Ibiza is full of places where you can drink, relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings before you head of to the clubs for a night full of excitement and wonder. But which places do you go to? With so many places to choose from, picking just one is a tricky decision.
Not to worry, Ibiza Spotlight has done the hard work for you and chosen the top pre-party destinations on the island. From beautiful bar locations to sublime sunset spots and more, we know the places that will get ready for a big party.
These perfect pre-party places are a must for any visitor to the island, a great edition to any traveller's Ibiza bucket list whilst on the White Isle.
Bars
So you've got your ticket for one of the nightclubs, put on your best party gear and are all set for a night experiencing Ibiza to the fullest. Heading out with your mates, you fancy a drink (or two!) then you're hit with the bright lights of San Antonio and everybody is trying to pull you into one venue or another.
My recommendation? Head straight to San Antonio Bay and check out Bay Bar. The glamorous venue with lovely sunset views plays relaxing house and lounge music all day and the cocktails are well made and also reasonably priced.
If you're on the other side of the island, Playa d'en Bossa offers a great selection of places to enjoy a drink before you head over to Hï ibiza or Ushuaïa. Just around the corner from those venues (100 metres to be precise) is Tantra, a venue that plays host to official pre-parties for such nights as In The Dark, Abode and Do Not Sleep. With the number of big name DJs that pass through the doors of this great bar club, it's definitely worth checking out whilst you're on the island. Check the Tantra Facebook page for more information about the pre-party events.
When walking around the beautiful settings of Ibiza town, you can lose yourself in the backstreets of the old town, but one bar in that area offers a comfortable setting where you enjoy the grand view of the famous Dalt Vila landmark. Tira Pallá is one of the Ibiza towns best-kept secrets for that reason. After you ascend the large staircase you reach a Spanish style rooftop terrace playing classic rock and indie tunes, where you can kick back and enjoy a cold beer. It's the perfect place to prepare for a night out at Pacha, which is only 10 minutes taxi ride from Tira Pallá.
When staying on Ibiza, here's one place you should definitely go to eat and drink before heading off for the evening. Bambuddha located near Santa Gertrudis is a wonderfully decorated venue covered in bamboo. Its relaxing lounge areas are perfect for a MediterrAsian meal. With a fully stocked bar and the resident DJs playing a chilled mix of ambient sound, having cocktails in this peaceful setting makes for a magical evening. Make sure you try the Bamboozle or any of their other delicious concoctions that will satisfy any thirsty taste buds!
Sunset Spots
Ibiza is renowned for its glorious sunsets across the island, but there are a few places that are extra special to visit for sundown in summer. First on the list is the most famous one perhaps. Café del Mar has been serving sun-seeking holiday makers for over 30 years. The combination of cool cocktails and chill-out music placed on the backdrop the Balearic sea makes it a delightful place to begin an evening out.
Just around the corner, you have the vibrant vibe of Café Mambo which hosts nightly pre-parties with Top DJs playing before they hit the clubs later that evening. This is one of the best ways to start your night, by seeing your favourite DJ drop an exclusive set. Cafe Mambo plays host to the official Pacha pre-parties with nights like My House by Martin Solveig on Wednesdays and Labyrinth on Fridays.
Just over the San Antonio Bay, is another popular place with both island-dwellers and holiday makers. Kumharas is a place that is all about hippy vibes. You can enjoy live music such as the flamenco guitar flavours of Paco Fernandez, and last summer the legendary Sasha also made an appearance. Just about anything can happen at this wonderful seaside place. Around the venue there are also merchant stalls selling various trinkets, perfect if you are in need of buying that last minute item to complete your outfit for the evening.
Around the corner from Kumharas is one of the best rooftop bars to enjoy a sunset from. Sol House Ibiza provides daily events with great music and atmosphere on their Rooftop Nine. This year they have also hosted Mixmag's The Lab IBZ series with artists like Hot Since 82 and Carl Craig. With such a comfortable setting, take a bean bag, sink back and enjoy the golden rays of the day's end.
Although San Antonio has some great places to enjoy the sunset, it isn't the only place on the island where you can bask in the golden light. Moving down the coast, 15 minutes drive from San Antonio is Cala Conta beach where you will find the Sunset Ashram. The perfectly placed venue is definitely one of the best places to watch the sun go down in this magnificent location. Both a restaurant and bar, you can fill yourself up before a night out whilst watching one of their own resident DJs spin a diverse selection of music.
On the other side of San Antonio Bay, one of the prettiest spots to enjoy an Ibiza sunset is Hostal La Torre. With a great restaurant terrace, you can enjoy a glass of wine whilst enjoying views of the coastline and island bathed in the sunset light. Besides pre-partying, you could go all the way and enjoy the sunset from the comfort of your own room! Hostal La Torre offers a stylish environment for those who seek solace from the busy streets.
Boat Parties
Ibiza is surrounded by one of the most beautiful seas in the world: the Balearic. Its perfectly blue waters are lovely to sail on a sunny afternoon, but more importantly, it is the ideal place to host a boat party.
Running from the San Antonio and Playa d'en Bossa ports daily, the boat parties are plenty to choose from. Each one provides a journey of sun-soaking and drinking aboard, and all have very different music selections to each other. They are a fantastic way to spend an afternoon before venturing to a superclub. Often the parties offer package deals that include entry to the clubs later. Some of the boat parties even have their own pre-parties! Here are a few of the best ones on Ibiza.
Pukka Up - Known as the world's biggest boat party brand, they have been partying on the sea for 15 years. They play a popular selection of House and RnB and the crowds are always on a friendly vibe. As a part of the package deal, they offer entry to Together at Amnesia on Tuesdays and their very own Tropical Wonderland event at Eden on Saturdays. Their own pre-party starts at Rio Bar at 16:00, so you can drink the afternoon away before boarding the boat of bliss.
Float Your Boat - Another boat that plays host to very big names in the electronic music scene, this official sunset boat party has Roger Sanchez, DJ SKT, Mark Knight and others playing later on in the season. The music policy on board is Ibiza House classics and tech house vibes, all with the backdrop of the San Antonio coastline. The ticket packages cover entry to two awesome club nights: Eric Prydz at Hï Ibiza on Tuesdays and Cream at Amnesia on Thursday. They meet at Ibiza Rocks Bar at 16.00 to pre-party, so get yourself down there for a drink or two!
Playa d'en Bossa Boats
The IBZ Boat Party - The newest boat party on the island but the one with the biggest choice of clubs to gain entry to after you've enjoyed an afternoon at sea. The online tickets allow entry to Afterlife at Privilege on Thursday, Cuckoo Land Pool Party at Ibiza Rocks Hotel on Sunday. Then you can choose any night at Sankeys or Swag as well! This massive deal is one of the best on the island. This boat party also brings out the flying banana and jet skis for rides, with an Ibiza anthems and classics soundtrack. You'd be mad to miss this boat party.
Cirque De La Nuit - This one is a little bit special. In the past, the CDLN Boat Party has hosted big name DJs such as Solomun, Seth Troxler, Guy Gerber and tINI. The boat is one of the few that run an open bar formula, with the bar staff serving drinks directly to you, so you do not even have to go to the bar and have more time to enjoy the party. The trip includes a swim stop in the cool waters, perfect for those hot Ibiza afternoons. For your ticket money gains entry to Sankeys, any day of the week. This party is well loved by Ibiza visitors, and CDLN have managed to gain a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence from so many good reviews!
