A DAY & NIGHT OF FOOD & ADVENTURE IN IBIZA WITH RENOIR GUIDES TOUR 2

After meeting Jonathon Lipsin and Bernadette Mundy on Facebook through our shared love of Ibiza, Formentera, and music, I invited them to Ibiza for a day's tour of the Island each year for food, fun, and frolics.

This was to be our second trip. After their short sea trip from Formentera, we met at our usual meeting place outside the Café Mar y Sol in Ibiza Town. This time, my friends from London, Danny and Pankaj, joined us.

Once settled in our hire car, I gave them a CD I had made of their favourite music (this had become a regular tradition), and we set off for our tour. Leaving the busy Eivissa (Ibiza town), we headed north of the Island to the more sedate village of Sant Carles de Peralta (San Carlos), a place Bernadette had fond memories of.

CA N'ANITA (BAR ANITA) Plaza de la Iglesia, 07850 Sant Carles de Peralta +34 971 33 50 90 This was a famous ex-pat meeting place in Sant Carles de Peralta. The walls are covered in art from when struggling artists used to pay for food with their paintings. We popped in for an early morning coffee and cake.

It is one of the oldest bars in Ibiza and still functions as a post office. Mailboxes are in the main dining area, which acts as a meeting place for locals and a functional hub for the small village.

They serve good food in a buzzy friendly atmosphere, you must try, their legendary homemade hierbas.

The bar is set in a pleasant village. The church is beautiful, and there are a few shops to walk around.

On certain nights, it's just a 15-minute stroll down to the Las Dalias Hippy Night Market after dinner.

On Leaving Sant Carles, we headed to the coast and an intriguing little restaurant I knew of.

EL BIGOTES Cala Mastella, Sant Carles de Peralta +34 650 79 76 33 This Chiringuito is known as "The Fish Shack" or El Bigotes (The Moustache, which refers to the proprietor)

They serve a set meal only, and the legend is that the King of Spain was refused a table because they were full!

We did not eat here on this occasion as we hadn't booked, but it is a lovely spot to visit. When I was here before, you were served olives, pan payes (local bread), alioli, and some white house wine, whilst a massive pot of fish stew was prepared freshly before you.

The first serving is a large plate of local rockfish and potatoes cooked in a delicious saffron broth. The whole fish, head and tails, are included. The meal is served at 2 p.m. to the entire restaurant at once.

After this serving, they bring paella rice and small squid cooked in the remaining saffron broth.

A good small family beach is nearby, over the rocks, as is Cala Llenya around the cove.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the visit, well, almost everyone!

A swing is available for the big kids amongst us!

After our little spot of sightseeing, we headed further up the coast to

RESTAURANTE SALVADÓ

Pou de Lleó, Sant Carles de Peralta +34 971 18 78 79 This is an old-school Ibicencan fish restaurant with stunning views over the bay.

The menu features fish, paellas and the house speciality, bullit de peix (a traditional Ibicencan fish and potato stew).

With a solid wine list and sea views overlooking Pou des Lleó, a night at Salvadó is quintessentially Ibicencan.

For lunch, we had

Mixed salad

Calamar plancha con patatas fritas

Mejillones a la marinera

Across the bay is the pretty little beach of Pou des Lleó,

It has a very nice cosy chiringuito serving drinks and snacks.

So we went there for a few drinks and a relaxing swim.

CHIRINGUITO POU DES LLEÓ

Pou des Lleó, 07850 Santa Eulália des Riu +34 971 335 274 www.poudeslleo.com

This Chiringuito belongs to the Hostal Pou des Lleó, 500 yards up the road. It is one of the most typical Ibicencan restaurants in the north of the Island.

It has a peaceful terrace with simple décor for lunch and dinner.

The rooms are basic but clean, and a swimming pool is outside.

Once refilled, we returned to the south of the Island, where relaxing music played in the car.

Pankaj decided this was a good time to take a little nap!

After about a 40-minute journey, we pulled up to the stunning Ses Salinas salt flats for some rice at

CA'N SALINAS EL REY DE LA FIDEUÀ

Carrer de l´Illa d´Eivissa, 6, 07818 Sant Josep de sa Talaia, +34 971 39 65 63 www.reydelafideua.com

You meet the friendly parrot on arrival.

Here, you will find wonderful Valèncian style paella and fideuá, both served at this restaurant.

Traditional things like rabbits, snails, and seafood are heavily featured ingredients in these rice and noodle dishes.

We had the seafood paella

and a local dessert, greixonera, an Ibicenan bread pudding.

I suggest having dinner there slightly before sunset, enjoying the sun's colour and watching the flamingos on the salt flats opposite the restaurant. This is Ibiza!

We were now rather full, so we then headed to the famous beach of ses Salinas for a little light dancing in the sun at

SA TRINXA Platja de ses Salinas, 07817 Sant Jordi de Ses Salines +34 637 82 61 83 www.satrinxa.com This is the place for people-watching.

Parades and performances can take place all day.

Live music is playing most days.

Saxophonists and violins abound.

Sa Trinxa is set at the far left end of the beach, attracting Ibiza's most beautiful, often in their butt-naked glory.

Sounds drift across the beach from chillout legend Jon Sa Trinxa (Monday & Wednesday).

It's the perfect place for a jug of sangria and a dance in the sand. A smattering of fashion nudists (it's all about the piercings) creates an adults-only atmosphere. If you need to eat, you can—we did not, but the food is good here.

After sunset, the crowds drift away, and we join them back to the car. Then, we go to Ibiza town to drop off Bernadette and Jonathon for their ferry back to Formentera.

After saying our goodbyes and seeing you next year, we returned to our hotel in Sant Antoni (San Antonio) for a nightcap and, surprisingly, some more food!

HOSTAL MARINO

Carrer de la Mar, 34, 07820 Sant Antoni de Portmany

+34 971 34 08 44

www.hostalmarino.es

Hostals in Spain are unlike hostels in the UK and are sometimes excellent boutique hotels. This is a very friendly hostal, at the back of the town. The rooms are spotless and tidy. There is a swimming pool.