Our UJ secret insider on Formentera first started visiting the island 20 years ago. It was a slow burning love affair that turned into a full-on addiction.

Sunsets
Better in Tiburon or Cala Saona where you’ll find chiringuitos and a cold mojito. Also fantastic in Faro Cap de Barbaria but no drinks served.

Unique seawater colour
See the most beautiful colours in Es Calo, Cala Saona and Illetas.

Night swimming
Illetas beach for swimming under the stars.

Going out
Mercadillo Artesanal de la Mola (Sundays and Wednesdays afternoon) – a great market for hippie bits and pieces. Don’t go early, stay till late… Music performers at the end of the day and drinks at Can Toni. And spend a night at Blue Bar for a better full moon.

Food
Try the ensalada payesa (a typical salad from the island) and the peix sec de Formentera – a traditional dry fish you put in ensalada payesa or eat with bread made in a traditional way, no chemicals, pure bio and healthy.

Restaurants – reasonable
Pizzeria Macondo, Sant Ferran – best pizza

Café Matinal, Sant Francesc – best breakfast

Can Forn, Sant Ferran – traditional real island food, very homey people and very affordable

Cafeteria Sant Francesc – homey and popular place to have a very cheap but good meal

Rincon Gallego, La Sabina – great fish and very cheap

Restaurants – mid-range
El Pirata, Illetas – crowded but fantastic rice

Can Toni, La Mola – new and traditional, very good ambience

La Pequeña Isla, La Mola – traditional kitchen

Café del Lago, La Sabina – very nice place with sunset, best spaghetti vongole

Can Rafalet, Es Calo – traditional kitchen, unique views

Es Cupiña, La Sabina – good tapas in a marine ambience

Resaurants – expensive
Can Carlos, Sant Francesc – a fancy, glamorous place

Francesquino, La Sabina – exclusive and does great pizza

Sa Platgeta, Playa de Migjorn – traditional and fresh fish, very homey people

Es Codol Foradat, Sant Ferran – one of the best paellas on the island

Caminito, Es Pujols – expensive but very good meat, fancy and decadent

Flipper and Chiller, Playa de Migjorn – music, food and drinks, expensive but fantastic place

Where to drink

Fonda Plate, Sant Francesc

El Tiburon, Playa Illetas

Chiringuito, Cala Saona

Can Toni, La Mola

Fonda Pepe, Sant Ferran

The beach, Es Pujols

Nero Paco, Es Pujols

Blue Bar, Playa de Migjorn

Flipper and Chiller, Playa de Migjorn

Top Tips

1. Don’t go to the supermarket or to the gas station after 5pm – that’s when thousands of tourists start going to stock up on food and refuel their motos.
2. Always look for a beach that’s opposite to the way the wind blows.