Food
Beach restaurants: what the reviews actually say
When someone asks us to book "the famous restaurant", we usually pause. Several of the best-known places in the Pitiusas have fairly poor TripAdvisor scores, and since the boat is yours and so is the day, we would rather tell you what is there before booking.
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Photo by diluvi.com (Anna i Adrià) · CC BY 2.0
How we looked at this
We went through the public TripAdvisor listings and reviews for the beach restaurants people ask us about most, rather than trusting what their own websites say. The scores and rankings below are the ones they had when this was written and they move over time, so treat them as a snapshot, not a verdict.
Our rule when booking is simple: if a place has an unrepeatable location but the cooking does not match it, we tell you and you decide. Often the best option is to anchor in front, swim, and eat on board.
Ibiza
On the main island, the balance between price and cooking varies a lot by area.
- Es Torrent (Porroig)
- The best rated of the beach classics. Reviews highlight the quality of the fish — they have their own boat fishing for the restaurant — and the clams. The recurring complaint is that the menu does not always show prices: ask when ordering. It fills up daily, so book.
- Aiyanna (Cala Nova)
- The highest scoring here, around 4.1 out of 5. Eastern Mediterranean cooking, wooden terraces over the bay and a relaxed feel. The odd review finds it merely fine, but the consensus is good. Book if you want a table by the sea.
- Cala Bassa Beach Club
- Around 3.6 out of 5. Several kitchens on one site (the sushi comes out very well) and a genuinely good spot for families. Criticism is almost always about price, including reviews unhappy with sunbed and umbrella rates. The cove itself is one of the island’s best.
Formentera
This is where the gap between reputation and actual rating shows most.
- Juan y Andrea (Ses Illetes)
- The most famous and by some distance the worst rated: around 3.0 out of 5 and very low in the island ranking, across more than a thousand reviews. The setting on the sand is spectacular and plenty of people enjoy the atmosphere, but complaints about very high prices and uneven service repeat. If you go, go for the place, not the cooking.
- Beso Beach (Cavall d’en Borràs)
- Around 3.5 out of 5. The lobster rice reviews well and the atmosphere is lively. Watch two things that come up repeatedly: a 10% "suggested service" charge folded into the bill, and wine prices well above normal. Book ahead.
- Es Molí de Sal
- The most formal option in the Illetes area, in an old salt mill. More careful Mediterranean cooking and a dinghy service for anchored boats. High average spend.
What we do
We book days ahead, confirm whether there is a service surcharge, and ask the price of the fish before sitting down. Three phone calls that prevent ninety per cent of the unpleasant surprises.
And when the plan is simply to be left alone, we set up lunch on board. In August, with the coves full and the restaurants overrun, it is usually the best decision of the day.
Frequently asked questions
Which beach restaurant in Ibiza is best rated?
Among those reachable by boat, Aiyanna at Cala Nova has the best TripAdvisor score, around 4.1 out of 5. Es Torrent is the best rated of the classic fish restaurants.
Is Juan y Andrea in Formentera worth it?
For the location, yes; for the cooking and the price, reviews are harsh — it sits around 3.0 out of 5. It is a decision about the experience, not the food.
Do beach restaurants add a service charge?
Some do. In Formentera there are reviews flagging a 10% "suggested service" already included in the bill. It is worth checking before paying.
