Ibiza Bar History: El Rincon de Pepe

Published 30 March 2011 Stephen White.

Tags: Restaurants

the perfect introduction to Spanish cuisine

The history of one of Ibiza's finest tapas bars, El Rincon de Pepe in San Antonio, straddles five decades. At the time when young Pepe Rosello opened the bar in 1962 San Antonio was still a small fishing village with quiet streets and was just being noticed on the tourist map.

Since then, much has been changed in San Antonio and the rest of the island by the arrival of mass tourism. Thankfully, El Rincon de Pepe has remained constant through the years.

The quality of its tapas, wines, beers and service is still as high as it was nearly 40 years ago, the only changes have been in the hair and waist-lines of the staff! As a customer for the last 21 years I reckon they've helped my waistline grow and prosper too!

Tapas, small portions of meat, fish or vegetables, are the perfect introduction to Spanish cuisine. Costing only a few Euros, you can taste and try and if you don't like anything it's no great financial loss And you can quickly order something else to replace it.

They're also ideal if you're travelling solo - just pull up a stool at the bar and you'll soon get into conversation with your neighbours – or even better for a group meal, sharing a bottle or two of wine and a table laden with dishes is great fun.

Perhaps the best thing about such a typically Ibicenco place is its cosmopolitan atmosphere.

You can be sharing the bar with old Ibicencos who've been going in for years, and as their website says, “island residents, passing tourists, artists, politicians, businessmen, fashion-designers, and an endless number of people, all seeking the simplicity of its ambiance and its good food. Perhaps 'social oasis' is the name which best describes it.”

It really is an 'Ibiza must do' for anyone visiting the island and is easily found in San Antonio's Calle San Mateo which is just off the 'Fountains Square' near the taxis. 

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