On the Balearic isle of Ibiza the summer season is beginning to wind down. The legions of leisure seekers won’t officially dwindle until mid-October, when many of the island’s restaurants head off on their half-year hiatus. Moored in Ibiza Town, Monocle correspondent Liam Aldous has been tucking into the changing face of the port city’s food scene, which is seeing a growing number of restaurants turn into perennial offerings – a development that’s pleasing residents just as much as the tourists. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hello and welcome to Food Neighbourhoods on Monocle Radio, where once again we visit the places locals love for their food and drink.
Over on the Balearic isle of Ibiza, the busy summer season is finally beginning to wind down.
The leisure seeking legions won't officially dwindle until mid October, which is the time of year that heralds a half year hiatus for many of the island's restaurants.
Our correspondent Liam Aldis has been moored in Ibiza Town, tucking into the changing face of the port city's food scene, which, as he discovered, is seeing a growing number of restaurants turn into perennial offerings.
A development that is pleasing residents just as much as the tourists.
When you head into Ibiza Town for a good bite or even a tidy drink, one quickly crashes into a bit of a conundrum.
How is it that a place so full of people looking to sate their hedonistic appetites somewhere so awash with money and swimming in the culture of spectacle, that there are still so few quality ground, worthwhile restaurants to be found?
You know that type of place where you can really taste the love in the food.
There's a double edged answer to this frustrating question.
On one side, there are the brute consequences of a tourism economy that caters to seasonal crowds, perpetually geared to the pursuit of big summer profit margins.
But then comes the counterpunch.
More recently, things have actually started getting better here in Ibiza Town.
The gastronomic needle is gently tipping towards authenticity and quiet quality.
And I'm here to sift through all the noise and non starters and show you which tables are worth pulling up.
A chair at the capital of Ibiza, affectionately known as Ibiza Town, to visitors.
But I visa in the local Ibisenc dialect is a centuries old port settlement with a picturesque walled citadel that has gradually expanded into a small city.
Our first dry port of call, so to speak, rings a more familiar tune.
Teatro Pereira is both old and new again.
Built in 1899, this year it reopened after a bold renovation, reinventing itself as a dinner and show destination with a kitschy new musical called Hippie Heaven, which profiles the cultural impact of the island's 60s and 70s immigration.
This is the kind of place, glitzy and garish, that many people think of when lazily clutching to Ibiza stereotypes.