IBIZA - PORTINATX - CHIRINGUITO CALA D'EN SERRA AND THE ABANDONED HOTEL

Miguel Renoir Spanish Guides
Sep 10
4 min read

CHIRINGUITO CALA D'EN SERRA UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2025

You will see the sign for Cala d'en Serra on the right, just before you arrive in Portinatx. Follow the road until the tarmac ends and park. You can see the beach down below, which is a small horseshoe bay with further satellite coves nearby.

The sandy beach boasts clean, clear water and was once named one of Europe's best beaches by The Guardian newspaper. Cliffs surround the bay. Beware, the access is steep (not great for young children and elderly people), although you can drive down to the abandoned hotel and park there if the road is dry. Also, wear flat shoes.

There seem to be questions about who owns the chiriguito. There were rumours about the Six Senses Hotel in 2023, but they remained tight-lipped.

The chiringuito does not belong to them, but at that time, we believed you could reserve tables and loungers through their concierge. We are unsure of the current situation, and it now appears that there is a problem regarding the number of sunbeds that are legally permitted.

You will find a lovely little paradise.

We arrived around 11:15 am. There were only around ten people on the beach.

There are a few deck chairs with parasols. €45 for the two deckchairs, plus the parasol and the food, is more expensive than before.

There are pebbles in the water, so remember to bring shoes. Be cautious, as the sea temperature drops quickly to 24 degrees, with an abundance of fish and occasionally jellyfish.

There is no phone signal or Wi-Fi available at the beach; however, a public telephone is available in case of emergencies.

The abandoned hotel is partially roped off, and according to reports, it is due for demolition. Some of the graffiti has been damaged, including the face of a woman, with colours reminiscent of the sea and the sky.

Be warned: in case you are looking to photograph some of the incredible graffiti, it's a real shame that someone destroys such works of art.

REVIEW FROM 2021

In the far north of the Island, you will find this great little oasis, set in a stunning location, with an excellent little chiringuito serving cold beers, wines, and fresh, simple meals.

Beware, the access is steep (not great for young children and elderly people), although you can drive down to the abandoned hotel and park there if the road is dry. Also, wear flat shoes.

You cannot book, so you have to turn up. I would suggest arriving at around 12:30 pm to ensure getting a table, as the Spanish tend to eat around 2 pm. Once seated, we had a jug of Sangria de Cava, and we then decided on our food.

Calamare a la plancha (grilled baby squid).

Dorada a la plancha (grilled sea bream).

To finish, we had a few glasses of wine.

After your meal, you can swim, paddleboard, snorkel, or relax in the sun.

THE ABANDONED HOTEL

Sitting above the chiringuito is the famous abandoned hotel. In 1969, a Luxury hotel resort was planned for construction here, as it is one of Ibiza's most stunning and picturesque beaches.

The now-acclaimed Catalan Architect Josep Lluís Sert was chosen for the design. However, due to his political affiliations and aversion to General Franco's totalitarian rule, he had been exiled to the USA.

Sert's Clerk of Works, Antonio Ferran, signed off on the project to circumvent Spain's fascist government, which wouldn't allow Sert to be accredited as the architect in Catalonia and Balearic Islands. Therefore, work on the hotel began.

A year later, in 1970, construction on the massive building halted for several years. Development eventually came to an end when Sert passed away in 1983. There were several discussions on whether the hotel should be completed in its original design or not. If it should be demolished. However, neither option was taken; instead, the hotel was abandoned.

There are many works of artistic graffiti from various artists around the hotel. The hotel is fascinating not only for its artwork but also for its fantastic views of the beach and cove below. It's also an interesting place to see an urban landscape that, once abandoned, is engulfed by nature.

Various plans to complete the project have been rejected over time, and the Law of Natural Spaces now protects the area, which falls within a Natural Area of Special Interest. So it is unlikely that anyone will ever see the glory that Sert designed.