Whether you’re staying in a villa near the village or simply passing through, Santa Gertrudis is the kind of place you’ll be sure to return again and again – especially if you’re a lover of breakfast café culture. Sunny mornings are spent strolling through the square, stopping off for cold-brew coffee and artisanal bagels at Santa G. Bagel House, or visiting the island’s home of health and happiness, Passion Café, for a taste of Lana’s iconic avo toasts, wholesome brekkie bowls, smoothies, fresh juices and so much more. Just around the corner, Wild Beets is one of the area’s original outliers, where Cliff Grubin and his team have been serving up organic, raw and plant-based cuisine to an attentive audience (including a bevy of parents on the school run) for over a decade.

Lunchtimes are a toss-up between the traditional bocadillo de jamón de ibérico (or any bocadillo for that matter) at Bar Costa, or the classic Spanish menu del día at Restaurante Santa Gertrudis, where you can still get three courses and a drink for under 15€. On Sundays, the roast at Can Mimosa is a no-brainer – just be sure to reserve a table in advance as the seats in the finca’s sunny garden book up fast. As the sun starts to dip in the early evening, soundtracked by the peal of church bells, a cacophony of kids communicate in various languages as they kick footballs across the concrete, and their younger siblings potter in the nearby play park.

At the same time, across the street, the clink of glasses and the hum of conversation from newcomer Can Can Alimentacíon – part Italian grocer and part bar à vin, presided over by owners and foodies, Giulio Baroni and Melania Pintori – picks up as the adults enjoy aperitivos in the late afternoon golden glow. A little further up the street, it’s the smell of freshly baked foccaccia wafting from Bottega Il Buco that entices the who’s who of Santa G to mingle on its stylish terrace, though if you’ve got hungry little ones in tow, it’s best to head back through the village to La Chickeria for good old-fashioned rotisserie chicken, chips and coleslaw, or to Zeno for classic Italian pizzas and pastas, with a final pit-stop at Zero Gradi for ice cream before hometime.

When darkness falls, Santa Gertrudis becomes a culinary playground for grown-ups. The popular Passion Café transforms into its sophisticated sister, Yalla, where foodies flock for Levantine cuisine, drawn in by plumes of spice-scented smoke from succulent cuts of meat and farm-fresh Mediterranean veggies kissing the open grill. Flying the fine-dining flag is Finca La Plaza, an exceptional place for special occasions where local produce is enriched with global flavours. On the other side of the village square, Jorge Conde and Mónica Patiño – the brains behind the speakeasy style dining destination, Overall – are also known for their fine dining mastery, specialising in serving up Ibiza-inspired omakase experiences to just 20 discerning diners per night.

On the village outskirts, Amalur has been at the heart of Ibiza’s gastronomic scene for four decades. The elegant Italian-influenced fine dining restaurant – set in an iconic blue finca – has been attracting locals and travellers since its inception in 1981 and in 2021, the legendary establishment underwent a masterful evolution, with renowned restaurateur Francesco Manzoli (of Formentera’s Can Carlos fame) at the helm. In 2023, the restaurant’s spacious terrace was meticulously landscaped and transformed into a stunning garden dining room, evoking timeless Italian glamour and style.

There’s plenty more in the neighbourhood: clued-up travellers will already know the new Soho Farmhouse Ibiza is just a few minutes away from the village centre, surrounded by lush countryside and already the hottest ticket in town. Kids and adults will love Sundays spent at Juntos Farm, where a Farmers Market supplies fresh KM0 produce and local wares, food stalls offer up tasty treats and workshops and farm tours keep kids of all ages entertained for hours.

Art lovers can gallery-hop, from the white-box surrounds of Parra & Romero – curated by Guillermo Romero Parra, who operates a second gallery in Madrid – to the eclectic elegance of Estudio Laterna, run by landscape designers and art aficionados, Andrea Sanchez and Ricardo Jarpa, and finally, into the vibrant, contemporary world of delightful gallerista Emma Salahi at Agony + Ecstasy Gallery.

If a summer sojourn in Santa Gertrudis sounds like the Ibiza holiday you’ve been dreaming of, contact us at the link below and let us help you find the perfect villa to call home away from home in 2025.