umbongo
Active Member
Long time lurker, love reading the threads on here about how ibiza is evolving.
I don’t post a lot (if at all) but spent a few weeks over here recently and thought it might be nice to open up a thread about the small businesses, you know the unsung heroes who unexpectedly make your night special, whether it’s just being really attentive during your meal, rolling out the hierbas at the end of it, it can be anything that just makes you feel like you’re having that special time you should do when you visit
I’ve been lucky enough to visit here for around 25 years and lived and worked here for a bit too. I’m a San Antonio bay guy and make no apologies for that, I love the long summer nights you have here no matter the time of year you visit, even in September the sun is out until around 8:30pm
One of the things that’s disappointed me a little this year is the move of one of my favourite places (just beyond the sunset strip) from a simple go in and pay at the bar type thing to minimum spend €10 per card transaction and table service only. Went up there last night to watch the sunset and would have spent it anyway, but there’s a difference between wanting to spend and having to spend.
Anyway, it made me think about about why I still love coming here and I thought I’d share a few of my reasons, hope some of you will too
Tagomago Hotel
Always been my favourite spot in the Bay. Perfectly located and C’an Toni the bar out the front is just the most wonderful chilled place. Family run and reasonably priced, hopefully for many years yet.
Even if you’re not staying here a nice chilled drink down in C’an Toni as the sunsets or just after is lovely - if you’re walking past drop in, it’s lovely!
Market bar with sunset terrace
Every time I come back I expect this place to have been taken over but it’s still going strong. An absolute hidden gem just at the start of the sunset strip (if you’re coming from the direction of San an town), think supermarket prices for a drink with a slight markup and the same view of the sunset you’ll pay 100x more just a few metres along. Love it here for that reason
Marina Playa
Hotel in the bay which I believe is quite expensive to stay in. But going into the pool to chill in the afternoon is free, well free as in buy a few drinks sometimes free pinxtos and the dj is great, plays from 1-5pm happy chilled daytime vibes and lots of 80s inspired remixes. Such a great cure for a hangover
Pennsylvania Burger
One of the years I was working over here I hadn’t eaten in a wee while so my boss said take half an hour, go here and ask for a chicken roll.
Fed me for about a week, since then they’ve also opened a little restaurant. The chicken roll here is something to be experienced! It’s just brilliant food
Urban Lounge
Round in the bay. Absolutely lovely staff and it’s just one of those places where the owner has continuously reinvested every summer and built the place up, total respect for that
Worth dropping in for a drink if you’re ever walking past. Look out for the daytime hierbas coming out
Tapeo
Across the road from Urban Lounge in the bay and easy to walk past. Walk in and you’ll find fantastic tapas, beautifully presented and really great prices too. Well worth a visit. Eaten here a few times as it’s close to my hotel and it’s been ace every time. No fuss just great local food
Reflex
You’ll never go into reflex and not feel welcome. It’s a simple bar nothing fancy about it, but the person who runs it is so lovely. If you’re ever walking past and see it pop in for a drink
XDXT
Bar XDXT is kind of up the back streets in San Antonio, but has a great vibe. Nice tapas and just chill
There have been a few disappointments along the way on this trip but as always it’s the local places that keep it going and make me want to come back. Let’s all support those local businesses
Really interested to hear where are your hidden gems?
I don’t post a lot (if at all) but spent a few weeks over here recently and thought it might be nice to open up a thread about the small businesses, you know the unsung heroes who unexpectedly make your night special, whether it’s just being really attentive during your meal, rolling out the hierbas at the end of it, it can be anything that just makes you feel like you’re having that special time you should do when you visit
I’ve been lucky enough to visit here for around 25 years and lived and worked here for a bit too. I’m a San Antonio bay guy and make no apologies for that, I love the long summer nights you have here no matter the time of year you visit, even in September the sun is out until around 8:30pm
One of the things that’s disappointed me a little this year is the move of one of my favourite places (just beyond the sunset strip) from a simple go in and pay at the bar type thing to minimum spend €10 per card transaction and table service only. Went up there last night to watch the sunset and would have spent it anyway, but there’s a difference between wanting to spend and having to spend.
Anyway, it made me think about about why I still love coming here and I thought I’d share a few of my reasons, hope some of you will too
Tagomago Hotel
Always been my favourite spot in the Bay. Perfectly located and C’an Toni the bar out the front is just the most wonderful chilled place. Family run and reasonably priced, hopefully for many years yet.
Even if you’re not staying here a nice chilled drink down in C’an Toni as the sunsets or just after is lovely - if you’re walking past drop in, it’s lovely!
Market bar with sunset terrace
Every time I come back I expect this place to have been taken over but it’s still going strong. An absolute hidden gem just at the start of the sunset strip (if you’re coming from the direction of San an town), think supermarket prices for a drink with a slight markup and the same view of the sunset you’ll pay 100x more just a few metres along. Love it here for that reason
Marina Playa
Hotel in the bay which I believe is quite expensive to stay in. But going into the pool to chill in the afternoon is free, well free as in buy a few drinks sometimes free pinxtos and the dj is great, plays from 1-5pm happy chilled daytime vibes and lots of 80s inspired remixes. Such a great cure for a hangover
Pennsylvania Burger
One of the years I was working over here I hadn’t eaten in a wee while so my boss said take half an hour, go here and ask for a chicken roll.
Fed me for about a week, since then they’ve also opened a little restaurant. The chicken roll here is something to be experienced! It’s just brilliant food
Urban Lounge
Round in the bay. Absolutely lovely staff and it’s just one of those places where the owner has continuously reinvested every summer and built the place up, total respect for that
Worth dropping in for a drink if you’re ever walking past. Look out for the daytime hierbas coming out
Tapeo
Across the road from Urban Lounge in the bay and easy to walk past. Walk in and you’ll find fantastic tapas, beautifully presented and really great prices too. Well worth a visit. Eaten here a few times as it’s close to my hotel and it’s been ace every time. No fuss just great local food
Reflex
You’ll never go into reflex and not feel welcome. It’s a simple bar nothing fancy about it, but the person who runs it is so lovely. If you’re ever walking past and see it pop in for a drink
XDXT
Bar XDXT is kind of up the back streets in San Antonio, but has a great vibe. Nice tapas and just chill
There have been a few disappointments along the way on this trip but as always it’s the local places that keep it going and make me want to come back. Let’s all support those local businesses
Really interested to hear where are your hidden gems?
