addicted to ibiza

top 3 off-the-radar ibiza restaurants

The Internet is teeming with guides to the Ibiza restaurant scene. But if you are lusting after something off-the-beaten-path that you don't mostly see in the tourist listings, check out our hot tips below.

3. Restaurant 2000

A hectic weeklong Ibiza schedule of hip restaurants and achingly cool bars can leave you yearning for something a little simpler. When we need a break from house music and the scene in general, we get in the car and head north to Benirrás beach. Sundays aside, Benirrás is a quiet bay and the family-run fish shack Restaurant 2000 at the end of the beach is the perfect spot to while the day. Expect a casual affair, with fresh grilled fish, ice-cold Cava and local specialities. As you recharge you can relax and watch the sun go down without a DJ in sight.

2. La Brasa

Sometimes you just really need red meat, but if you’re trapped in the more touristy parts of Ibiza Town and can’t make the trek to Balafia or Can Caus, your quest for a proper steak may feel like a lost cause. There is hope in sight. Hidden just a block away from the harbour craziness is a laidback garden restaurant called La Brasa. Offering an amazing BBQ and perfectly cooked steaks, you can dine outdoors in their romantically lit tree-covered terrace, without an über-club parade to spoil the view.

1. Cala Bassa Beach Club

It might be just fifteen minutes from San Antonio, but the scene at newly-opened Cala Bassa Beach Club is a world away from the craziness of San Antonio town. Top Barcelona chef, David Reatres, oversees the kitchen at Cala Bassa which offers three dining options, ranging from a full menu of contemporary Iberico dishes using locally sourced produce at the restaurant, to a quick beachside snack from the shack. It's also the perfect spot to watch the sunset with a properly mixed cocktail in hand. 

new in ibiza for 2009

Like all places that stay exciting and fresh, Ibiza constantly changes and 2009 is no exception. A new bunch of venues have arrived on the scene and Addicted bring you our pick of the places you should be looking out for - soon they will be on everyone's lips.

Gala Night

Strictly speaking, Gala Night isn't a new venue. It's been around for years and was previously known as the 'abandoned zoo' (even although it never actually was a zoo - work that one out). However, now it has finally got a name, it has quickly become the venue of choice for the island's underground clubbing scene. With daytime, outdoor dress-up dance parties hosted every Saturday from 4pm until midnight by The Zoo Project, word on the street is that Gala Night is the new DC-10. The Zoo Project also host Wednesday under the Channel Zoo moniker, while As One host Monday evenings bringing some of London's big clubbing names to the island. This is the place everyone is talking about this summer - go before it's massive.

Amante

Ibiza's places to chill are even better than Ibiza's places to party, and Addicted loves venues such as the Blue Marlin and KM5. Opened a few months ago, Amante joins Ibiza's distingushed collection of laid-back beachside restaurant/bars. Situated in a secluded bay near Cala Llonga just north of Ibiza Town, Amante looks set to find a niche as one of the most romantic places on the island. Come here to kick back in style on a beach bed. Anyone fancy brunch by the sea?

Boho

When Ibiza Rocks opened a hotel in San Antonio a couple of years ago, the tide started to turn for Ibiza's less sophisticated town, previously more famous for English breakfasts than world-class nightspots. That trend continues with the opening of Boho, a new club in San Antonio town that has already become a regular on the celebrity pages of British newspapers.  A million miles away from the sleazy 'free shots with your lager' San Antonio of yore, Boho was launched a month ago by the team behind Hotel Es Vive and Base Bar and this year hosts Ibiza institutions Superfreq and Miss Moneypennys. With big names and lashings of style, this is one to watch.

top five ways to enjoy ibiza on a budget

Our beloved white isle isn't exactly famous for bargains, but I'm not prepared to cancel my annual trip just because of the credit crunch and the sky-high Euro exchange rate. Neither should you, that's why we have put together five easy ways to enjoy Ibiza on a budget this summer, allowing you to soak up the Balearics in these cash-strapped times without breaking the bank.

5. Picnic on Salinas Beach
Salinas beach, just a short drive from Ibiza Town and Playa d'en Bossa, is famous for beautiful people and fantastic food in a national park setting unspoilt by tourist hotels. But instead of paying top dollar for lunch at the Jockey Club, why not take a picnic to the beach. Right beside the bus stop at Salinas beach (towards the rear of the car park) is a small supermarket where you can buy delicious Spanish cheeses and hams from the deli counter. Take them to the beach with a cheap bottle of vino rosado and think how much money you've saved to spend that night. If you pass through Ibiza Town on the way even better - pick up some fresh bread from one of the many bakeries. Just remember to take your rubbish with you! Map

4. Get into Pacha for free
Well, almost. Pacha Ibiza might be the most famous club in the world, but it is also famous for €70 door charges and €17 drinks. Instead, book dinner at Pacha restaurant and you will get free entry into the club once you have finished your meal. Furthermore, drinks in the restaurant are a fraction of the club price. The restaurant serves some of the best food on the island including modern Spanish dishes and an exquisite sushi menu. Reservations are essential (they have sittings at 10pm and midnight). Expect to pay between €50-€75 a person for dinner including wine, probably around what you would pay for the door tax alone. Reservations: +34 971 310 959

3. Party at Bora Bora
Every Ibiza newcomer never fails to be amazed that Bora Bora has no door tax. Space charges €50 a head to dance on the terrace, but just across the road Bora Bora provides the same experience for the cost of a beer - plus its right on the beach. Get there in the afternoon when you can look over the sea while dancing on the terrace, an Ibiza experience not to be missed. In the evening they are required to put a wall around the bar by local law.

2. Take a walk
You've probably spent the two months before your Ibiza trip slogging away in the gym in pursuit of the perfect beach body. Why waste all of that hard work in an orgy of food and drink during your trip? You don't have to spend your party money on an elite health spa (although Ibiza does have many should the fancy take you), simply get up early one morning (well, before lunch), put on your walking shoes and go see why people have flocked to this beautiful island for centuries. The hike from Playa d'es Cavallet to Salinas beach lasts around an hour, takes you past an old lighthouse and secluded coves, and finishes right next to Sa Trinxa beach bar for a much needed fruit juice (or a cocktail, if all the hiking is too much for you). Don't do the hike the other way, as it is much easier to catch a taxi or public transport from Salinas. You need to get a taxi or drive to Playa d'es Cavallet. Don't forget a map!

1. Don't spend all your money before you arrive
The competition between airlines for flights to Ibiza has never been greater - particularly in 2009 as flight bookings are down. Use a price comparison website such as Skyscanner to find the best bargain. It compares all airlines - you can see prices from full-service carriers such as British Airways and Iberia alongside local Spanish budget airlines such as Vueling in order to get the best deal on the dates you want to fly. You could find yourself on a full-service airline with complementary food and drinks for less than the price you would pay on EasyJet. And that's more money left in your pocket to spend where it matters - in the sun.