Five charming restaurants in Ibiza Town’s Sa Penya district
With fresher evening temperatures, no waiting lists and zero crowds, September is the dreamiest month to soak up the historic city’s old-world charm. L’OFFICIEL IBIZA rounds up five unmissable restaurants in Sa Penya, Ibiza Town’s atmospheric waterside fisherman’s district.
Best for pasta: Trattoria La Tana
Laidback, lo-fi little La Tana has been hitting the high notes for over a decade. Tucked at the base of Sa Penya on an unassuming backstreet, don’t be fooled by the discreet façade – this is one of Ibiza’s best Italian restaurants and a go-to for visiting DJs – Marco Carola, Joseph Capriati – who are missing a taste of the motherland. The ceviche and grilled beef fillet are dreamy, but it’s the homemade pasta that steals the show – the spaghetti alle vongole is arguably Ibiza’s best. With great music and seriously high vibes, La Tana is the perfect weekend supper.
Best for people watching: Bistro Sa Cova
With its cheerful chatter, candlelit tables and serious kerbside appeal, Sa Cova harks back to the bohemian Ibiza of yesteryear. There’s a charming pavement terrace that’s packed with a beautiful, international crowd who’ve heard about the neat, market-fresh menu, the elaborate wine list and the thoughtful, attentive service. Chef Francisco Guzman skilfully fuses local Mediterranean ingredients with French techniques and flavours from his native Peru – dishes such as razor clam gratin and Ibizan buttersquash risotto are extraordinarily deft and delightful.
Best for cocktails: Boodiou
Part craft cocktail bar, part gastronomic wonderland, Boodiou has developed a fervent following for its astonishingly adept bar tenders and its fine-dining approach to French-influenced tapas and small plates. Expect contemporary spins on dishes such as aged beef and tuna rillettes in a low-lit, sultry, intimate space that’s become one of the hippest destinations in Ibiza Town and a sure-fire favourite with local foodies.
Best for fine dining: Taller Sa Penya
What Ibiza Food Studio founder (and ex-Noma alumnus) Boris Buono doesn’t know about local ingredients probably isn’t worth knowing. After ten years at the helm of his signature Sa Penya restaurant, Buono is a pioneer in the art of locavore eating and has given fine dining in Ibiza a cool and contemporary overhaul. This sexy, sultry, steamy dining room hidden among a maze of backstreets is an absolute classic and arguably one of the best tables in the Balearics.
Best for late nights: Bar 1805
If you haven’t eaten moules frites and sipped an absinthe cocktail at Bar 1805, have you even been to Ibiza? This bohemian Sa Penya bolthole has become an institution, largely thanks to avant-garde French owner Charles Vexenat’s passion and personality. With a deep and dark interior, repurposed furniture and a lawless, artistic atmosphere, Bar 1805 is the perfect place to spend the long autumn evenings.