The best beaches, bars and restaurants in Formentera

The Balearic Islands are known for their crazy fun! Ibiza is more popularly known as the party capital of the world, while its neighbouring sister island, Formentera, is known for its paradisiac beaches, boho-chic lifestyle and yummy food! Which one to pick, you may ask? We didn’t, we chose both! After spending 5 crazy days in Ibiza, my friends and I opted for four days in total relaxation in beautiful Formentera (of course, being a group of party animals, it wasn’t THAT relaxing, but still, definitely fun)!

Day 1 in Formentera

Arrive to Formentera pretty exhausted because you spent your last night in Ibiza closing one of their biggest clubs. We were a group of ten people and paid 37 EUR each for a roundtrip ferry ticket to Formentera with Trasmapi. We took the 12pm ferry which takes 45 minutes. Tip: bring a sweater on the ferry. It’s FREEZING in there!

BUY YOUR FERRY TICKETS IN ADVANCE!

Arrive at La Savina port and get the apartment keys. If you want to be where the buzz is, Es Pujols is DEFINITELY where you need to stay. But since Formentera has amazing beaches all around the island, renting a car is a MUST! You can either rent the car at La Savina port, or in Es Pujols. We opted for Es Pujols and rented two Fiat Panda 4×4 for a total of 380 EUR with insurance included for four days. Formentera is also famous for the scooters to rent. If you rent a scooter just make sure you know how to drive one as there are lots of stupid people on the road.

RENT YOUR SCOOTER HERE:

Where to go to the beach in Formentera

Head to the beach! We decided that since we were really tired we wanted to head to a nearby beach. We went to the beautiful Playa de Llevant. It’s situated on the north-eastern coast of the island, between Punta des Trucadors and Playa des Canyers. Playa de Llevant is a beautiful sandy beach with amazing crystalline waters. It’s not very crowded, and it’s perfect for long walks. Just careful if it gets windy, as there are strong currents and high waves at times. Just a heads up, it’s also frequented by nudists! There is a popular beach bar called Tanga here, for those that want to have lunch/drinks on the beach.

Before dinner, we got a quick Sangria in a bar in Es Pujols and then headed to the beautiful Es Pujols seafront, characterised by super cute hand-made jewellery stands and yummy restaurants! TIP: Always make a dinner reservation at the latest by 12pm of the same day! Especially during peak season! P.S. If you are interested in Rigatoni (we were not not), reserve even two to three days in advance, it’s ALWAYS full.

If you really want to take it to another level, book a luxury catamaran and explore the crystal waters of Formentera. We were so unlucky that it was fully booked the day we wanted to go, but next time I’m going to Formentera I’m DEFINITELY booking this! Don’t make my same mistake and book yours here:

Where to go for dinner in Formentera

We had dinner at this beautiful restaurant called Can Tomate. With its beautiful terrace overlooking the Mediterranean, dimmed lights and relaxed yet trendy ambiance, you know you’re in for a great dining experience the minute you are seated. The food is a mix of Mediterranean, Italian and Spanish, and it’s truly delicious!

+34 646161812
(April – June / September) Monday – Sunday from 8pm – 12am
(July – August): Monday – Sunday from 8pm – 2am
Visa and MasterCard
€45+ per person

Where to go for drinks in Formentera

We finished having dinner at 1am and headed to the famous Bananas&Co for drinks. It’s one of the most stylish bars on the island, which means that if you want to immerse yourself in an in-vogue atmosphere, Bananas&Co has to be on your list.  We had some nice mojito pitchers in beautiful comfy couches. Heads up: this place is very crowded! Cocktails are 10 EUR.

Day 2 in Formentera

Formentera has some REALLY stunning beaches. To check my favorite ones click here. On our second day we decided to go on the most famous one of all:  Playa des Lletes. It’s situated on the northern part of Formentera and it is said to be one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

It’s a very long stretch of white sand that offers incredible crystalline water. No wonder it’s full of tourists and locals, and VIPs come with their yachts to stay all day. There are no sun beds or beach umbrellas, only some wooden beach shacks and restaurants that serve lunch, happy hour and dinner, and make sure you have a reservation! A really cool one is Beso Beach.

As you can imagine, during peak season the beach is extremely busy (the busiest in the island) so if you want to get some space it’s best you go towards the northern end, where there are less people (it’s also where the nudists stay)! To get here, you can either park your car outside (paying a small fee), and walk (walk about 10 – 15 minutes) before you reach your desired spot on the beach, or you could try taking your car in the reserve, hoping to find a parking spot (paying a small fee).

We had lunch on the beach. We brought some delicious bocadillos with patanegra that we had purchased in a cafe in Es Pujols. I think it’s a great idea to take your lunch (especially if you’re going to have late breakfast)! After the day at the beach, sunset happy hour was calling!

Where to have happy hour in Formentera

From what I had heard, sunsets in Formentera are amazing, so we definitely didn’t want to miss our sunset happy hour! Where to go? We headed to the sandier side of Playa Migjorn, in Playa Es Arenales, and went to Flipper and Chiller.  It’s set on two stories, the first floor is dedicated to the restaurant and it’s soaked in funky pink colors, while the upstairs unfolds a lovely rooftop terrace, furnished with white leather sofas (this is where you want to be for the sunset).

We ordered some delicious cocktails and wines, accompanied by fried specialties such as calamari and seafood croquettes and enjoyed the view while great lounge music was floating in the air. The crowd is mixed and the food is yummy, a combination of Mediterranean and local cuisine. Average price for happy hour is 12+ EUR. If I recall correctly, we spent 16 EUR each.

Where to drink at Pilar de la Mola

Our dinner reservation was still hours ahead (we would have dinner around 11 – 11.30pm) so we took the cars and visited the famous lighthouse (only to find out that apart from the lighthouse there really isn’t much to see, and later found out we went to the wrong lighthouse), but we made the most of the situation and visited the market in Pilar de la Mola, only to end up in a super cute wine shop that served delicious cold cuts and cheese boards! Patanegra, local cheeses and local La Savina wine is what we had!

Truly a great place to find. I’m not exactly sure, but I think this place is called Son Seure, anyhow, you will definitely find it, it’s after the market on Avenida de mola. Outside the shop there are wine barrels as tables. Unmistakable place!

Where to have dinner in Es Pujols

For dinner, we had a reservation at Can Loca, located in Es Pujols’ seafront. Equipped with a beautiful seafront view, with a nice breezy atmosphere and a lovely ambiance created by dimmed lights and background music, we were ready for an unforgettable dinner to begin.

I believe the second night in Formentera was the funnest of all. Probably because we were not tired from the trip and we had just relaxed all day long, and Can Loca seriously delivered! As you would expect, seafood is their forte, with delicious tartares, octopus, fried seafood, pastas and fish. Their lobster catalan is TO DIE FOR!

And if you dine in any restaurants in Formentera, always end your dinner with a shot of Jerbas or Caramel Vodka! SO GOOD! The wine that we fell in love with is La Savina, which we had discovered in the small wine shop in Pilar de la Mola right before! More info on Can Loca here.

+34 971 321 883
(April – June / September): Monday – Sunday from 8pm – 12am
(July – August): Monday – Sunday from 8pm – 2am
Visa and MasterCard
€50+ per person

Where to go dancing in Formentera

After dinner, we spent the whole night in the super fun Pachanka club. For those of you who like a disco-pub scene, Pachanka is the place for you. It’s right next to the famous Bananas&Co, and they play commercial music mixed with Latin American vibes. And trust me, if you’re with the right crowd, Pachanka will definitely turn out to be one of your favourite nights in Formentera! 

Quick tip: before entering, you will find a bunch of PRs outside throwing deals at you, always remember that it’s much better to enter with a PR, they will give you and your group discounts (the more the better).

Day 3 in Formentera

To tell you the truth, we kind of slept in that day as we were exhausted for spending the whole night out. So we took it easy and after lunch (our usual bocadillo with patanegra at our shop in Es Pujols), we headed to the famous Cala des Mort, on the south-east side of the Formentera.

The cove is characterised by a small crescent-shaped strip of beach with some rocks, and jaw-dropping waters that will make you feel like you’re in you’re private Mediterranean pool. Just a heads up, the beach is very small, and due to the rocks, it’s also pretty uncomfortable to lay down and sun bathe. It’s not very crowded but it’s hard to find a nice spot. Either way, it’s a must, you cannot miss it!

After this beach, we decided to head to Playa Migjorn, which is a sandier beach and it’s easier to find a comfy place. The water is obviously amazing here as well, maybe my favorite beach in Formentera. Just careful during August, as the water gets warmer and you will find some jelly fish, but no worries!

Where to have aperitivo in Formentera

Playa Migjorn is also very famous for its wonderful puesta de sol, and for El Piratabus!  Piratabus is a wooden shack that serves drinks. Although at first glance you will ask yourself where you’ve arrived, once you hear the music, the laid back atmosphere and try one of El Piratabus’s delicious mojitos/cold beers, you’ll understand what you came for. Oh, and don’t forget to order the yummy nachos with guacamole!

As soon as the sun starts to set, everyone sits on this giant rock and just sips their mojitos and admires the view. Which means that when you see the sun start to go down, get your towel and sit on the rock, fast! It gets populated in minutes!

After our great sunset happy hour, we headed back home and changed for our last night in Formentera! We had our private VIP table reserved for our last night at Pineta Club, which is thought of as the coolest club in Formentera. Honestly, I had a great night, but don’t expect the coolest club in the world, it’s not. Before heading to Pineta, we grabbed a quick bite to eat in Es Pujols (we were running late already)!

Where to go clubbing in Formentera

The whole vibe at Pineta club is stylish and attracts an in-vogue crowd. The music is very commercial, but it also depends on the night. We were there during I’M A RICHBITCH night. To get in, it’s always best to go with a PR (even if you don’t want a VIP table).

If you don’t already have a PR’s number, to book a VIP area just meet with one of the PRs that are regularly outside of the club from 12am every night, it’s also much better in terms of discounts on alcohol! We paid 65/70 Euros each for the VIP table with three vodkas and a champagne. Pretty expensive, but hey you’re in Formentera!

Day 4 in Formentera

Our last day was just a travelling day, we left the apartments at 12pm, returned the cars and headed back to Ibiza to catch our flight. Have you been to Formentera? Any thoughts on your experience? I fell in love with it. It’s a beautiful island, it has stunning beaches and the food is to die for. Funny thing, the people are practically ALL Italians! Just don’t forget to rent your car/scooter, buy your ferry tickets in advance, and absolutely book your luxury catamaran cruise!