Our friend, Howard Goldsmith of Alicante Sunshine Villas, moved from Manchester to just outside the small village of Sax, in inland Alicante, over twenty years ago. This story is one of the reasons he loves it there and would never return to the UK. Our elderly (elderly!! I’m 65) neighbours have adopted us as their children. Manolo and Maruka (Maria Eugenia) are 89 and 78, respectively, and they live in an enormous townhouse where she was born, and she won’t sell it; she want

IBIZA’S FAMOUS CHIRINGUITOS HAVE STARTED TO OPEN AROUND THE ISLAND. Sunbeds and plastic chairs suddenly appear. Wooden tables are dragged across sand that sat empty all winter, and music quietly drifts across the empty sand out to sea. CLICK HERE TO SEE A FEW OF THE CHIRINGUITOS DOTTED AROUND THE ISLAND And just like that, after months of silence and closed shutters, the chiringuito is open again. Where does the word actually come from, and it’s not Spain; Chiringuitos d

RESTAURANTE VENTORRILLO DEL CHATO This restaurant is a beautiful historic Goya-esque 18th-century roadhouse, situated near the beach dunes, an oasis in the heart of a desert strip. Jose Manuel Cordoba makes magic with fish here.   We come here for the Tortillitas de Camarones (shrimp fritters). The ones here are larger but also incredibly crispy, with more batter edges and significantly more shrimp than any others we had. They are great with a cold fino sherry. Other excellen

CASA BIGOTE     Michelin Bib Gourmand It was in 1951 when a local sailor, Fernando Hermoso, opened a despacho de Vinos selling manzanilla to fishermen. Fernando grew an Errol Flynn-style moustache, and his friends started calling him “El Bigote”.   Manzanilla, a salty, extremely dry sherry (the salt comes from the local bodegas’ proximity to the sea air), originates from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and you will still find it on almost every table. In 1970, Fernando Jr. took over t

LA JOSEFITA IBIZA La Josefita is a lovely little restaurant in the backstreets of Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio), near the infamous West End, which is currently undergoing a massive transformation. This new tapas restaurant, opened in August, pays tribute to Grandma Pepita - Josefa Pepita. The Josefita offers a concise menu of reimagined, familiar tapas. We started with; Sabrasada con calamares bebés (a stunning sabrasada with deep-fried baby squid) Albóndigas (incredi

RESTAURANT CAMI DE BALÀFIA If you fancy something big and meaty in the evening (sorry, vegetarians, but this is probably not for you!), drive up restaurant Road, officially known as Carretera San Joan de Labritja (it’s the second to last restaurant on the left, on the stretch of road going to the village of San Joan de Labritja from Eivissa (Ibiza Town). If you count down the kilometres of roadside posts, it is 15.4km. You will find Camí de Balàfia, set back off the main road

If you’re heading to Ibiza, you’re probably already dreaming of sun-soaked beaches and vibrant nightlife. But let me tell you, the island’s culinary scene deserves just as much attention. Ibiza’s local dishes are a delicious blend of Mediterranean flavours, fresh seafood, and traditional Spanish recipes with a unique twist. So, what should you order when you sit down at a local restaurant? Let’s dive into the Ibiza top local dishes that you cannot miss. This guide will help

RESTAURANTE CAN RAFALET After a few years away, we returned to Restaurante Can Rafalet, in Es Caló de Sant Agustí, on the Island of Formentera, which boasts some of the most stunning views in the Balearic Islands. The sea is at its fabulous best here, and from our reserved front table, we could see it in all its stunning turquoise glory. When you sit down, you receive a delicious bowl of aioli (rich with garlic) and olives, along with a basket of crusty rolls to scoop up the

CHIRINGUITO SA FERRADURA (EL PIRATA) To find this great little Kiosk and beach, turn left at the sign for the Hacienda Na Xamena Hotel and Spa on the way down to Port de Sant Miquel Road (before you reach the port). At around halfway, you must take the right-hand fork turn and drive for approximately 2 km along a quite testing, bumpy Camino (un-tarmacked road) to arrive at the bay. The kiosk with the pirate flag is situated on the beach and serves good-value basic chiringuito

LA BODEGA DEL CANTINERO Mark Walsh returned to another of his favourite spots in San Pedro de Alcántara, just outside the famous resort of Marbella. La Bodega del Cantinero, often known as “Casa Alberto,” is a modern restaurant with a family-run structure, Alberto manages the front of house and hosts guests, while his wife handles the kitchen. This owner-chef partnership is typical of newer Spanish “personal” restaurants, which contrast with traditional taverns.  La Bodega de