Any holiday to Ibiza should include a sample of the local cuisine. And what better way to introduce you to the flavours of Spain than to head for your nearest tapas bar?
This national culinary institution can be found in bars and restaurants in cities and villages all over the Iberian Peninsula and this island is no different.
Traditionally, a tapa is an appetiser or snack, usually consumed with a beer or glass of wine. Nowadays, the meaning has evolved to include anything from pinchos (snacks on a cocktail stick) and montaditos (small snacks mounted on a slice of bread) up to small servings of the chef’s finest specialities, to be eaten solo or to share.
So, with our helpful guidance, you can take your time and discover some of the best places to enjoy tapas on Ibiza. Maybe try hopping from bar to bar to make some comparisons along the way…
Ibiza Town
La Cava
Situated in the heart of Ibiza Town on the historic square of Vara de Rey, La Cava serves a range of high-quality, classic tapas and makes a great spot to people-watch day and night on its resplendent outside terrace. All dishes employ lots of lovely local produce, so you get a true taste of the island too.
Kaixo
Kaixo, meaning “hello” in Euskera, the Basque language, is extremely popular with locals. So, although this is a big restaurant with a large terrace, expect a wait to be seated in high season.
The food at Kaixo Ibiza is strongly influenced by the Basque region and it is a true tapas venue where you would go to have a decent dinner or lunch. It exudes class and has a great menu, where real care has gone into developing it. Definitely one for the list of places to eat in Ibiza Town and it's open all year.
La Bodega 1&2
La Bodega, housed in a lovely old building with a creeping vine under the shadow of the imposing medieval walls of the old citadel, is a popular stop on summer evenings. Many customers have been going for an age and it attracts a very mixed crowd, all there for the great tapas (especially the amazing, spicy choricitos!). If you haven’t pre-booked, queues to get a table in high season can snake along the street.
With demand so high, a second La Bodega, with the same menu, opens beside the sea at the far end of Talamanca Bay in summer.
Re.art
Re.art is an avant-garde taverna where the motto is "eat to be happy". With plates as inventive and delicious as they serve here, you can see why. Even the aficionados at Michelin seem inclined to agree. Re.art offers the best of the traditional favourite tapas staples, alongside their modern gourmet creations. All plates are prepared with fresh local produce and presented with panache.
El Zaguán
Home of the montadito, El Zaguán is a fun and lively city centre tapas bar that serves an endless stream of fresh snacks for you to graze on while the beers flow. Just hail your passing waiter to grab whatever takes your fancy from his tray and he will count up your cocktail sticks at the end.
San Antonio
Tapas Restaurant & Garden
Situated on a quiet side street close to the beach of San Antonio, Tapas Restaurant & Garden has a spacious terrace ideal for groups, large or small, to relax and indulge in sharing. True to its Spanish roots, the menu boasts a selection of freshly produced authentic classics, with the addition of some spicy touches from around the world.
Look out for the daily chef's special tapas and make sure to try one of its reasonably priced cocktails, guaranteed to get your evening in full swing.
El Rincón de Pepe
About as traditional as it gets. El Rincón de Pepe is one of the oldest restaurants in San Antonio and probably everyone’s idea of the typical tapas restaurant. For many visitors to the town in summer lunch or dinner here is an essential part of their holiday list. Most of the classic tapas dishes are here, with recipes which haven’t changed much in decades.
Bar Es Clot
In a quiet corner of San An, under the shadow of the town’s old church, Bar Es Clot is a very popular spot to sit on the terrace and relax. A good selection of beautifully presented tapas is sold here, and the service is brisk and efficient. Naturally, the turnover of customers is high and the place is usually bustling with a nice vibe.
Santa Eulalia
Royalty
Set in a splendid position next to the main walkway of Plaza España, Royalty, an island legend has been going strong since the 1930s. Stop here, sit on the pavement chairs and guzzle some gorgeous tapas. Go inside, have a look at what's behind the glass, ask what the dishes are and learn. Do try their delicious desserts made fresh each day by local Ibiza bakeries.
Tape Arte Café Bar
Excellent tapas, at just the right price point, that definitely won't break the bank! Set back in one of the quieter side streets away from the centre of town, Tape Arte is renowned for good, honest Spanish home cooking served in plentiful portions. Well worth making the effort to find this little gem and indulge in the great dishes on offer.
Rincón de Pepe
The Santa Eulalia version of Rincón de Pepe (no relation) can be found in the town’s famous ‘restaurant street’, Carrer de St Vicent. This an authentic place with traditional Ibizan cuisine - the menu consists of classic seafood tapas dishes plus some very good special ‘tapas of the day’. Usually full of locals, which is always a good sign…
San José
Destino Tapas Bar
Located in a quiet backstreet of the town, Destino Tapas Bar serves up a gourmet selection of dishes, many with an Eastern Mediterranean flavour. Your waiter will explain every dish to you so will need to have a good memory - the tapas options are as numerous as the clients on summer evenings. So, reserve a table in advance if you don’t want to be disappointed.
Interior
Bar Anita (Ca n'Anneta)
San Carlos
The words ‘Island Institution’ get bandied around a lot, but, in the case of Bar Anita, this is undoubtedly true. Renowned to be one of the earliest meeting places for the hippy community in the '60s and '70s, it still oozes an air of relaxed informality from a bygone age. Some things never change - the tapas are good and the flow of interesting characters still remains. Be sure to wash down your snack with a shot of the homemade Hierbas Ibicencas while you’re there.
Can Tixedó
Forada
Music and art meet great tapas in Forada near San Rafael at the delightful cafe Can Tixedó. It may be off the beaten track but it is certainly worth the trip. The crowd you will find there loves the tapas menu plus the staff is super-friendly and will help spend time explaining it, which is great if you are new to tapas. While you make up your mind, you can peruse the latest exhibition by a local artist which adorns the bar’s walls.
Bar Costa
Santa Gertrudis
Ok, so not strictly a tapas bar but Bar Costa is the epicentre of ham sandwiches and charcuterie on the island. The bar can be packed from the terrace and right through the labyrinthine interior as the waiters breathlessly turn out plate after plate of fine cured meats, mature cheeses and tomato bread as quickly as you can order them.
A buzzing atmosphere when the chimneys are alight in winter and there is some pretty great artwork to enjoy here too.
Can Terra
Ibiza Airport
Once a hot favourite in Ibiza Town, Can Terra was always bursting at the seams with customers. Now the popular tapas bar can still be found at the airport departure lounge. Here you have one last chance to enjoy the authentic flavours of Ibiza before getting on that plane home.
For even more ideas of great places to dine on Ibiza, check out our famous Restaurant Guide for inspiration.
WORDS: Tim Dackombe and Julian Heathcote
