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Welcome to Ibiza!
PubClub Ibiza Correspondent
Kelly Owen (hot-pink top) leads the party gang.
It's one of the wildest islands on Earth,
a place where daytime beach activities are only a prelude to an all-night
party that often lasts clear through to the next beach day.
Ibiza is like a sister island to Mykonos
in Greece: wild, uninhibited and clothing-optional.
First inhabited in the 60s as a hangout for hippies, Ibiza maintains
its counterculture personality today, though in a thoroughly modern
way. Oh, the hippies are still here, but they are overshadowed by a
cutting-edge club crowd that comes dressed for the accession. Even if
that dress barely conceals a thing and who is wearing the dress is often
not distinguishable by the individual's sex.
Arrival and Orientation
PreParty
on Ibiza: Sunsets at Cafe del Mar are a nightly ritual.
Ibiza is located off the coast of Southeast Spain in the Mediterranean
Sea. It is part of the Balearic Islands or Baleares, which also contains
Majorca, Minorca and Formentera.
If one can stop the partying long enough to notice, Ibiza is a beautiful
island with lovely beaches, whitewashed buildings and clear-blue water.
 Most
people arrive at the airport, although boats also serve the island.
Bus, taxi or, during daytime, beach-hopping, boats provide
island transportation. Taxis are fairly cheap and popular; most
fares are between $5-20 USD, although be sure and confirm the price
before getting in the car. Just say "Quanto Questa" and name of
the destination. It's okay to barter with the cabbies. For nightclubbing,
there is a "disco bus" that run for 23 hours (250ptas);
clubs also refund taxi fare for three or more partiers. With this kind
of service, it's no wonder Ibiza is a reveler's delight.
Ibiza is a fairly small island yet somehow manages to contain 15 towns.
Party tourists need only to concern themselves with one two: Ibiza
Town and San Antonio.
Ibiza Town contains most of the bars and clubs, making it a convenient
place to stay. It is also dotted with quaint shops and inexpensive restaurants.
San Antonio is the island's sunset spot and is popular among Germans,
Swedes and especially Brits. In fact,there are more British people here
in the summer than at any spot outside of London. When MTV comes to
Ibiza, it parks it in San Antonio.
It's a good idea to have accommodations lined up in advance during
the peak season months of July and particularly August. For those unable
to cope with such things, Ibiza has a tourist office. Otherwise, hit
the streets and look for a "CH" (case del huespedes) on doorways.
This contains the phone number of the owner.
The Beaches
Ibiza's beaches
are ideal for relaxing after a late night at the clubs.
Being an island splashed in sunshine, Ibiza has plenty of sand spots
to enjoy. The most popular are Playa d'en Bosa, just south of
the main town, and Las Salinas.
Playa d'en Bosa stretches, it seems, to Gibraltar. It is lined with
some 50 bars, including the popular Bora Bora. The beach is right
under the flight path for the airport, which the bars counter by cranking
up the music to nighttime noise levels.
Las Salinas is the place to avoid tan lines. People lay out topless
or go totally nude.
For those just looking for a sandy place to crash, Ibiza Town's playa
is Figueras. It's small, though, and fills up quickly.
Poolside at the
Kenya Bar is the place to be in the late afternoon.
The beach scene ends at around 7. But this is Ibiza, and the party
is just beginning. Kenya Bar in San Antonio is the post-sandspot
to seek. It is wildly popular, due in large part to its music, which
combines a rich and hip passionate tropical sound with a cool European
trans-mix beat. Kenya Bar has a pool overlooking the ocean where some
women prefer to remain topless. It's also a great place to catch up
with friends lost during the day or to meet up with that special someone
with whom one might have been socializing earlier.
San Antonio also sports a string of other beach bars. Known as the
"Sunset Strip," it's highlighted by the Cafe del Mar, famous
for watching the beautiful sunset. Sunsets don't occur until 10 in the
heart of summer, so at about 9, people head back to the hotel for a
shower and clothes change, then to Cafe del Mar, or rest up until hitting
the Bourbon Street bars at around 11 for pre-partying. A good
preparty bar is Dome for itsinteresting crowd, if nothing else.
PubClubbing
Ibiza's legendary
nightlife makes it the social capitol of a summer in Spain.
A lot of young people, mainly Europeans, frequent Ibiza for the nocturnal
nightlife. Some of the world's most famous clubs are located here. Finding
them is not a problem. Representatives of the clubs are everywhere,
passing out flyers at the beach and on the streets.
The club-goers are just as legendary. Ibiza has cool dressers, cross-dressers,
hipsters, hopsters, even hippies, who have yet to give up their turf
first established some 40 years in the past. Walking down the streets
of Ibiza, one is struck by the thought that someone forgot to tell these
people it's not Halloween or Mardi Gras. Then again, maybe Ibiza is
just an off-season combination of both.
Those on a budget be warned. Ibiza can rip through one's wallet faster
than a tequila shot hits the bloodstream. Plan on spending $ 35 -65
USD per club just to get inside. Crowds arrive after midnight and stay
until 6 or so, at which time the die-hards head for the bars that are
just opening before heading home at noon. Forget about seeing those
people on the beach.
 The
most famous club is often the last one visited during a night. Nearly
every die-hard partier has fantasized over video of the foam party.
Well, it happens at Amnesia. The event is called 'Espuma' - which
is Spanish for foam party. The foam can reach as high as six feet and
patrons do get drenched. Dress accordingly.
In addition this early-morning non-sponge bath, Amnesia has world famous
DJs, such as Paul Van Dyk, Sasha & Digweed & Seb Fontaine. Occasionally,
Boy George acts as resident DJ. Amnesia has theme nights, such as "God's
Kitchen." Amnesia plays the latest mix of house and trans music.
It's located in the middle of the island, in San Rafael, to it's best
to take a cab.
Overlooking Ibiza Harbor, El Divino attracts a classy, sophisticated
crowd. It plays the usual house and trans mix. Boy George is also a
resident DJ here and there is a live sex act on a raised stage (not
featuring him, fortunately).
Ibiza's
dress code is an individual expression.
Pancha in Ibiza Town brings all of Ibiza's groups together,
from hippies to millionaires. They mingle among the 15 bars, one of
which is an open-air garden patio overlooking the town. Well, okay,
the millionaires hang out among themselves in the VIP area off the main
room. Pancha is popular enough to be one of the island's few bars to
stay open year-round.
Es Paradis is in the shape of a pyramid overlooking San Antonio
Bay. It has no roof, nine bars and is full of serious clubbers.
Privilege's contribution to the Ibiza club scene is having the
largest dance floor in the town. It also has a swimming pool in the
center of the club for those not privy enough to hang in the exquisite
and very private VIP section. This is where PubClub Ibiza Correspondent
Kelly Owen met the star from Beverly Hills 90210, Jason Priestly.
Privilege is famous for it's legendary 80s history. Formerly called
KU, it was frequented by jet-setting super models, celebrities, and
rock stars. The club was forced to shut down (and re-opened in the late
90s) amid rumors of drug trafficking and Mafia connections.
Pub Grub
Several inexpensive restaurants are located in the harbour area. One
of the island's best is La Oliva, a nice Italian restaurant
in the Ibiza harbour with a breathtaking picturesque environment set
in an old Spanish style setting. La Oliva is is settled right between
these old buildings on cobbled stone streets which brings Venice to
mind. The food is just as incredible.
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