Pete Tong has been going to Ibiza for more than two decades now. So it’s fair to say that he knows it like the back of his hand. With the party starting up once more on Spain’s hottest clubbing destination, the DJ takes us for an insiders’ trip around the island.
Where is your favourite destination and why?
Ibiza. It feels like a second home. I’ve been going there for what feels like my whole life: since the late 1980s and pretty much every year since 1991, apart from Covid. It’s just a place where I feel like I’ve been before in a previous life. It’s got that kind of spiritual connection. There’s some magic there.
When was the last time you were there, and who were you with?
A few days ago. I was with my wife, but I was there for the International Music Summit, which is a conference that I created with some partners that we’re very proud of. It’s the 16th event. People see Ibiza as just a party island, but for us it was always so much more than that in terms of creativity and the contribution it made to the music scene and DJ culture. We wanted to create a business conference that celebrated that fact and put all the leading thinkers and minds in one space together.
Where do you like to stay there?
I would stay primarily at the Gran Hotel, which is the most central. For chilling out, there’s the Six Senses at the other end of the island. And then Casa Maca is a little bit more of a secretive one. It’s only got six or seven rooms, but it’s hidden away on a hill. It’s got an amazing restaurant that’s become quite hot and it’s run by the family who own Café Mambo, but have got more into upscale hospitality in the last few years. It’s very traditional. It’s a house, basically, that they’ve added a few rooms to. So it’s like staying in someone’s country house.
What are your top three restaurants?
The hot one is Jondal. It’s been there for four years now and changed the face of Ibiza dining. It’s a lunchtime spot that goes to about 5 or 6 in the evening. No music. It’s a force of nature, and it’s not cheap. It was a bit of a secret in the first year, but it’s definitely become the go-to restaurant that nobody can get into. I would say Macao is still an absolute classic. I’ve known Luca, who runs it, since the late 1990s. It’s an understated Italian, and for most of the year, people want to sit in the garden outside. It’s very kiddie friendly but quite sophisticated, so you see a lot of people who have been going a very long time there which is really nice. And it’s still very reasonably priced. My favourite new restaurant is Nun, which is amazing for breakfast or lunch. And that’s on Cala Llonga and it’s owned by Olivia Fleury who was the brains behind Beachhouse originally. She opened it a couple of years ago; she knows Ibiza inside out and backwards.
What is the one unmissable thing you recommend doing?
Get out into nature. I’m always obviously there doing clubs and stuff, but I think it’s quite easy to get into nature. In an ideal world, during every visit I’d always go to Formentera for a lunch or for a quick trip. And I think if anybody’s been to Ibiza or coming for a few days, I’d highly recommend — if you’re staying in one of the towns — getting out of town and at the very minimum just drive to the north or through the middle of the island. There are some amazing beaches, but for the people who have never been to Ibiza and just hear about it through pictures of clubs, you’ve got to go and see the whole other side to the island to fully understand why it’s not just about the clubs.
Is there a hidden gem you are willing to share?
The most popular beach is Salinas, which is amazing if you go there early in the morning or out of peak season. It tends to get super busy through the summer months, so if you’re going to a beach then you’d want to go north to Aguas Blancas or Cala Boix. Or get across to Formentera. Secret spots … I wouldn’t want to name it, because there are a couple of things that are still a local secret.
Where do you like to let your hair loose?
My home in Ibiza is really Blue Marlin, which suits me because it finishes at midnight. And I’m not as young as I used to be. For me and my wife now, if we really want to go out and just dance, it would be Circoloco at DC-10, which is still the locals’ favourite. Our favourite spot is the garden before it gets too hectic, so we go at 9pm and slip out of there at 1am or something.
A song that reminds you of the place?
I mean, obviously doing Ibiza Classics, with us celebrating 10 years at the Royal Albert Hall this year. The whole show is inspired by Ibiza. Probably Café del Mar, which we do a version of in every single show we’ve ever played. It’s one of the only songs that we’ve never dropped from the set: the set evolves over the years, but that song is still in the show.
Favourite shops?
There’s a funny shop on Botafoc which is one of the marinas at the edge of Ibiza Town called JVC. She’s been there for years, but they always have really good quality clothes. It’s not crazy prices. It’s an Italian shop and I’ve never heard of the brand before but they’re very consistent. It’s kind of a cheap Loro Piana. I also think the art galleries in Santa Gertrudis are pretty special. There’s one: it’s The Rose clothing store which my wife loves, which has always got amazing art hanging in it. Then the Galeria Tambien is really good. I mean shopping in Santa Gertrudis is probably my favourite: just wandering around there.
Your dress code for the destination?
I think just dress light is probably the thing. It’s like flip-flops and trainers, shorts, obvious stuff. I actually have an old Defender that I leave there now and then in the back of the car I hide trainers and flip-flops [to wear when I get there]. Just loose and light.
Do you have a top wellness tip for the island?
The Six Senses has got an amazing spa. The Gran has got an amazing spa — it’s very popular, they’ve started to time schedule when you can go if you’re not staying at the hotel. I’m interested to see what Soho Farmhouse has when it opens to guests this summer, because obviously they’ve started putting in pretty decent gyms.
Pete Tong:10 Years of Ibiza Classics is at the Royal Albert Hall from May 29 to June 1; petetong-ibizaclassics.com
