Elite Traveler May-June 2018

EXPLORE IBIZA GUIDE TO IBIZA

THE SECRET SISTER ISLAND For a gentle respite from Ibiza’s frenetic party pace, head to Formentera. This secret sister, and the smallest of the Balearic Islands, is definitely worth a visit. Travel light and hang loose on some of the most blindingly white beaches in the Mediterranean. It’s a barefoot paradise, lost in a time warp when life was a beach…and then some.

Rife with hedonistic nightspots and mystical yoga retreats, no other destination has maintained its bohemian signature style quite as successfully as Ibiza. A mecca for disco madness and home to some of the best-loved clubs in the world, the Spanish island is also a destination of culture and grace, awash with historic architecture, designer cuisine and contemporary art. A tsunami of new happenings is flooding the island with unique diversity, balancing the old Ibiza’s dance-until-dawn scene with a more holistic vibe. Venture inland for a taste of the island’s eclectic artisanal restaurants, or dine at one of its famously decadent beach venues. This Balearic hot spot has attracted artists and musicians to its sumptuous cerulean shores for decades. Rediscover yourself in this magnetic, magical landscape.

WHERE TO EAT

Best for views: Amante The real draw of Amante — a master class in refined rustic decor — is its secluded clifftop setting. The shimmering ice-blue vista that greets diners as they enter the restaurant is one of the most breathtaking in Ibiza. amanteibiza.com Best for people watching: Blue Marlin With a lively beach-club ambience, Blue Marlin remains the famed five-star option. It’s the place to see and be seen, where the high spirits match the high heels — strictly for those who like their sashimi and champagne served with a selfie. bluemarlinibiza.com

Best of the best: Sublimotion Unquestionably the most expensive restaurant in Ibiza, Sublimotion is located within the Hard Rock Hotel, Playa d’en Bossa. A gourmet extravaganza that costs $2,100 per person, a meal here is the product of the combined genius of five Michelin-awarded chefs who’ve garnered a collective eight heavenly stars. Twelve diners immerse themselves in a sensory experience that is simply out of this culinary world. sublimotionibiza.com

by Peter Clover

Photos David Ralita, Maria Simon, Alex Tihonovs / Shutterstock.com, Assouline