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The Ibiza Christmas diaries – The 2023 Edition

Christmas Eve Thali Party at Shanti

12.30pm – Sunday December 24, 2023

Set a new tradition and head to Cala Llonga this Christmas Eve, where Ibiza’s hottest new high-end Indian dining destination Shanti wraps up its debut season with a spicy bang before taking a well-deserved winter break. From 12.30pm until 6pm, super-skilled head chef Ojas Naware presents a selection of masterfully made thalis for 55€ per person – platters of flavour-packed curries, marinated meats and treats from the tandoor, plus dhals, fragrant rice dishes, pickles, chutneys, chapatis and naan breads. Start with a festive glass of bubbles, then tuck into fish, meat or vegetarian options that include lobster moilee, tandoori octopus, lamb kheema, beef cafrael, and potato, fig and basil patties among others. Dessert is a festive and fresh coconut and chocolate delice with cranberry compote. Reservations recommended but walk-ins also welcome – Mery Christmas, one and all!

Christmas Eve Menu at Amalur

From 1pm – Sunday December 24, 2023

‘Tis the season for indulging and Amalur is where you can dress up in your finest and bask in front of the fireplace while a pianist tinkles the ivories. Open for lunch and dinner on Christmas Eve, chef Antonio Boriello has curated a holiday à la carte menu brimming with twists on Italian fine dining. Start with treats from the raw seafood bar like prawns, langoustines and oysters, then move onto Castelmagno cheese with black truffle or crispy egg with topinambur and white truffle. Homemade pasta comes next – try the linguine with lobster, dill and lemon, or smoked taglioni with Ibizan prawns. Delectable mains include duck in orange sauce, and Chilean sea bass with peas, dried tomatoes and mussels but be sure to save room for the festive desserts – la dolce vita natalizia!

Christmas Eve Sunday Roast at House of WOW

1pm – Sunday December 24, 2023

Newly revamped Santa Gertrudis hangout House of WOW is the perfect place to while away the hours on Christmas Eve as you’re waiting for Santa’s arrival – especially when the festive weekend wraps up with the buzzing Sunday Roast. Bring your besties, bring the kids and even bring your furry friends – there’s something for everyone within the stylish clubhouse-style restaurant. This week’s roast special is pork belly, alongside the regular beef and chicken options, and the menu is 39€ per person including mulled wine, and 20€ for the kids menu. There’s a kids’ club to keep the little ones entertained and a soundtrack by DJs Ken Fan, Mental Genius and Dylan Debut to keep your toes tapping while you eat. Last week’s roast was completely sold out – be sure to make a reservation soon so you don’t miss out. ‘Tis the season, after all!

Christmas Eve Menu at Sa Capella

1pm – Sunday December 24, 2023

It may not be your typical Christmas Eve church service, but if food is your religion, then Sa Capella is the place to flock this Sunday, as the ancient chapel on the hills outside of San Antonio – recently restored by the famous Mambo Group – hosts a Christmas Eve lunch curated by chef Martín Vazquez. Start with marinated olives and smoked boquerones in vinegar, followed by starters including Wagyu jerky with tomato bread, wood-roasted lemon Black Angus sweetbreads and the signature Capella salad. In true Christmas fashion, mains are served family-style and include Nebraska flank steak; Josper-grilled wild sea bass; and beetroot and gorgonzola risotto, all served with garden veggies and rustic potatoes with rosemary and thyme. Dessert is a festively flavoured apple tartin with vanilla ice-cream and the menu is 85€ per person, excluding drinks. Bookings essential.

Christmas Eve Lunch at Casa Lhasa

1.30pm – Sunday December 24, 2023
Start your yuletide celebrations early with a festive Christmas Eve lunch in the sun-drenched garden (or the cosy interior if the weather is a little on the chilly side) of Casa Lhasa, in the heart of the tiny countryside village of San Lorenzo. The hearty Sunday roast dinner is guaranteed to evoke some holiday nostalgia, as you dine on delights such as roasted pork, potatoes and baby leeks with crackling; rare roast beef with crispy spuds, carrots and jus; or the extra special suckling goat roasted over rice. Wash it all down with the island’s finest selection of hand-picked natural wines by the best holistic winemakers from around the globe and you’ll still be home with plenty of time to spare before Santa comes down the chimney! Open from 1.30pm to 5pm, reservations are recommended.

Christmas Eve Sunset & Dinner at La Torre Ibiza

5pm – Sunday December 24, 2023

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and La Torre Ibiza invites you to start your Christmas celebrations with an iconic Ibiza sunset experience. Set on the cliffside of Cap Negret, take a seat on the heated terrace from 5pm and indulge in the specially designed menu for Christmas Eve, starting with babaganoush and pita bread followed by warm burrata salad or mussels with kimchi. For mains, choose between roasted salmon or pumpkin risotto and brie and finish with a creamy cheesecake or dulce de leche flan. The menu is 80€ per person, or upgrade to include beer, wine and soft drinks for an additional 30€ – reservations are recommended. A Balearic twist on the night before Christmas, and the perfect way to kickstart the holiday period with friends and family.

Christmas Eve Dinner in Jara at The Standard, Ibiza

7pm – Sunday December 24, 2023
If all you want for Christmas is a stress-free celebration, then Jara at The Standard, Ibiza is the place to be on Christmas Eve. Book a table with your chosen family and tuck into a gastronomic festive feast designed by Jara’s executive chef for 100€ per person, starting with delectable treats like duck and foie gras croquettes, green seafood ceviche and classic Iberian ham. In the spirit of Christmas, mains are served family-style and include chargrilled octopus and slow-cooked suckling pig, or mushroom and ricotta ravioli in sage butter for vegetarians, and there’s free-flowing wine throughout dinner plus a dessert degustation platter. And whether you’re in the mood to be naughty or nice, feel free to stick around for après-dinner cocktails to the sounds of DJ George Solarand a live music performance from Hot Ice Collective, with no fear of being coerced into washing up!

Christmas Eve Menu at A Mi Manera

7.30pm – Sunday December 24, 2023

Forget slaving over a hot stove and spend Christmas Eve in the finca dining room at A Mi Manera instead. The warm and cosy venue offers a four-course set Mediterranean menu with an Italian family influence for 80€ per person including one welcome drink. The festive feast begins with starters of baked goat cheese dumplings with shallot confit; and Ibizan octopus carpaccio with hummus, followed by a first course of handmade Wagyu beef tortellini or traditional spinach lasagne with meat ragout. Tuck into classic Christmas beef with truffle purée and salsa, or wild sea bass fillet with artichoke cream, baked cherry tomatoes and seasonal mushrooms for mains, and be sure to save room for a dessert of homemade Panettone with mascarpone cream. Reservations highly recommended.

Cocktails & DJs at Paradise Lost

Bekka’s Christmas Bosh at Paradise Lost

9pm – Sunday December 24, 2023

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through Paradise Lost, there were plenty of night creatures stirring (and some even shaking and muddling!) at Bekka’s Christmas Bosh! Take a seat on the terrace of Ibiza’s favourite drinking den or get cosy on the snug sofas indoors and settle in for a night of fine cocktails, great music by DJs Bekka Rawkins and Dylan Debut, and plenty of good banter from 9pm until Santa comes tumbling down the Sa Penya chimney – or 3am, whichever comes first. Order a mug of Jimmy’s Hot Winter Grog to get yourself into the festive spirit – quite literally – and see whether it leads you on the path to Santa’s Naughty or Nice List. Let’s be honest though, it’s really only going to go one way – lumps of coal for everyone!

White Ibiza Restaurants Guide: CBbc Marina Sta Eulalia

À La Carte Christmas at CBbC Marina Santa Eulalia

12.30pm – Monday December 25, 2023

Spending Christmas Day by the sea is the dream of many and here in Ibiza, waterside locations don’t come better than CBbC Marina Sta Eulalia, an elegant restaurant created by the renowned CBbC Group and recognised by the esteemed Repsol Guide. Open from 12.30pm until midnight on December 25, guests can order from the à la carte menu, making it the perfect place for groups with multiple dietary requirements or a beautiful destination for a romantic meal without committing to a set menu. Choose from big, bountiful salads, an exceptional array of sushi, freshly made pasta, vegetarian dishes, traditional rice options like paella, lobster rice and bullit de peix, fresh fish and meat straight off the grill and there’s a special kids’ menu too – joy to the world!

Christmas Day Menu at Amalur

From 1pm – Monday December 25, 2023

Feast, share, love is the motto at Amalur throughout the holidays and the beloved Italian fine dining destination does it all on Christmas Day, as it’s open for lunch and dinner. Get into the festive spirit with a raw seafood aperitivo – best washed down with plenty of bubbles – and then choose between creative starters from chef Antonio Boriello’s à la carte holiday menu such as scallop, leche de tigre, lime and coriander or beef tenderloin, tomato marmalade with hazelnuts. In classic Italian style, the next course is pasta, with homemade delights including the traditional Fossa cheese-stuffed cappelletto in bolognese sauce, or parmesan and white truffle risotto. Mains include grass-fed beef entrecôte with boletus mushrooms and white truffle; and turbot and seafood with potatoes among others. The festive feast ends on a sweet note with dessert by the fire, sound-tracked by live piano. Just as Christmas should be.

Christmas Lunch at A Mi Manera

1pm – Monday December 25, 2023

Christmas in the campo is a wonderful way to celebrate the big day, Ibiza style, and there’s no better place than charming Italian restaurant A Mi Manera. Set on the famous San Juan restaurant road, the farm-to-table dining destination is decked out in its Christmas finery and invites one and all to tuck into a beautiful four-course feast for 80€ per person (excluding drinks), inspired by Italian traditions and the abundant Mediterranean produce of Ibiza. You’ll be greeted with a glass of bubbles by Bellavista Franciacorta, before joining your friends and family around the table for an afternoon of wining and dining (see Christmas Eve listing above for menu details), before heading into the countryside to walk it off, Italian style, with a passeggiata, or heading home to sleep it off, Spanish style, with a siesta. Reservations essential.

Christmas Menu at Essència at Can Vistabella

From 1pm – Monday December 25, 2023

Nestled among the undulating hills of BenimussaEssència Ibiza is a hidden gem set within the postcard-worthy grounds of boutique hotel Can Vistabella. The restaurant opens its doors to guests in addition to visitors for a special Christmas Menu on December 25, prepared by talented chef Francisco Moreno and his team. You’ll be welcomed with a Cranberry Mule to (literally) get into the festive spirit, then share an array of focaccia, artisanal bread and crackers with jams and homemade chutneys. Meat tortellini in Ibizan chicken consommé with 24-month aged Parmesan is served next, followed by a traditional Christmas roast (choose between succulent beef or country chicken) with all the trimmings. Dessert includes panettone and Amaretto sabayon, plus nougat ice cream – all for just 45€ per person, with prior reservations essential.

Christmas Menu at .more. by Cas Gasi

From 1pm – Monday December 25, 2023

Cas Gasi at Christmas is truly something special, and the stylish new restaurant, .more. is the perfect place to gather your loved ones and celebrate the holidays. On Christmas Day, head to the heart of the Santa Gertrudis countryside for lunch (from 1pm) or dinner (from 7pm) and you’ll enjoy a specially designed menu for 140€ per person (excluding drinks). The menu begins with Guillemaud oysters with leche de tigre and jalapeño dressing and boletus mousse with tapioca crisp, followed by cold starters of Japanese-style bluefin tuna tartare, and Crescentina with Ibizan Stracciatella and San Daniele ham. A warm starter of chantarelle and boletus lasagne follows, then choose from seafood and fish stew or turkey stuffed with minced meat, cranberries and chestnuts. There’s also dessert along with traditional Spanish Christmas sweets – a festive meal here is the epitome of the most wonderful time of the year.

White Ibiza Restaurants Guide: House of WOW

Christmas Lunch at House of WOW

From 1pm – Monday December 25, 2023

Whether you’re in a large group and don’t want to cook (or wash up!), are looking for a romantic Christmas date day for two, or even if you’re going it solo, o come all ye faithful to Santa Gertrudis restaurant House of WOW on Christmas Day! Serving up a two-course festive feast for 69€ per person (excluding drinks) between 1pm and 7pm, the talented kitchen team have tapped into the ghosts of Christmas past to create a menu exuding nostalgia. Starters include umami oysters, half-lobsters, smoked salmon, prawn cocktails and Stilton blue cheese and there are four delicious mains to choose from: honey and pineapple glazed gammon, roast chicken, grilled entrecôte or a nut rice pudding. Expect all the trimmings on the side, including pork sausage and bacon red cabbage with apples and raisins, plus potatoes au gratin and cauliflower cheese. A feliz Navidad indeed!

Cool season, hot events – The Standard, Ibiza

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Ibiza town, as the festive lights have officially been switched on, the winter market stalls in Vara de Rey are now open and the jingly sounds of carols float across the airwaves as islanders gather to celebrate in the square every night of the week. Sitting right smack bang in the centre of it all is The Standard, Ibiza, the capital’s hippest hangout, and the place where the silly season action is sizzling, thanks to a host of special events, a new winter menu, happy hours (yes, plural), and much more. There’s even a special room rate (from 179€) for residents, meaning there’s no need to draw straws for designated driver duties.

Whether you’re breezing in for a long weekend, spending a sun-drenched Christmas and New Year in Ibiza or are planning a longer winter sojourn, the 53 sleek and stylish rooms and suites at The Standard, Ibiza make the perfect home away from home. Just steps away from the buzz of local bars, restaurants and shops – not to mention just a speedy elevator ride to the hotel’s own vibe-packed restaurant and bar, Jara – and boasting all the mod-cons (including a mini-bar to-die for) a discerning traveller could wish for, you’ve got the best of Ibiza at your fingertips, 24/7.

Jara at The Standard, Ibiza is the heartbeat of the hotel, open to the public for breakfast, lunch, dinner and every snack or sip in between. It’s here you’ll find international guests mingling with local characters, while watching the world go by on the sunny terrace or rubbing shoulders with the island’s cognoscenti at the low-lit bar after dark. Make the most of Afterglow Happy Hour, where you’ll get two expertly shaken or stirred cocktails for the price of one from 6pm until 8pm daily and stick around for soundtracks curated by the island’s best resident DJs until late on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

It’s also the perfect place to fuel up between bouts of Christmas shopping in Ibiza town, or to indulge in dinner after your day of retail therapy is done and dusted. The new winter menu at Jara at The Standard, Ibiza features sharing-style starters like melt-in-your-mouth char-grilled aubergine with miso, carob syrup and caramelised walnuts and zesty corn ribs with lime and hot spices. Mains include the winter warming entrecôte and bone marrow rice; a creamy mushroom and truffle risotto; the decadent escalope Marques – veal in panko with poached egg, truffle and parmesan – plus roast cod with aji parmentier, pistachio and crunchy sweet potato. Just remember to save room for the sweet torrija with caramelised popcorn, toffee and ice cream for dessert.

O come all ye faithful to The Standard, Ibiza, where a host of holiday events, festive feasts and spirited soirees are planned this Christmas and New Year.

On Wednesday nights in Jara at The Standard, Ibiza, it’s anything but a silent night, as the most talked-about event of last winter returns for another cool season spell, bigger, better and ballsier than ever before. Not Your Standard Bingo sees the good old-fashioned game turned on its head, as the ground floor restaurant space is transformed into a hedonistic playground complete with dance-offs, raucous ball-calls – hosted by Spanish comedian José Boto and Ibiza’s own songstress BLONDEWEARINGBLACK – musical interludes, surprise shots and most importantly, whopping prizes to be won. The games begin from 9pm every week, and you’ve got to plan ahead, as it’s sold out in advance with a waiting list and queue out the door every week.

While the Christmas market stalls outside The Standard, Ibiza have chestnuts roasting on an open fire, you’ll find far tastier treats being roasted inside the Jara kitchen on a Sunday afternoon. The all-new new Sunday Roast is a weekly ritual that brings together island locals and clued-up foodies on tour over fab food, great music and as always, up-for-anything Jara vibes. It’s like going back to mum’s place for a roast only (dare we say it!) better – think charcoal-roasted rib-eye, succulent roast chicken, slow-cooked pork belly with crispy crackling, or a hearty veggie pie, served with all the trimmings: Yorkshire puds, piles of spuds, sweet heritage carrots and parsnips, buttery peas, creamy cauliflower cheese and lashings of gravy. Comfort food at its finest, served from 1pm to 6pm.

If all you want for Christmas is a stress-free celebration, then Jara at The Standard, Ibiza is the place to be on Christmas Eve. Book a table with your chosen family and tuck into a gastronomic festive feast designed by Jara’s executive chef for 100€ per person, starting with delectable treats like duck and foie gras croquettes, green seafood ceviche and classic Iberian ham. In the spirit of Christmas, mains are served family-style and include chargrilled octopus and slow-cooked suckling pig, or mushroom and ricotta ravioli in sage butter for vegetarians, and there’s free-flowing wine throughout dinner plus a dessert degustation platter too. And whether you’re in the mood to be naughty or nice, feel free to stick around for après-dinner cocktails, with no fear of being coerced into washing up!

Wrapping up the holiday season festivities at The Standard, Ibiza is the not-to-be-missed New Year’s Eve soiree – an excuse to get frocked up in your finest and fling caution to the wind as you sip champagne and dine on the most decadent three-course set sharing menu that includes queen scallops in beurre blanc with caviar; fresh red prawns; and beef carpaccio to start, followed by grilled lobster with caviar and Hollandaise; and a luxe sirloin with vanilla demi-glace and potato gratin, plus plenty of after-dinner sweet treats. Then, dance your way into the new year with live DJs spinning into the early hours of the first day of 2024 – places are limited and cost 235€ per person, so booking early is recommended.

Eat, drink and be merry at The Standard, Ibiza this holiday season and start the New Year the way you mean to go on.

Finally, if you’re looking to host your very own private Yuletide event – whether for family, friends, or colleagues – The Green Room at The Standard, Ibiza shines like the star on top of the tree. A chic, underground space that can be transformed for any kind of private event, from meetings and cocktail receptions to private movie screenings (Christmassy or not) and even a spirited game of ping pong, it’s a blank canvas just waiting for you to unleash your Chrimbo creativity and sleigh, baby, sleigh. With its inclusive vibe, array of events, and fabulous festive feasts, there’s no doubt The Standard, Ibiza is the island’s hottest (and coolest!) holiday hub.

Winter wonderland, Ibiza style – Cotton Beach Club

It’s beginning to look a lot like a southern hemisphere Christmas in Ibiza this year, with temps rising up to 20 degrees and festive decorations popping up all over the island. For the duration of the holiday season, the forecast is nothing but glorious sunshine, bright blue skies and dazzling winter sunsets, and there’s no better place to take it all in than Cotton Beach Club. The ever-popular Cala Tarida restaurant is now open daily for lunch and sunset cocktails until January 08, 2023 – just what the doctor ordered if you’re seeking an escape from the cold reality of other parts of the world.

Presiding proudly over one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, the Cotton Beach Club version of a winter wonderland is a far cry from what you see in Christmas movies, but to an Ibiza lover, it’s arguably much more appealing. Elegant decorations and earthy soft furnishings accentuate the venue’s iconic all-white aesthetic, and the addition of bright red poinsettia blooms pop like floral Christmas gifts. The table configurations on the open-air Grand Terrace have been maximised to capture natural light, and there’s a roaring fireplace (both in the Indoor Lounge and on the exterior terrace) for those who want to channel a little traditional Christmas cheer.

Cotton Beach Club is the Mediterranean version of a winter wonderland with uninterrupted views of bright blue skies, crystal clear sea and the glistening golden sand on the beach below.

Whether you’re getting together with island friends, hosting an end-of-year celebration with colleagues, joining visiting friends and family or are on a romantic date, Cotton Beach Club makes it all possible. The extensive à la carte menu has been devised with dedication and passion by head chef Federico Garcia and his team, with delectable options for all appetites and dietary requirements – perfect for varied groups. Get into the festive mood with a selection of Cotton Caviar (Ossetra 00 or Baerii Impreial – ‘tis the season, after all) or the freshest oysters, served pure or with caviar.

The Rawbar & Sushi section of the menu evokes the feeling of Christmas in Australia, Brazil or Japan. Only the highest quality fresh fish is sourced – hand-picked, in fact – and prepared by the Cotton Beach Club chefs to order. From classic Hamachi tiradito with truffle ponzu sauce, spicy Peruvian ceviche and Norwegian salmon ceviche with orange-lime ponzu sauce to sushi-grade tuna or king crab tartare, each plate sings with freshness, colour, flavour and flair.

As an alternative to a traditional Christmas dinner, silky sashimi is expertly sliced and diced, served alongside nigiri and premium sushi rolls – favourites include the Cotton Roll with torched Norwegian salmon and the spicy Hot Tuna Roll. Ask for the Chef’s Plate (25 or 50 pieces) to make ordering easy, or trust the Cotton Beach Club sushi masters with omakase – their personal choices combined with the day’s specials (70 or 100 pieces).

For those who prefer a classic Medterranean menu, Cotton Beach Club never fails to impress. Start with a Spanish Navidad essential, 36-month cured Iberian Bellota ham, or share a selection of salads – Burrata, a luxe lobster salad or the Cotton Zakynthos Greek Salad, inspired by its sister venue near the Ionian Sea. There’s also creamy saffron mussels, scallops in tangerine sauce, cauliflower roased with miso and peanut sauce and more.

It would be remiss not to mention the extensive hand-picked wine menu – showcasing some of the world’s best whites, reds, rosés and bubbles – and the selection of top-shelf spirits, aperitifs, digestifs. The signature Cotton cocktails, spritzers, martinis, margaritas and sangria, plus alcohol-free concoctions are the very definition of Christmas spirit. Whether you’re spending Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Three King’s Dayor any of the blissful days in between at Cotton Beach Club, the objective is always to eat, drink and be merry.

On the main menu, meat lovers will be thrilled with premium beef sirloin, country chicken with zesty Thai flavours and a classic steak tartare with an option to add caviar. Seafood fans will adore the salt-baked sea bass (for two) with Ibizan herbs and steamed veggies, the oven-roasted catch of the day or a rich lobster risotto with morel mushrooms and black truffle among other tasty selections. Cotton Beach Club offers a feast of festive proportions indeed.

Two roaring fireplaces – one inside and one on the terrace – plus cosy throws, plush seating and the new Cotton Andermatt themed table evoke feelings of Christmas holidays elsewhere in Europe, with a unique Balearic twist.

While you’re dining, the views across the deep blue sea are mesmerising. You’re guaranteed to see sun worshippers, you’ll marvel at cold-water swimmers and as the day slowly turns to dusk, you’ll be amazed by the kaleidoscopic colours as the sun begins to set. Take your time to peruse the dessert menu, linger over coffee (or a round of espresso martinis), sip on fine whiskey or cognac and tap your feet to the smooth grooves of Cotton Beach Club resident DJs Dalibor Dadoff and Mr Doris before heading for a sunset walk on the beach, back to the comfort of your own home, or onto a celebration around the island – this is Ibiza, and it is the ‘other’ party season after all.

It truly is a gift to be able to spend the holidays with the ones you love in a first-class dining destination, with no stress, no fuss and no need to rush (and no need to wash up!). Locals will tell you winter is the most wonderful time of the year in Ibiza, but if you are among those wishing for some miraculous snow, Cotton Beach Club can help indulge the fantasy. Book the special Andermatt table for your festive dining experience, and you’ll get a first-hand taste of the upcoming Cotton Andermatt project. This new, upmarket day-to-night destination in the Swiss Alps (as seen in James Bond’s Goldfinger) opens in December 2023 – put a trip there on your Christmas wish list next year! Until then, may your days be merry and bright on the golden sands of Cala Tarida

Ibiza Christmas diaries – 2022 edition

White Ibiza Restaurants Guide: VIVO Bistrot

VIVO Christmas Brunch at VIVO Bistrot

12pm – Sunday December 25, 2022

Santa Gertrudis has long been a hub for health-aware foodies but VIVO Bistrot, located on a quaint corner of the busy, pretty village, has raised that reputation one step higher. Consciousness lies at the heart of this stylish eatery, where every element of the dining experience is thoughtfully considered. Likeminded guests will feel at home in the community-focused setting, dining on organic dishes that support local producers and set a new bar for tasty cuisine, with a Japanese and Korean based festive menu served on Christmas Day from midday to 5pm. There’s also a jam session with some of Ibiza’s finest musicians – all the more reason to get into the holiday spirit!

Christmas Day Brunch at Six Senses Ibiza

12.30pm – Sunday December 25, 2022

At Six Senses Ibiza, a Mediterranean style Christmas Day Brunch is served in The Farmers’ Market from midday until 4.30pm. The menu is 135€ per person and includes a raw bar, jamon carving station and an oyster bar, plus farm-fresh winter dishes like baked sweet potato with pear, goat cheese and champagne sauce, and pumpkin soup with chestnuts and wild mushroom. Mains include Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise sauce, sumac and local Wagyu ham or spinach; Balearic Wagyu roast beef served with winter vegetables; braised acorn pork cheeks with olives, apricot sauce and topinambur, and creamy seafood rice made with prawns, artichoke and celeriac among other delectable dishes. Be sure to save room for dessert from the beautiful Christmas cake display while relishing the fact there’s no washing up to be done. The Six Senses Ibiza magic elves take care of everything for you.

Christmas Day Lunch at A Mi Manera

12pm – Sunday December 25, 2023

Set in a beautifully restored ancient finca on the iconic San Juan ‘restaurant road’, A Mi Manera is a magical place to spend the most wonderful time of the year. Surrounded by farmland that supports the restaurant’s farm-to-table ethos, the charming venue continues its Christmas celebrations on Sunday afternoon with a four-course set Mediterranean lunch menu with an Italian family influence for 120€ per person including a selection of wines, water and coffee. The festive feast begins with hot and cold seasonal starters, followed by a first course of white lasagne with artichoke, monkfish and tomato cream or beetroot and Champagne risotto with parmesan mousse. Tuck into a delectable slow-cooked pluma Iberica with sweet potato mash for mains and be sure to save room for dessert including cheese and Panettone. Reservations highly recommended.

White Ibiza Beach Restaurants Guide: Cotton Beach Club

Christmas Day Lunch at Cotton Beach Club

12pm – Sunday December 25, 2022

Stylish Cala Tarida restaurant Cotton Beach Club has reopened its doors for the holiday season and there couldn’t be a better place to enjoy Christmas by the sea. Enjoy a decadent Christmas Day lunch on the sunny Grand Terrace with spectacular views out over the Mediterranean, a fabulous soundtrack by DJsDalibor Dadoff and Mr Doris and of course, fine food courtesy of head chef Federico Garcia and his team. The emphasis here is on high quality ingredients and international flavours, with the Rawbar & Sushi menu also a favourite with Cotton Beach Club aficionados. After dining, enjoy a cocktail from the privileged position of the Amphi Lounge and watch the iconic Ibiza sunset. Open daily from 12pm to 6pm until January 8, 2023 – reservations highly recommended.

Christmas Day Lunch at Juntos House

12.30pm – Sunday December 25, 2022

It’s officially Holiday Week at Juntos House, the gorgeous restaurant situated in the sleepy north-west hamlet of San Mateo. The clubhouse-style eatery exudes warmth and good vibes – the perfect destination for a Christmas Day lunch. Open from 12.30pm until 5pm, the newly evolved winter menu is full of fresh seasonal wonders and all produce comes directly from Juntos Farm, just minutes from the restaurant. Afterwards, settle in by the fire and play board games and be sure to sample a Christmassy cocktail or a fragrant mulled wine from the new upstairs bar. And those seeking a very-last-minute gift should peruse the rails and shelves of the sustainably themed boutique, where gifts and sustainable treasures can be found, and gift wrapped on the spot too!

Christmas Day Lunch & Dinner at Amalur

From 1pm – Sunday December 25, 2022

Amalur is a stylish and sophisticated setting in which to gather your nearest and dearest, dress up in your finest and celebrate the festive season, especially now the iconic blue finca is decked in gorgeous garlands, glistening baubles and thousands of flickering fairy lights – inside and out. Just a few minutes from Santa Gertrudis, 10 minutes from the north and Ibiza town and 15 minutes from the south, the location couldn’t be more convenient for Christmas Day feasting, with uninterrupted service from 1pm until midnight. Order your favourite Italian fine dining dishes from the à la carte menu – plates that taste as every bit as exquisite as they look – and enjoy a long lazy lunch or a decadent dinner with cocktails – including festive-themed elixirs designed just for the holidays – plus fine wines and Champagne in one of the most refined settings in Ibiza.

Christmas Lunch at Cas Gasi

1pm – Sunday December 25, 2022

Cas Gasi Restaurant at Christmas is truly something special. Gather your loved ones and head to the heart of the Santa Gertrudis countryside to be welcomed as if you were family, before being seated in the beautifully decorated dining room to enjoy a specially designed menu for 140€ per person (excluding drinks). The menu begins with Guillemaud oysters and kimchi croquettes, followed by starters of salmon tartar, and Christmas consommé. Main courses are a choice of wild turbot with a seasonal mushroom bouquet or traditional Christmas turkey with parmentiere and garden-fresh veggies. Save room for dessert, plus Christmas sweets and chocolate – a festive meal here is the epitome of the most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas Day Lunch, Sunset & Dinner at La Torre Ibiza

From 1pm – Sunday December 25, 2022

Don’t want to host Christmas at home this year? The team at La Torre Ibiza are here to help! Start your Christmas Day with a long seaside lunch, followed by an iconic Ibiza sunset – or perhaps start with the sunset then get cosy by the fire and enjoy dinner afterwards. Set on the cliffside of Cap Negret, the venue exudes authentic Ibiza vibes, a seasonally inspired à la carte menu and an atmospheric Balearic soundtrack. An island twist on the traditional Christmas Day festivities, and the perfect place to enjoy the holidays with friends and family.

Christmas Dinner in Jara at The Standard, Ibiza

8pm – Sunday December 25, 2022

Forget slaving over a hot stove or spending hours washing up after Christmas dinner is over this year – there’s a warm and cosy hangout in the heart of Ibiza town that takes all the fuss and stress out of holiday hosting. The three-course Spanish-inspired set menu in Jara at The Standard, Ibiza is 85€ per person including a selection of drinks, and includes starters such as sobrasada and prawn croquettes, char-grilled aubergines and jamón Ibérico. Next up are sharing-style mains of charcoal-grilled octopus with Ibizan potatoes, mushroom and ricotta ravioli in sage butter and truffle, and slow-cooked suckling pig with fresh tomato salad. Complemented with a live show by Marianna Nasa and friends, it’s the perfect excuse to get yourself onto Santa’s naughty list!

Sanctum Sequence Hike at Six Senses Ibiza

11am – Monday December 26, 2022

On Boxing Day, the experienced Sanctum team lead a group of Six Senses Ibiza hotel guests and community members on a Sanctum Sequence Hike that’s all about accepting nature, tapping into your individual potential and experiencing mindful euphoria. On the picturesque cliffside and rolling hills of Cala Xarraca, there’s no finer place to immerse yourself in the beauty of the island and connect with your inner self. The holistic moving sequence aligns your physical body with the mind and spirit – ideal for a healthy post-Christmas experience that encourages radical self discovery along the way.

Boxing Day at The Beach Caves at Six Senses Ibiza

1pm – Monday December 26, 2022

Just like in most households, when Boxing Day rolls around at Six Senses Ibizathere’s still plenty of amazing food to be devoured – except instead of eating leftovers, you’ll be treated to a flavour-filled feast at The Beach Caves with Cuban Nights performing live. As you overlook the beautiful Cala Xarraca coastline, snack on aji amarillo grisini wrapped in wild fennel, with lime salsa and Mexican pickled vegetables, before sitting down to share Peruvian arancini with duck breast, scallop tiradito and smoked octopus causa, followed by Galician beef tostada with marrow and smoky mojo picon, and sweet potato with ocopa and nopal. Your main course is a delicious roasted wild seabream, served with tortilla, orange pibil sauce, two-colour mole and truffled tamales. The grand finale is a Cocoa Aztecan Ceremony – a quintessential Ibiza way to wrap up the holiday weekend.

Boxing Day Lunch at Casa Lhasa

1.30pm – Monday December 26, 2022

Just because the official holiday is over, doesn’t mean the feasting has to stop! Cassady, Ben and the team at Casa Lhasa return to the restaurant on Boxing Day after a well-deserved one-day break from cooking, hosting and clearing up. The San Lorenzo countryside is the perfect place to host a hangover lunch with friends and catch up on all the festive gossip you may have missed from the big day. It’s also the perfect place to dine on a menu brimming with seasonal farm-to table cuisine, tuck into the island’s finest selection of hand-picked natural wines and enjoy smooth beats from resident DJs in front of a roaring fire. Open from 1.30pm to 5pm, reservations are recommended.

Mexican Christmas Lunch & Dinner Menu at Chidas

1pm – Tuesday December 27, 2022

When Christmas is over and you’ve recovered from Boxing Day, but New Year still feels out of reach, what else is there to do but eat tacos? The team at Chidas Bar and Cantina have devised a very special menu for the entire holiday season (not just for Christmas!) with a big dash of Mexican Christmas spirit – or spirits, as the case may be and in this case it’s agave! The set menu is just 30€ per person (excluding drinks) and includes an array of tacos including cochinita pibil and gobernador, abuela’s tamales with seabass and nopales (cactus), plus arancherra marinated with with morita adobo and served with caramelised peanuts, jalapeño pineapple and cream of potato. Last but never least are Torrijas for dessert, with avocado and dark chocolate ganache. If you can’t make it at Christmas, no pasa nada – the menu is available daily until New Year’s Eve.

The night before Christmas in Ibiza – 2022 edition

White Ibiza Beach Restaurants Guide: Cotton Beach Club

Christmas Eve Lunch at Cotton Beach Club

12pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

Stylish Cala Tarida restaurant Cotton Beach Club has reopened its doors for the holiday season and there couldn’t be a better place to enjoy Christmas by the sea. Enjoy a decadent Christmas Eve lunch on the sunny Grand Terrace with spectacular views out over the Mediterranean, a fabulous soundtrack by DJs Dalibor Dadoff and Mr Doris and of course, fine food courtesy of head chef Federico Garcia and his team. The emphasis here is on high quality ingredients and international flavours, with the Rawbar & Sushi menu also a favourite with Cotton Beach Club aficionados. After dining, enjoy a cocktail from the privileged position of the Amphi Lounge and watch the iconic Ibiza sunset. Open daily from 12pm to 6pm until January 8, 2023 – reservations highly recommended.

Christmas Eve Lunch at Juntos House

12.30pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

It’s officially Holiday Week at Juntos House, the gorgeous restaurant situated in the sleepy north-west hamlet of San Mateo. The clubhouse-style eatery exudes warmth and good vibes – the perfect destination for a festive Christmas Eve lunch. Open from 12.30pm, the newly evolved winter menu is full of fresh seasonal wonders and all produce comes directly from Juntos Farm, just minutes from the restaurant. Be sure to sample a Christmassy cocktail or a fragrant mulled wine from the new upstairs bar and peruse the rails of the sustainably themed boutique, where the perfect last minute conscious gifts and sustainable treasures can be found, and gift wrapped too!

Christmas Eve Lunch & Dinner at Amalur

From 1pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

Amalur is the ideal setting in which to gather your nearest and dearest, dress up in your finest and celebrate the festive season, especially now the iconic blue finca is decked in gorgeous garlands, glistening baubles and thousands of flickering fairy lights – inside and out. Just a few minutes from Santa Gertrudis,10 minutes from the north and Ibiza town and 15 minutes from the south, the location couldn’t be more convenient for Christmas Eve feasting, with uninterrupted service from 1pm until midnight. Order your favourite Italian fine dining dishes from the à la carte menu – plates that taste as every bit as exquisite as they look – or sample the seasonal specials, including festive-themed elixirs, complemented with fine wines and Champagne in one of the most refined and elegant settings in Ibiza.

Christmas Eve Lunch at Casa Lhasa

1.30pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

Start your yuletide celebrations early this year, with a festive lunch in the sun-drenched garden (or cosy interior if the weather is a little chilly) of Casa Lhasa, the natural wine bar and innovative restaurant in the heart of the tiny countryside village of San Lorenzo. Dine on à la carte delights such as grilled lamb sweetbreads with labneh, pickled chilli and za’atar, roasted pig heart with salsa verde or other simple but delicious dishes like radishes with anchovy butter, barbecued courgette and pesto, and Ibizan red prawns sizzled in brown butter, plus daily specials based on seasonality and availability at the daily market. As always, all washed down with impeccable selections of hand-picked, holistic wine sourced from across the globe.

Mexican Christmas Lunch & Dinner Menu

1pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

There is a motto that the team at Chidas Bar and Cantina live by that perfectly sums up the dining experience here: every taste tells a story. It’s an idea that’s intertwined in everything they do, from tacos and salsas to cocktails and tequila, and this holiday season night sees it interpreted with a big dash of Mexican Christmas spirit – or spirits, as the case may be and in this case it’s agave! The set Xmas Menu is just 30€ per person (excluding drinks) and includes an array of tacos including cochinita pibil and gobernador, abuela’s tamales with seabass and nopales (cactus), arancherra marinated with with morita adobo and served with caramelised peanuts, jalapeño pineapple and cream of potato. Last but never least are Torrijas for dessert, with avocado and dark chocolate ganache. If you can’t make it at Christmastime, no stress! The menu will be served daily daily until New Year’s Eve.

Christmas Eve Sunset & Dinner at La Torre Ibiza

From 5pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and La Torre Ibiza want you to feel right at home throughout the holidays. Start your Christmas weekend with an iconic Ibiza sunset experience, getting cosy by the fire as you watch the sun melt into the sea. Set on the cliffside of Cap Negret, the venue exudes old school Ibiza vibes thanks to its rustic chic décor, laid-back vibes, breathtaking views and an exceptional DJ line-up. Take a seat on the heated terrace and enjoy the seasonally inspired à la carte menu, sip on sparkling Champagne or fantastic cocktails and let the DJ take you on a journey through an emotive soundtrack that is highly likely to bring a tear to the eyes as the blazing red sun melts into the sea.

Christmas Eve Dinner at Six Senses Ibiza

7pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

Christmas comes early at Six Senses Ibiza this year, with a Family Christmas Eve Dinner in The Farmers’ Market starting at 7pm. The seasonal set menu (with vegetarian options available) is 120€ per person, and brimming with fresh Mediterranean flavours, including an olive and vermouth bombon with butternut pumpkin muffins and festive kombucha, alongside a succulent red prawn aromatic salad with Hierbas Ibicencas, a traditional buillit fish stew with wild chard and pickled sea fennel, plus a decadent local Wagyu beef ravioli with potato foam, carob and black truffle. Leave room for dessert, as the Christmas-inspired chestnut cake and ice cream will be hard to beat. Open to hotel guests, islanders and visitors alike – reservations are essential.

White Ibiza Restaurants Guide: VIVO Bistrot

VIVO Christmas Dinner Experience at VIVO Bistrot

7pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

Santa Gertrudis has long been a hub for health-aware foodies but VIVO Bistrot, located on a quaint corner of the busy, pretty village, has raised that reputation one step higher. Consciousness lies at the heart of this stylish eatery, where every element of the dining experience is thoughtfully considered. Likeminded guests will feel at home in the community-focused setting on Christmas Eve, dining on a special plant-based festive menu created by Kiki Sunshine using Mother Nature’s abundant gifts. The menu is 70€ per person including a selection of organic wines, and there’s also a live indoor set by Inorganica Sound – all the more reason to get into the holiday spirit!

Christmas Eve Dinner at A Mi Manera

8pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

Set in a beautifully restored ancient finca on the iconic San Juan ‘restaurant road’, A Mi Manera is a magical place to spend the most wonderful time of the year. Surrounded by farmland that supports the restaurant’s farm-to-table ethos, the charming venue begins its Christmas celebrations on Saturday evening with a four-course set Mediterranean menu with an Italian family influence for 120€ per person including a selection of wines, water and coffee. The decadent dinner begins with hot and cold seasonal starters, followed by a festive first course of white lasagne with artichoke, monkfish and tomato cream or beetroot and Champagne risotto with parmesan mousse. Tuck into a delectable slow-cooked pluma Iberica with sweet potato mash for mains and be sure to save room for dessert including cheese and Panettone. Reservations highly recommended.

Navidad in Jara – Christmas Eve Dinner at The Standard, Ibiza

8pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

There’s a tradition all around the world that folks returning home for the holidays gather in their local to catch up with old friends before spending Christmas with family. In Ibiza, that tradition takes place in Jara at The Standard, Ibiza – and whether you’re a local coming home or a holidaymaker spending the festive season on the white isle, all are welcome in this hip hangout. Take a seat at the bar or book a table for drinks and dinner – the three-course Spanish-inspired set menu is 85€ per person including a selection of drinks, and includes starters such as sobrasada and prawn croquettes, char-grilled aubergines and jamón Ibérico, followed by sharing-style mains of charcoal-grilled octopus with Ibizan potatoes, musroom and ricotta ravioli in sage butter and truffle, and slow-cooked suckling pig with fresh tomato salad. Complemented by live music by Paul Powell and DJ Mr Doris, it’s the perfect excuse to get yourself onto Santa’s naughty list!

Chrimbo Special at Paradise Lost

9pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

Ibiza’s favourite drinking den, Paradise Lost, invites one and all to their cosy little corner in Sa Penya as you wait for Santa to come tumbling down the chimney on Christmas Eve. Take a seat on the terrace or get cosy on the snug sofas indoors and settle in for a night of fine cocktails, great music and plenty of good banter from 9pm until 3am, as DJ daZZla spins his last set on the island before heading down under until springtime. Order a mug of Captain Jimmy’s Hot Winter Grog to get yourself into the festive spirit – quite literally – and see whether it leads you on the path to Santa’s Naughty or Nice List.

Pandora Winter Season Closing Party at Lío Ibiza

11pm – Saturday December 24, 2022

Lío Ibiza is officially in Christmas mode, and for those who are looking for somewhere to dance off some calories before they tuck into their turkey on the big day, it’s the perfect place to be. On Saturday night, local event Pandorareturns to the Marina Ibiza venue from 11pm until 5am for a special Christmas edition, with the much-loved DJ Oliver behind the decks alongside some special guests. With a view across the port to the iconic skyline of Dalt Vila, there’s no better place for partying in Ibiza in the winter and with events lined up every Friday and Saturday night until New Year’s Eve, there’s no better excuse to frock up in your finest and hit the town!

Feast, share, love – Amalur

Family in Ibiza can be made up of many constellations – the one you were born into, a menagerie of friends collected over many years or those BFFs you met just last week. Whatever your chosen family looks like, the holidays are the time to gather your loved ones to celebrate and there’s no place that epitomises the season of comfort and joy in Ibiza like Amalur. In the countryside near Santa Gertrudis, the iconic Balearic blue finca is open seven days a week with non-stop service from 1pm until midnight and invites islanders into its warm, winter wonderland embrace to indulge in festive feasting at its finest.

While Amalur is a year-round beacon of elegance and good taste, this winter, the restaurant has been imbued with seasonal charm courtesy of a stunning Christmas makeover. Decked from top-to-bottom with fresh garlands, glistening baubles and twinkling fairy lights, the building’s transformation evokes the feeling of big city icons like Annabel’s in London or The Churchill Arms in Kensington. This is the very first time a venue in Ibiza has gone all out with such an extraordinary Christmas display and the results are nothing short of magical.

The beloved fine dining destination’s transformation into a winter wonderland is the first of its kind in Ibiza, further cementing its iconic status.

Inside the restaurant, sophisticated seasonal vignettes keep the Christmas theme flowing seamlessly. Glimmering lamps cast soft golden light across tables cloaked in white linen, the fireplace roars with a heartening blaze, and the white grand piano shimmers in flickering shadows of candle light. With its allusions to Italy’s artistic heritage now embellished with exquisite decorations, the celebrated restaurateur behind AmalurFrancesco Manzoli, has ensured his guests are surrounded by beauty at every turn. High romance, haute cuisine and skilful service are at the heart of Amalur’s year-round ethos, further cementing its reputation as the darling of Ibiza’s culinary scene.

Whether you’re passing by for a spot of lunch between Christmas shopping hotspots, celebrating the end-of-year with work colleagues, enjoying a decadent date night or organising a full-scale family Christmas or New Year’s Eve meal, Amalur welcomes one and all. Escape the kitchen and the stress of holiday hosting, and simply relax as the experienced Amalur team – both front of house and in the kitchen – give you the peace of mind to relax and do what you’ve always wished for at Christmastime: to truly connect with those you love. Dine on your favourite à la carte dishes plus special holiday additions on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, all complemented with music, cocktails and festive vibes.

The Ara Starck-designed bar at Amalur serves up its own unique twist on Christmas cheer. Not only is the bar a beautiful piece of interior architecture, it’s also home to skilled mixologists, including the legendary Roberto Rossi, who has created a cocktail menu (metaphorically) overflowing with liquid brilliance. Time-honoured tipples such as a negroni or a margarita are always an excellent way to start a celebration, however Amalur’s signature creations take joyful precedence at Christmas. The Perfum Payes was inspired by the flavours of Ibiza with a mix of gin, aloe vera, lemon, rosemary and green tea, while the Vetiver Martini is a classic with a dash of difference, and a special surprise elixir has been created for the three official holiday meals.

Christmas and New Year at Amalur is centred around the concept of sharing – a meal, a moment, a memory and more – and the graceful handwritten menu is brimming with the finest Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Created with much love by Michelin-trained chefs Massimo Larosa and Antonio Boriello, the commitment to quality at Amalur is exemplary. Absolutely everything is made in-house, from silky hand-spun pasta to flavour-filled ice-creams, and ingredients are sourced locally where possible, or brought in from around the world when only the very best will do. Speaking of which, why not start with a glass of Italian Prosecco, some Siberian caviar and a round of French oysters? It is time to celebrate, after all.

Feast, share, love is the motto behind the Amalur holiday season experience, with seasonal special dishes and cocktails created especially for the occasion.

Next up on the menu at Amalur are a range of classic Italian dishes, including vitello tonnato, yellowtail carpaccio and knife-cut steak tartare, served alongside unique options such as the restaurant’s emblematic sea bass toast with caviar, the delectable chef’s own artichoke, and cuttlefish with bottarga and edible flowers. For the second course, it’s hard to bypass the Gragnano spaghetti (the only pasta sourced externally) with chef Massimo Larosa’s famous homemade red and yellow tomato sauce – perfection on a plate. Other homemade pasta dishes include the heavenly smoked tagliolini with prawn tartare and caviar, the hearty pappardelle with redfish and taggiasca olives, or the delicate plin stuffed with chicken and porcini.

Second courses come from the wood-fired grill, with standout options like sliced beef with rocket, tomato and rich parmesan fondue or melt-in-the-mouth Iberian pork cheeks. If you prefer your Christmas dish to come from the sea, it’s a difficult choice between stuffed squid, Ibizan fish soup and the classic fish of the day baked in salt, Mediterranean style. The chefs at Amalur are in the process of finessing an additional selection of seasonal specials for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve, all designed to highlight the best ingredients Ibiza has to offer and perfect for sharing amongst friends and family.

Finally, no feast is complete without sweet treats, and at Amalur this comes via an ever-changing dessert cart, plus four flavours of house-made ice cream – choose between (or combine) salted pistachio, macadamia, 70% chocolate or classic vanilla. Later on – there’s no rush here – order a hand-picked selection of cheese to go with those deep après-dinner conversations that last long into the night, paired with freshly brewed coffee or a digestif, perhaps an Espresso Martini (or two!) or a dram of sweet Pedro Ximénez – Christmas in a glass. And when the last cocktails have been finished, the festivities have subsided, and it’s time to bid your nearest and dearest good night, you can go home with the knowledge you’ll cherish the memories of this experience forever. Feast, share, love – Christmas and New Year, the Amalur way.

Christmas Eve Lunch

It’s officially Holiday Week at Juntos House, the gorgeous restaurant situated in the sleepy north-west hamlet of San Mateo. The clubhouse-style eatery exudes warmth and good vibes – the perfect destination for a festive Christmas Eve lunch.

Open from 12.30pm, the newly evolved winter menu is full of fresh seasonal wonders and all produce comes directly from Juntos Farm, just minutes from the restaurant. Be sure to sample a Christmassy cocktail or a fragrant mulled wine from the new upstairs bar and peruse the rails of the sustainably themed boutique, where the perfect last minute conscious gifts and sustainable treasures can be found, and gift wrapped too!

READ MORE ABOUT JUNTOS HOUSE ON WHITE IBIZA

RESERVE A TABLE AT THIS EVENT

Ibiza Christmas diary: December 24 – 26 2021

Feast of the Seven Fishes at Il Buco

7pm – Friday December 24, 2021

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through Bottega Il Buco… Chef Tiago was serving up the traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner dubbed Feast of the Seven Fishes. OK, so it doesn’t rhyme but the buzzing Santa Gertrudis eatery does welcome one and all to gather on the terrace and in the cosy interior to enjoy a seven-course seafood dinner that includes anchovy crostini, salted prawns, octopus carpaccio, raw scallops, creamed cod, the classic spaghetti alle vongole and seared tuna with fennel pollen plus Panettone and chocolates for dessert, if you can possibly fit anything else in. The menu is 95€ per person and reservations are recommended.

Family Christmas Eve Supper at Six Senses Ibiza

7pm – Friday December 24, 2021

Christmas comes early at Six Senses Ibiza this year, with a Family Christmas Eve Supper in The Farmers’ Market starting at 7pm. The seasonal set menu (with vegetarian options available) is brimming with fresh Mediterranean flavours – think foraged wild mushrooms with pumpkin, vanilla and local almonds, alongside succulent scallops, Ibizan prawns and a decadent Angus beef served with rosemary and truffled potatoes before a surprise Christmas-inspired dessert. Open to hotel guests, islanders and visitors alike, and reservations are essential.

Christmas Eve Cocktails at Paradise Lost

9pm – Friday December 24, 2021

Ibiza’s favourite drinking den, Paradise Lost, invites one and all to Bekka’s Christmas Bosh as you wait for Santa to come tumbling down the Sa Penya chimney on Christmas Eve. Take a seat on the terrace or get cosy on the snug sofas indoors and settle in for a night of fine cocktails, great music plenty of good banter from 9pm until 3am. Order a mug of Jimmy’s Hot Winter Grog to get yourself into the festive spirit – quite literally – and see whether it leads you on the path to Santa’s Naughty or Nice List.

Christmas Eve Dinner and Christmas Day Lunch at A Mi Manera

8pm – Friday December 24, 2021 and 1pm – Saturday December 25, 2021

Set in a beautifully restored ancient finca on the iconic San Juan ‘restaurant road’, A Mi Manera is a magical place to spend the most wonderful time of the year. Surrounded by rich, working farmland that produces the organic vegetables that support the restaurant’s farm-to-table ethos, the charming venue begins its Christmas celebrations on Friday evening (with music by DJ Fleur Vosse) and continues on Saturday at lunchtime. On both occasions, dine on a six-course set Mediterranean menu with an Italian family influence, for 80€ per person including one welcome drink, appetisers, hot and cold starters, pasta and risotto, mains and dessert. Reservations highly recommended.

Christmas Day Brunch at Six Senses Ibiza

12pm – Saturday December 25, 2021

At Six Senses Ibiza, Christmas Day Brunch is served in The Farmers’ Market from midday until 4pm. It’s a magical Mediterranean affair made using produce from the resort’s own farm in Santa Gertrudis, including artichokes with Iberian ham and egg yolk, confit cod with chickpeas, slow-cooked lamb with parsnips, black olives and mint and more postre surprises. Later on, sip cocktails overlooking the sea at sunset, and take to your room (or head home if you’re an island resident) and simply relish the fact there’s no washing up to be done. The Six Senses Ibiza magic elves take care of everything for you.

Festive Christmas Brunch at Bottega Il Buco

1pm – Saturday December 25, 2021

Need a moment of sanity before the main event with your family begins? Want the chance to catch up with your Ibiza friends in the morning before hosting a lunch or going out to dinner? Maybe the kids want a chance to run around the playground and square in Santa Gertrudis, showing off what Santa Claus left under the tree? Whatever the reason. ’tis the season to gather together on the Bottega Il Buco terrace for a Festive Christmas Brunch on Christmas Day – with treats like eggs benedict and all your brunch favourites on the menu, it’s the best way to start your day (after opening presents of course!). And if you’ve forgotten to pick up gifts or wine, you can grab an Italian-themed Christmas hamper from the Alimentari, or a selection of premium tinned goods for snacks, plus a selection of some of the finest wines on the island while you’re there.

Christmas Lunch Menu at Numero 74 L’Atelier

1pm – Saturday December 25, 2021

You’ll have a holly jolly Christmas indeed if you book yourself in to enjoy the special set Christmas menu at the family friendly Numero 74 L’Atelier in Santa Gertrudis. Book a table on the sunny (and heated!) terrace or in the warm interior and get set to tuck into a festive feast that includes a winter warming soup, light bites to graze on, main courses to share such as roasted vegetables, farm chicken with veggies and chestnuts in za’atar sauce and delicious desserts like pavlova, dates with mascarpone, brownie, caramelised nuts and waffles for 60€ per person, and 25€ for the kids option which also includes the multi-activity table to keep them entertained while the grown-ups wine and dine.

Christmas Lunch and Dinner at Amalur

1pm and 8pm – Saturday December 25, 2021

Amalur is the ideal setting in which to gather your nearest and dearest, dress up in your finest and celebrate the festive season – just a few minutes from Santa Gertrudis, 10 minutes from the north and Ibiza town and 15 minutes from the south, the location couldn’t be more convenient on Christmas Day. Order your favourite Italian fine dining dishes from the à la carte menu for lunch or dinner – dishes that taste as every bit as exquisite as they look – and enjoy a long lazy lunch or a decadent dinner with cocktails, fine wines and Champagne in one of the most stylish settings in Ibiza.

Christmas Menu at Cas Gasi Restaurant

1pm and 8pm, Saturday December 25, 2021

Cas Gasi Restaurant at Christmas is truly something special. Lunch is divine, overlooking the valley and dinner is irresistibly romantic, whether you are a couple or with friends. Dine within the chic, stylish and warm restaurant interior as a carefully curated soundtrack floats across the airwaves and the refined selection of wine complements the flavours of the creative and delicious dishes on offer. The special set Christmas Day menu is 95€ per person, excluding drinks and includes an impressive array of festive treats such as fermented cauliflower from the hotel’s own garden, Normandy oysters with kosho lemon, ginger and sesame, homemade smoked salmon blinis with leek and Imperial caviar and veal carpaccio to start. For mains, choose between grilled hake with sesame, farm chicken cannelloni with fresh black truffle or the classic Christmas turkey with all the trimmings. And be sure to save room for dessert – white chocolate cream, nougat and Christmas sweets and the final touch.

Omakase Christmas at Cotton Sushi Lab

7pm – Saturday December 25, 2021

If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional Christmas fare or group get-togethers, Cotton Sushi Lab in Ibiza town is the perfect place for an intimate dinner with a twist. Instead of worrying about what to serve or even what to order, the high-end sushi menus are served omakase-style, allowing the master chefs behind the sleek blond wooden counter to make the selection for you. Innovative and creative, they use the freshest and finest fish and seafood available and present their creations piece by piece over the course of the evening – the best Christmas gift you a foodie could wish for. Open nightly throughout the holiday season, reservations are essential as seating limited to just 24 diners, and there are two sittings per evening at 7pm and 9.30pm.

Christmas Menu at Nagai

7pm – Saturday December 25, 2021

With DJ Clint Lee Fusing Japanese tradition with Ibicenco charm, Nagai stands out on Ibiza’s renowned San Juan ‘restaurant road’ thanks to walls decked with a unique urban art installation – an incredible geisha painting by internationally renowned artist Findac. Beyond the impressive façade however, lies a feast for all your senses and Christmas Day is no different. Cuisine comes courtesy of award-winning head chef Reina Nagai, and guests can choose from a fish, meat or vegetarian festive menu, with an optional wine and sake pairing. DJ Clint Lee provides the festive beats for this Christmas with a twist.

Pandora Christmas Party at Lío Ibiza

11pm – Saturday December 25, 2021

Lío Ibiza is officially in Christmas mode, and for those who are looking for somewhere to dance off those calories after they’ve tucked into their turkey, it’s the perfect place to be. On Saturday night, local event Pandora returns to the Marina Ibiza venue from 11pm until 5am for a special Christmas edition, with Angel Linde behind the decks alongside Ruben Solar. With a view across the port to the iconic skyline of Dalt Vila, there’s no better dancefloor for partying in Ibiza over the holidays and you’ll need a vaccine certificate or negative PCR, TMA or PRAg diagnostic test to gain entry. Email [email protected] for more info.

Boxing Day BBQ at Six Senses Ibiza

12pm – Sunday December 26, 2021

Just like in most households, when December 26 rolls around at Six Senses Ibiza there’s still plenty of food to be devoured – except instead of eating day-old leftovers, you’ll be treated to a gourmet Boxing Day BBQ of epic proportions in The Farmers’ Market from midday until 4pm. A selection of farm-fresh salads are complemented with poached eggs served with silky smoked salmon, Wagyu cured carpaccio with the added bite of rocket and Parmesan, sweet Josper-grilled carrots with yoghurt, Ibiza orange and basil, and sizzling fresh off the barbecue is the catch of the day with kale, almonds and beetroot or succulent beef with polenta chips and mushrooms. Festive desserts are par for the final course.

Boxing Day Sunset at La Torre Ibiza

5pm – Sunday December 26, 2021

If you’re looking for a lazy way to wind down after the Christmas festivities, there’s no better place than La Torre Ibiza for a beautiful Boxing Day sunset. Set on the cliffside of Cap Negret, the venue exudes old school Ibiza vibes thanks to its rustic chic décor, laid-back vibes, breathtaking views and an exceptional DJ line-up. Take a seat on the heated terrace and enjoy the seasonally inspired à la carte menu, fantastic cocktails and emotive soundtrack that is highly likely to bring a tear to the eyes as the blazing red sun melts into the sea.

Boxing Day Winter Menu at Olivia’s Ibiza Kitchen

1pm – Sunday December 26, 2021

When Christmas Day is done and dusted, the last dishes packed away and family member bade farewell, it’s time to catch up with your island friends and Olivia’s Ibiza Kitchen in Santa Gertrudis is the perfect culinary haven. With special winter set menus available, including the Christmas special with delicious options such as starters to share of homemade croquetas, octopus salpicon, the signature Olivia’s rib-eye steak tartar and tomato tatin, an option of roasted turkey with mashed potato and pumpkin pie, or roasted cauliflower with cranberry sauce and dinner rolls, or grilled salmon with green beans and corn casserole plus apple pie or chocolate tart with salted toffee for dessert, you’ll forget just how full you were the day before and can do it all again.

Boxing Day Sunday at Bottega Il Buco

2.30pm – Sunday December 26, 2021

This Christmas season in Ibiza, the charming terrace and cosy interior at Santa Gertrudis eatery Bottega Il Buco comes alive on Boxing Day, as friends and families gather together over fab food and live music to celebrate the end of the holiday festivities (at least, until New Year!). Chef Tiago Borge creates a special menu for the occasion, or you can tuck into the restaurant’s famous focaccia by the slice, while Sarita performs an acoustic live set. Order your favourite cocktails or wine and before you leave, stock up on luxe deli favourites from the Alimentari – perfect for post-festive snacking. Reservations recommended.

Boxing Day Sanctum Hiking Meditation at Six Senses Ibiza

4.30pm – Sunday December 26, 2021

As part of the Sanctum Solstice residency running at Six Senses Ibiza from December 21, 2021, to January 1, 2022 – open to the community – the experienced team lead a group of participants on a Boxing Day Hiking Meditation that’s all about accepting nature. On the cliffside and rolling hills of Cala Xarraca, there’s no finer place to immerse yourself in the beauty of the island and connect with your inner self. Sanctum is a holistic moving sequence that aligns your physical body with the mind and spirit – ideal for a healthy post-Christmas experience.

Festive Fun Fair at Can Misses

Ongoing, December 2021

Every day from 5pm, the annual festive fun fair – for kids and grown-ups alike – lights up the fairgrounds on the cusp of Ibiza town and Can Misses with its plethora of rides, games, food stalls and more. Take a ride on the Crazy Worm, challenge your friends on the dodgem cars, scale new heights in jail (‘El Carcel’), jump aboard the Viking Boat, relax on the classic merry-go-round, bounce on the trampolines and try your luck in one of the many game booths – you never know what you’ll win! In between your adrenaline-pumping adventures, fuel up on hot dogs, cotton candy hot chocolate and churros, roasted chestnuts and barbecued goodness. Fun for families and friends of all ages.

A Christmas wish list with a difference

As we’re all very aware, ‘tis the season to be shopping and while normally I’m dropping hints so big Santa can spot them from the North Pole, this year I find myself feeling a little differently towards the tradition of Christmas gift-giving. Now (take note Santa) that’s not to say I’d say no to a present if someone happens to have one wrapped and waiting for me under their tree (I’d be ever so gracious and also probably also quite overexcited), I’m just feeling a little more conscious these days. Conscious of commercialism, conscious of the waste caused by so much packaging and gift wrapping, conscious of my carbon footprint when ordering things online, conscious of over consumption and of course, conscious of budget.

So when I started to think about writing my Christmas wish list for dear old Santa – and anyone else on the good old world wide web who happens to stumble across it – I realised that all of the things I really wish for right now are things that don’t require any money; things that can’t be wrapped; things that don’t do any harm to the environment; and things that I can’t even take home with me. For a minute there I felt incredibly grown up by knowing the difference between needs and wants at Christmas, but then as I put Pikes’ Sunny’s Christmas Karaoke playlist on repeat for the fifth time today and felt the reindeer ears on my head wobble as I sang along, I realised you don’t have to be a grown up to be able to enjoy the spirit of Christmas AND live more consciously too.

Christmas wish #1: NO STAR WARS SPOILERS PLEASE I cannot express how much I am staying off social media until Christmas Eve, when the cinema in Ibiza finally (FINALLY! Do you hear me Cine Regio? We deserve it in English on opening night too!) screens Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in its original language version. It is absolutely killing me that there are people out there who know how the saga ends – with previous episodes of the franchise, I have been known to to Barcelona to watch the premiere in English (yes I’m a mega-fan) but this year, some other important commitments kept me in Ibiza so I am waiting with baited breath, buns in hair and special R2D2/C3PO leggings on in anticipation. And I’m blocking my ears, can’t hear a word you’re saying about it, fa la la la la, la la la la laaaaa…

Christmas wish #2: PEACE AND LOVE FOR ALL ANIMALS Yes, yes, and for all mankind too – but we need to be voices for those who can’t speak. There’s been so much furore in Ibiza recently (and rightly so, I believe) about animals being shipped off to be put to sleep if they haven’t been adopted, and there has been a horrific spate of goat killings in Formentera (don’t Google it if you don’t want your heart to break), not to mention the slaughter of the goats of Es Vedra, and I’ve seen two of the owners of Ibiza’s voluntary animal shelters who are being evicted from their premises who need help. Every single day without fail I see new baby kittens up for adoption on Facebook, ALL of whom have been dumped by owners. WHO are these people? HOW could you throw an animal away like garbage? I really wish a solution can be found before more animals are harmed unnecessarily – I’m not really sure what it is, or even how to help more (I have adopted enough cats, I walk dogs from the shelter and I donate to animal charities), not just in Ibiza but all over the world.

Christmas wish #3: GOODWILL TO ALL PEOPLE In today’s gender-sensitive climate, I thought it best to be careful not to colloquially say ‘to all men’ anymore! But I digress – if you read my blog last week, you’ll know that we’re all becoming more and more aware that the holidays are a tough time for many many people (and if you didn’t read it, click here to get the scoop). As I sit here writing somewhat tongue-in-cheek wish lists, I’m all too aware of my own privilege and I’m even more grateful for my own happiness. I wish that we could all just get along; I wish everyone knew that they are valued and loved; I wish nobody felt alone or hurt or helpless. I wish we could find a way to end suffering for those who can’t see a way out. I hope we can all strive to be better humans, long after the Christmas warm and fuzzies have passed.

Christmas wish #4: FOR CLIMATE CHANGE TO SLOW DOWN We’ve been talking about this till we’re blue in the face, but it’s not stopping Australia from burning; from animals (even the most basic koalas that I grew up with! Not to mention more exotic or noble creatures) becoming extinct; from people losing their homes and worse still, their lives. Talking is also not stopping the sea being polluted more than ever before, even though it seems like so many of us are living as consciously as possible. It’s not stopping places like Venice crumbling after more floods; it’s not making the world change its eating habits; it’s not keeping our coral reefs alive; it’s not stopping people from travelling to reduce their carbon footprint. It’s a tragedy that’s unfolding with each new year – now a new decade is upon us and part of me dreads to think what might happen. Which leads me to…

Christmas wish #5: PUT SUPERHEROES IN POLITICS Now, I’m not one to discuss politics (you know the rules), but things are just getting a bit out of hand now, aren’t they? Given the recent UK election, and today’s announcement that Donald Trump has been impeached, it’s actually kind of hard to stay away from these kinds of conversations. I know we live in a bubble here in Ibiza – well, those of us who are unaffected by Brexit anyway – but it would just be nice if Wonder Woman and Thor could come in and sort everything out with the lasso of truth, plus the mighty hammer. It would be nice to live in a world where the people in power looked after those less fortunate, and that doesn’t seem to be the way we’re headed. Let me just call my friend Chris Hemsworth and see what he can do.

Christmas wish #6: LET IT SNOW IN IBIZA I’m not talking about the sleet that covers the north of the island on super cold mornings. I’m not even talking about those little pretty snowflakes that float on down to the Balearics every couple of years but melt the second they hit the ground. We need more than a flurry! I would just love to see – even for just one day – our whole island covered in fluffy white powder (no jokes here people) with kids (err, and me) making snowmen and sledding down the Dalt Vila ramp. I’d love to see the Santa Eulalia river rise back up and then freeze again, so we could ice skate along it. As a girl who grew up in the southern hemisphere and spent Christmas in raging heat, I thought moving to Europe would afford me fairytale festive seasons. That’s not to say I don’t love Christmas here in Ibiza, I would just love it even more if it snowed…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (again)

Well, would you look at that? It’s already the most wonderful time of year again! Halloween came and went in the blink of an eye after we wrapped up the summer season and now there’s a giant tree standing tall at the top of Vara de Rey, quaint little wooden market huts in the square and the streets are festooned with festive lights – it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. There’s something so old fashioned and charming about Ibiza at this time of year – despite the evolution of the island, it still seems to have escaped the clutches of Christmas commercialisation…

I’m not saying retailers aren’t wringing their hands with glee at the thought of all that extra Christmas trade (after the mayhem of Black Friday is over, or as I prefer to call it, Bleugh Friday), but here there seems to be a lot less overkill when it comes to gift giving. The shops just trade their regular hours, day in, day out. They close on Sundays, like always. You hear far less Christmas carols – or bastardised pop versions of Christmas carols – than you do in any city! Gift wrapping services are minimal to say the least (think store-branded bag with a sparkly gift tag – no gift wrapping stations or choices of paper and ribbon). You don’t see countless stocking stuffer gifts that are rendered completely useless after the first moment they were opened. There seems to be a lot less greed here at Christmas, and along with that, less waste. It’s not totally minimal but it’s not Oxford Circus.

Which brings me to the lights. One of the things I’ve always loved about Ibiza at Christmas is the simplicity of the lights strung across the main streets (31 on them according to the local newspaper!). For many years, they were recycled, simply rotated from street to street so it always looked different – aside from the ‘Bones Festes’ at the entrance to Ibiza town, which still makes me giggle even though I know the translation. Last year, new energy efficient lights were introduced and hopefully these too, will be rotated around the island rather than simply replaced by a new-fangled design like other major cities in the world. The lights will be switched on this Friday November 29, 2019 at 6.30pm (which must make all the pre-Christmas naysayers happy – sticking to traditional timelines like this) by none other than the goddess Tanit, which seems like a very bizarre Christmas deity (or, err, celebrity) but hey, it’s Ibiza and who are we to argue?

In my ideal world, the official Ambassador of Ibiza, Paris Hilton (I’m not kidding – she really has been ordained), would jet into town and do the honours, or maybe her island highness Charlotte Tilbury, who was born and bred in Ibiza and could do an in-store appearance just a little down the square in Sephora after she’d done her switching-on duties. Or maybe it should be the Mambo King, Javier Anadon, alongside his sons the Mambo Brothers in honour of their A-list DJ status, with an after party. What about Carl Cox (could he also dress as Santa? ‘Ho-ho-yes!’), or Papa Sven? The truth is, once the summer is over, the remaining population of Ibiza isn’t likely to be interested in superstar DJs or famous faces (and vice versa!), especially when it comes to lighting Christmas lights – and that’s what makes it still so quaint and charming.

I have always loved Christmas. Always, always, always. I believed in Santa Claus (or at least pretended to believe) right up until the point where I couldn’t get away with it anymore, and on the inside, I still secretly hope to hear sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling too, on Christmas Eve. I have always loved the way a Christmas tree lights up a room – even without the lights on! I love collecting decorations – even the ugliest of felt decorations from the late 70s in our house had a story – each year and adding them to my collection, and I love that magic moment when the tree is finally ready and you add the angel on top. For me, it’s always got to be an angel. I love giving gifts – if I lived in a city I would be the worst for buying into the commercialisation of Christmas, so perhaps it’s better that I live here and follow a more frugal gift giving style!

But, I am indeed a purist when it come to my tree. It won’t be going up until December 1 and it will come down on January 6, promptly. These dates were instilled into me as a child and no matter how much I love Christmas, I can’t break the rules (although there was one year that I left the tree up until March, but I’d been in an accident so couldn’t physically do it – suffice to say though, I definitely did experience bad luck!). If other people want to put their tree up before D.Day, that’s their choice – and I totally understand why you would! Who doesn’t want more Christmas joy in their life? And if you take it down in February, or later, well, if you want to risk the evil spirits taking hold of your home after the ‘twelfth night’, again, that’s your prerogative.

Here in Spain, the twelfth night is actually also celebrated as part of Christmas – Kings Day, as it’s called, is the day children receive their presents (from the three kings, not Santa – though you’ll find these days they often get both), so I’ve come to love Christmas even more ever since I moved here. It’s the occasion that keeps on giving – whereas in Australia, the UK or the USA, you’ve moved onto New Year and the subsequent hangovers and resolutions, here, we take a break to party and then get back to the Christmas festivities. The more Christmas the better!

We may not have snow in Ibiza, we may not even have weather cold enough to warrant wearing a Christmas sweater, but our little island/small town Christmas is just about as perfect as it can get if you ask me (which you didn’t). We’ve got oysters and champagne in Plaza del Parque, we’ve got Christmas hippy market at Las Dalias, we’ve even got gluhwein and chestnuts roasting on an open fire at San Jordi flea market on a Saturday. We’ve got the goddess Tanit lighting our Christmas lights! We can have Christmas lunch on the beach (and yes I KNOW we can also do that in Australia, but it’s far too hot there to enjoy eating anything at all). We’ve got Casa Maca’s awesome Christmas Market. We’ve got the Three Kings Parade on January 6! It’s the Christmas that keeps on giving. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve just got to go and put on my Kylie Christmas album and start unpacking the decorations in preparation for Sunday morning – because I wouldn’t dare do it a moment before, but that doesn’t stop me from singing along!