Food
Ibiza restaurants you can only reach by boat | Guide
One of the best things about spending the day on a boat in Ibiza is that you can eat in places you would otherwise reach down a dirt track or on foot. Many of the island’s beach restaurants run a dinghy pick-up service and answer on the radio: you anchor in front, call, and they come and get you.
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Photo by diluvi.com (Anna i Adrià) · CC BY 2.0
How arriving by sea works
The procedure is nearly always the same: book by phone in advance, anchor in front of the restaurant respecting the swimming zones and posidonia beds, and call on arrival. Many venues have an assigned VHF channel and a tender that runs guests from the boat to the shore.
It is worth being clear that in July and August this cannot be improvised. The good places fill up and a last-minute booking rarely works. We close it when we plan the day, not on the fly.
The island classics
This is a selection of places known for their access from the sea. Prices vary a great deal between them, so it is worth asking beforehand.
- Es Torrent (Porroig)
- In a discreet south-western inlet, right on the beach. Specialises in fish and rice dishes, and is practically designed for arriving by boat.
- Cala Bassa Beach Club
- In one of the easiest coves to anchor in, with several different kitchens on the same site and a pick-up service for anchored boats.
- Cala Jondal
- The cove has several restaurants with a busy summer scene and dinghy pick-up. It is the southern area with the most yacht traffic.
- Aiyanna (Cala Nova)
- On the east coast, with a more bohemian feel and open sea views. Mediterranean cooking in a photogenic setting.
- Cala Molí
- A west-coast classic since the eighties, with a terrace above the cove and Mediterranean and Ibizan cooking built on local produce.
What to order if you want the real local thing
The island’s signature dish is bullit de peix: rock fish poached with potato and allioli, served in two courses, with the rice cooked afterwards in the same broth. It is a long lunch, made for lingering, and usually needs ordering in advance.
Other things worth having if they appear on the menu: borrida de ratjada, guisat de peix, or a flaó to finish. None of it tastes the same on a port terrace as it does in a cove you can only reach by water.
Frequently asked questions
Do Ibiza beach restaurants pick you up by boat?
Many do. They have their own tender to bring guests from the anchored boat to the shore, usually after a call by phone or VHF.
Do I need to book if I arrive by boat?
In high season, yes, and several days ahead. Outside the season there is usually more flexibility.
Can we eat on board instead of going ashore?
Of course, and often it is the most comfortable option. Catering on board can be arranged to suit whatever you prefer.
