I’ve been coming to Ibiza since I was six. And not for the reasons people usually think of when they hear “Ibiza.”

For me, it started with summer tennis camps, sunburned shoulders, and bocadillos on the bench between sets. Once, we even got lost hiking back from the Salinas and ended up jumping fences barefoot to find our car. That kind of Ibiza.

From Camps to Courts in the Trees

Early summers were all about Ibiza Club de Campo, where mornings meant endless drills and sweaty friends I’d only ever see once a year. Later, we found Tennis Club El Comodin, hidden among the trees, and everything changed. Orlando Martín ran it with the calm of someone who knew every inch of the court. His brother who was a pro even trains Andrey Rublev — which we all found endlessly cool.

I played one evening as the light started to fade and thought: this isn’t just a vacation routine — this is part of me now.

These days, when I land in Ibiza, I still try to hit those same spots. First stop? Passion Café. Doesn’t matter how late the flight is — their smoothies and bowls just hit different, and that first bite always makes it feel like I’ve really arrived.

The Real Beaches (And the Best Fish I’ve Ever Had)

Forget beach clubs. Es Xarcu was our go-to — quiet, no service, shoes off, and fish that felt like it had been caught ten minutes earlier. We always ordered too much and stayed too long. Although it now temporarily closed on the beachfront they have another restaurant in the heart of Es Cubells.

Some days it was Sa Caleta, others Sa Trinxa. Depending on the mood. Depending on the music. Depending on how much we needed the day to slow down.

Yoga at Sunrise, Beats at Night

Ibiza is weird like that — a party island with a spiritual undertone that’s stronger than anyone gives it credit for.

One morning, we did yoga at sunrise near Es Vedrà. I hadn’t even wanted to go. But watching the sea stretch out under that pale sky, with silence all around, something shifted. It’s hard to explain, but I think about that morning more often than I thought I would.

Later that night? Lío. Dinner, music, shows — energy that felt totally opposite and somehow still balanced. Ibiza never asks you to choose.

The Other Side of the Island

Then there’s the Ibiza most people picture — Ushuaïa, Pacha, Hï, nights that bleed into mornings. It’s a different vibe, but one that makes sense on this island. I’ve been to a few, and when the mood is right, they can be unforgettable.

San Antonio, on the other hand, is a different beast. It’s chaotic, no doubt. Definitely not for everyone. But if you’re young and are after that, it’s an experience — just brace yourself. It’s part of the spectrum Ibiza offers.

Cafés, Shops, and the Unexpected

Traditions made their way in too. SLUIZ — an outlet like no other — offered everything from the bizarre to the useful. Velvet flamingos, full-sized sofas, neon cows, you name it. It was chaotic, colorful, and somehow totally Ibiza. Sadly, it’s closing now, but for years it was a must-do — the kind of place you didn’t even know you needed until you were there, wandering through rooms filled with things you’d never see anywhere else.

Even our quieter days had a kind of randomness to them — stumbling onto local markets or watching the sky turn pink from a rooftop with nowhere else to be.

Why I Never Get Tired of Ibiza

Now, even if I’m only there for a few days, I fall into the rhythm like I never left. One moment I’m hitting forehands, the next I’m staring at the sea, completely still.

That’s just how Ibiza works — it lets you be loud and quiet, grounded and wild, all in the same afternoon. And that’s probably why I never get tired of it.

P.S: You can check out our retreat in Ibiza through this link: https://themagicibiza.com.