to Really Party

For a Taste of the Strip: Cafe Mambo

Look, it’s something everyone has to do once, right? An evening out at Cafe Mambo is quite the experience; one of the most famous spots on the San Antonio strip, this restaurant and club comes alive in the evening, with hundreds of tourist flocking to eat, drink and party on their outdoor sea-facing terrace. Cafe Mambo is an iconic party-spot in Ibiza, and a night here will give you a taste of the crazy, high-energy clubbing scene that Ibiza is so known for. The food’s rather great, too – we enjoyed a feast of homemade hummus, Burrata with local tomatoes, vegan poke bowl and watermelon and feta salad. Of course, you’re paying through the nose for the iconic experience (there’s a minimum spend of $100 per person to eat and drink on the outdoor terrace!), but you only live once, hey?

For an Iconic Spot: Ushuaïa Ibiza

If you’re looking for an iconic party, this is the one. Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel is a luxurious 417-room hotel comprised of two buildings: The Ushuaïa Club, featuring an amazing poolside stage, and The Ushuaïa Tower, offering breath-taking views of the Mediterranean. The jewel in Ibiza’s party crown, Ushuaïa is not like any other club in the world. Renowned around the world for their legendary poolside parties, every year the team behind the open air clubs raises the bar ever higher, with an impeccable lineup of superstar residents. This year, they’ve announced the full ANTS lineup for the 2018 season, with house and techno vibes every Saturday from May to September. Expect the unexpected; Ushuaïa constantly outdoes itself with phenomenal productions, including pyrotechnics, mind-blowing lighting, visuals and a state of the art sound system, as well as an abundance of confetti, streamers and CO2. It’s no surprise people flock from around the world for the inimitable Ushuaïa experience.

For a New Club: Hï Ibiza

Since opening its doors for the very first time in 2017, Hï Ibiza has played host to many of the biggest names on the electronic music scene, welcoming thousands of party revellers from all around the world, all eager to experience the island’s latest nightlife institution. With world-class residents, state-of-the-art design and sound and a commitment to putting the clubber at the centre of the experience, the groundbreaking club has proved itself a force to be reckoned with. This summer, following the announcement of a full club takeover and return to their original island home of Hï Ibiza, world-renowned DJ and production duo Tale Of Us have revealed their 15 weekly programs for the forthcoming season of their acclaimed party series Afterlife. The program includes some of the most popular names in Ibiza, including Dixon, Nina Kraviz, Ben Klock and Âme just a few of those set to appear on Thursday nights. Running every Thursday from the 28th June right through to the 4th October, Tale Of Us’ Afterlife 2018 looks set to be a game-changer for Ibiza. 

For a Day Party: Ocean Beach Ibiza

Ocean Beach Ibiza, the white isle’s ultimate beach club experience, has just announced its standout 2018 season. A multi-award winning hotspot set around the shimmering blue waters of San Antonio’s sun-soaked bay, Ocean Beach Ibiza has garnered a global reputation for its supreme extravagance, style and sophistication, becoming a hugely popular and hedonistic location for visitors from around the world. Set opposite breathtaking Mediterranean views, and laced with crisp white exterior, this is one of the best party spots in Ibiza. From chilled poolside beats, to house basslines, daily parties will take place all the way through to the closing event on 5th October. Fusing food, music, breathtaking stage shows and theatre, Ocean Beach Ibiza creates unforgettable experiences for their guests. Don’t miss it!