When you think of Ibiza, images of neon-splashed clubs, world-famous DJs, tequila-fuelled nights and 6am bedtimes usually come to mind. A night out at one of the island’s legendary superclubs has long been considered something of a rite of passage for any Balearic traveller.
I was lucky enough to experience the opening night of Ushuaïa Ibiza last summer. But one year on, I found myself drawn back to the island, this time curious to explore a very different rhythm.
After a busy few months, the White Isle called once again, but this time we traded dancing the night away for dreamy sunrises, basslines for barefoot mornings and beach clubs for long, lingering lunches.
With the party scene firmly centred on the south of the island, we headed east to the laid-back seaside resort of Es Canar in Santa Eulària des Riu. A softer, more soulful side of Ibiza, Es Canar offers a relaxed way to experience the island, far from its hedonistic edge.
Tucked along Ibiza’s eastern shoreline, Es Canar is a pretty coastal spot where palm-fringed sands curve around a gentle harbour, blending laid-back charm with cafés, beaches and bars just a short stroll away.
Quieter than the club-lined strips of Playa d’en Bossa and San Antonio, the resort is anything but sleepy, with a vibrant dining and bar scene. Best known for its iconic hippy market, long on my Ibiza bucket list, Es Canar’s bohemian spirit gives it its distinctive character.
From laid-back lunches to chilled-out places to stay, here’s Emma Harrison‘s guide to exploring Es Canar’s slower side.
Where to stay in Es Canar, Ibiza
Perched above the Mediterranean, FERGUS Style Punta Arabí feels like a quiet coastal hideaway in the spirit of a traditional Ibizan village, with whitewashed villas nestled among pines and palms. A stay here focuses on a clifftop pool with far-reaching sea views, echoing Es Canar’s slower pace.
The hotel leans into a quieter side of the island, where days unfold between sun-warmed terraces, shaded paths and sea views. Its most distinctive feature is its setting beside the iconic Es Canar Punta Arabi Hippy Market, one of Ibiza’s most enduring cultural institutions.
Held every Wednesday from April to October, the Punta Arabí Hippy Market is one of the island’s most atmospheric weekly gatherings, particularly for first-time visitors.
An eclectic, bohemian-inspired aesthetic runs through the resort, defined by oak-toned furnishings, sweeping archways and crisp white linens, alongside an elegant beach bar with Bali beds, a massage cabana and a serene outdoor pool.
The atmosphere is low-key and luxury-boho, encouraging long days spent entirely at ease. For those looking to enjoy the art of doing nothing, this is the perfect place!
Set among pine woodland and whitewashed buildings, the resort sits just moments from the bars and restaurants of Es Canar, with easy access to nearby beaches. With its village-style layout and easy pace, it is an ideal Ibizan escape for couples or friends looking for a more chilled out stay with a sociable edge.
Entertainment is understated and largely music-led, with daytime activities including yoga and water volleyball. Guests are free to do as much or as little as they like, while a soft poolside soundtrack subtly complements the setting.
Surrounded by lush gardens and native flora, the rooms are bright and spacious, filled with natural materials, soft white linens and colourful accents. Our Superior Double Room featured oak-toned furnishings, sweeping architectural details and crisp white bedding, softened with patterned cushions and throws. A large private terrace with sun loungers offered a peaceful space for long, sun-drenched mornings.
Es Mercat Restaurant serves breakfast and dinner at the heart of the hotel showcasing fresh, locally sourced produce from Ibiza and the Balearic Islands. Guests can also take advantage of made-to-order omelettes, while the buffet spans fresh breads, cheeses, cured meats, cereals, yoghurts, juices and pastries. A glass of prosecco or a mimosa is also available for those who prefer a more indulgent start to the day.
We dined at the hotel once, choosing from a pre-order menu of pizza, fish or meat. We opted for the Iberian pork dish, served after a shared starter of local cheeses, cured meats and bread. As a coeliac, I was pleased to see dishes adapted to be gluten-free, while service throughout was attentive and friendly.
Other dining and drinking options include the palm-fringed Es Racó Restaurant, Caramull’s barbecue grill and Sa Trobada Bar, alongside the laid-back Lola Pool Bar, a standout spot for cocktails, casual bites and light dishes.
Every Wednesday, the Hippy Bar brings the resort’s central plaza to life beside the iconic market, with live music, a laid-back crowd and flowing drinks as Ibiza’s bohemian spirit unwinds through the evening.
What to do in Es Canar
Wander Ibiza’s oldest hippy market
The Punta Arabí Hippy Market is a longstanding Ibiza institution, particularly for first-time visitors, and one of the island’s most atmospheric weekly rituals. Held every Wednesday from April to October, it unfolds across a pine-fringed setting where more than 500 stalls spill through the trees in a lively mix of colour, craft and sound.
Founded in 1973, it is both the oldest and largest hippy market on the island, still shaped by its original spirit, with local artisans returning each week to sell everything from 1970s-style coats and crystals to fringed bags, silver jewellery and handstitched leather goods.
Live music plays through the trees as you wander the maze of stalls, with performers often stepping from behind their stalls to play, adding to the market’s easy, bohemian energy.
Food stalls add another layer to the experience, serving everything from traditional Spanish dishes to international street food, including paella, crepes and Japanese ramen.
Escape to Formentera for the day
From Es Canar, Formentera is an easy day trip by boat, with seasonal ferries from nearby Santa Eulària skimming across some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean. Ibiza falls away behind you as the coastline fades into the distance and the blues deepen across the horizon.
Once in Formentera, the pace shifts entirely, with time spent between Ses Illetes Beach, the island’s most famous stretch of sand, the laid-back village of Sant Francesc Xavier, and Cala Saona, where some of the island’s most beautiful sunsets unfold.
Enjoy a guided meditation or a sound bath in the sanctuary of your hotel
Sound baths and guided meditation sessions can be arranged directly at your hotel or villa, often set up in quiet outdoor spaces such as shaded terraces or private gardens. It’s an easy, unhurried way to lean into Es Canar’s laidback side, offering a restorative pause between beach time, long lunches and time spent exploring the coast.
For those willing to venture a little further, Santa Eulària is just a short drive away, where dedicated wellness studios often combine yoga with Tibetan and crystal sound healing.
Where to eat in Es Canar
Ayianna Ibiza
Billed as the more relaxed sister restaurant to Amante Ibiza, Aiyanna Ibiza leans into slow living with a boho-chic design, natural wood accents, unforgettable sensory experience and colourful Guatemalan parasols.
This bohemian-chic beachfront restaurant, perched on the cliffs above Cala Nova bay, is one of the island’s standout dining spots and it is easy to see why. Culinary perfection, stunning surroundings and impeccable service come together to create the ultimate dining experience and one of the best in Ibiza, let alone in Es Canar.
The name Aiyanna is unique in itself, a Native American word meaning ‘eternal flower’, Aiyanna embodies the spirit of Ibiza, capturing the vitality and beauty of this incredible island.
With its boho glam design and breezy Balearian vibes, Ayianna prides itself on offering a healthy, innovative menu that uses local and seasonally-led ingredients, flavours and textures. It is rooted in Mediterranean flavours, enriched by subtle influences from the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.
The exemplary service was consistent throughout and every staff member offered impressive attention to detail, especially with regards to the dishes we selected.
We started our dining experience with bread, oil and olives which were complemented with one of Ayianna’s impeccably crafted cocktails. My favourite was the exquisite Belladonna which featured Grey Goose vodka, peach tea, passionfruit and Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé – absolutely delicious.
Ayianna Ibiza is renowned for its sensational seafood, so when I saw that scallops were on the menu, I had no hesitation in ordering them – and I wasn’t disappointed. I was presented with a very generous portion of grilled queen scallops with a chilli and lime butter which were some of the best scallops that I have ever had.
Diners can also choose from a refreshing grilled watermelon glazed in agave, with rocket, toasted almond and Ibizan goat cheese, a marinated salmon salad, a dry aged Galician beef carpaccio amongst others.
I continued with the seafood theme with an amazing plate of Octopus Timbal which was layered with sweet potato parmentier, savoury smoked paprika ali oli and samphire. My guest had the veal rib tagliata which was sliced and served with saffron parmentier, courgette and Parmesan salad, dressed with a calamansi vinaigrette.
Both dishes were absolutely incredible highlights in Ayianna’s brilliant menu which also includes options like Iberia acorn fed pork with a cauliflower puree, seabass with a Mediterranean medley of vegetables, roasted aubergine and more. Diners can also add sides such as crispy fries, a refreshing cucumber salad with a kimchi mayonnaise and steamed broccoli.
I just (about!) had enough room for dessert, and immediately, I was drawn to the chocolate and hazelnut textures of the hazelnut meringue with chocolate crisp tuile and smooth chocolate namelaka. However, the glazed tiramisu and cherry cheesecake were also equally intoxicating.
All of the dishes eaten at Ayianna Ibiza were some of the best food I ate while on the islands, the carefully selected ingredients shape vibrant, colourful dishes that are presented superbly and leave an unforgettable mark on your memory.
Lumbre x Bless Hotel Ibiza
With an innovative menu centrered around the concept of fire, Lumbre at Bless Hotel Ibiza is definitely fast becoming one of the must-visit restaurants on the East coast of the island. Naturally, with fire as the concept, the grill was an integral part of the dining experience with two different prawn dishes, both grilled to perfection.
The fire concept is elevated further with an impressive selection of main dishes. Highlights include delicately cooked Rossini beef tenderloin, beef sirloin, and a dry-aged beef txuleta that falls away as you cut it, like butter.
Lumbre offers a sophisticated Mediterranean menu with charcoal oven dishes and fresh local ingredients, celebrating authentic flavours that are complemented by a fantastic wine list.
Book your very own bohemian break to Es Canar, Ibiza with FERGUS Style Punta Arabi – Nightly rates start from €130 including breakfast.
Photo Credits: FERGUS Style Punta Arabi, Ibiza / Ayianna Ibiza, Lumbre x Bless Ibiza, Joe Flanagan and Emma Harrison
