If you’re planning a trip to Ibiza or simply adding to your “will travel” list for future reference, look no further than this insider’s guide on where to go, eat, swim and shop on the Spanish island….
Stylist, author and entrepreneur Renu Kashyap divulges all her secrets on how to live your best Ibiza life, and what we love the most is that her suggestions are as desirable for adults as they are child-friendly. Shopping hotspots (favoured by Isabel Marant, no less) combined with pizza on the beach make this the ultimate win/win family holiday, and we’ve never been more inspired to book a trip (albeit a few years in advance, need to get over the terrible twos first!) than we are right now.
Yum, we can almost smell that fresh seafood on the beach already… Let’s go!
Photography: Bridget Wood | Follow @renukashyap_stylist
Where are your favourite places you love to eat at in Ibiza with your daughter?
THE CHICKERIA
The Chickeria is a lovely place in Santa Gertrudis with a garden where you can get organic chicken with fris. The kids love it!
KETOKITCHEN
The first Keto restaurant of Europe. Skye loves going here for the unicorn pancakes and peanut butter milkshake. All without sugar and beautifully presented.
EL CARMEN
This Spanish restaurant at Cala d’Hort has amazing views on the magical rock Es Vedrà, and Skye loves playing here on the beach until the sun goes down.
PIZZA AT BENIRRÁS
On Sundays the drummers play at Benirrás beach and as it is just 10 minutes from our home, we love going here for a quick pizza.
CAN CIRES
A local Spanish restaurant with a parrot in the beautiful county town of Sant Mateu.
What about shopping – where should we shop in Ibiza?
SANT JORDI FLEA MARKET
I love the Sant Jordi Flea Market on Sundays to thrift for treasures. It’s on every week from 9am till 3pm.
THE ROSE IBIZA
A boutique with a restaurant serving fresh pasta in Santa Gertrudis. You can buy the paintings from the wall by artist Aldo Kolzac, Jerome Dreyfuss accessories, silk dresses and the most beautiful items for your home. Isabel Marant is a regular.
Carrer Venda de Fruitera, 07814 Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera, Illes Balears
YVONNE SPORRE
The model, editor, stylist, designer and fashion consultant – who has worked with the likes of Missoni, Balenciaga and Loewe for many years – gives private sales at her home high up in the mountains of Ibiza. You can send her an email if you would like to attend.
LA GALERIA ELEFANTE
A beautiful store in Santa Gertrudis. My favourite section is the rack with vintage lace and silk gowns from the 20s. You will always find something if you are looking to buy a gift.
LOS ENAMORADOS
At the end of Portinaxt beach, you can find the boutique hotel Los Enamorados, which means “The lovers”. They have nine rooms which are all different and romantically decorated. High beds with coloured hammocks and views over the ocean and fisherman’s boats. It also has a shop with travel treasures in a retro 60s style – kimonos, interior goods, books ( they sell my book IBIZA BOHEMIA) and many more things that you will want to take home. Get yourself one of their logo sweaters as a souvenir.
TERRA MASIA
One of the most beautiful places on the island, you can get a box of organic vegetables here, straight from farm to table.
www.terramasiaibiza.com
And I love to go shopping in Formentera, places like Gecko Beach have nice little shops that belong to the hotel.
What about your favourite beaches in Ibiza?
I love Aguas Blancas close to San Carlos, the water is amazing and you have a nice charming chiringuito [small bar] that plays 70’s music like The Doors and Bob Marley. My best friend and I go to Benirras once a week to train to swim to the rock. It’s a 1.5 hour swim back and forth with amazing views. I like to go to little small private beaches and bring a picnic and stay for just two hours around sunset. Since living in Ibiza, I don’t like baking in the sun anymore, it’s too intense for me.
And finally, going out...
I don’t really go to bars for a drink, but I like to go to one of the beach clubs.
BEACHOUSE
My husband and I go to lunch every Wednesday at Beachouse or go dancing. Our event is called BOHEMIA, and Bas ( DJ Abel) plays music all day. It is a beautiful place with great contemporary Mediterranean food and they have a great kids club which my daughter loves. Once a month there is a party after lunch and every Saturday there is a great dinner on the beach, moonlit diners sitting on low tables with your feet in the sand. A very special experience. Highly recommended.
AMANTE
A beautiful beach restaurant in Cala Longa with a view over a high cliff and the sea.
LA GRANJA
A hotel in the north of the island, which serves lunch and dinner made of products that come straight from their own farm. Communal spaces, including the kitchen and pool, bring likeminded guests together, while cosy nooks are found inside and out for moments of simple solitude. They make amazing Mezcal Mules and their interior design is spot on.