Es Paradis and the words ‘the most beautiful club in the world’ are often mentioned in the same sentence, and while – to be perfectly honest – the exterior of the club looks like it could do with a bit of a paint job, the interior is as striking as ever.

Designed by owner Pepe Aguirre and artist Lluís Güell of Café Del Mar fame, Es Paradis opened to much fanfare in 1975, making it one of the oldest clubs on the island today. With spectacular white interiors – think roman style columns, domed marquees, opulent tile work and a sunken dance floor along with stunning lush greenery, its tagline of ‘Divine Beauty’ beneath their heart-shaped apple logo seems quite appropriate.

The addition of the mammoth 120 tonne glass pyramid ceiling didn’t come until 1990 however, when (sadly) all nightclubs were required to enclose areas where music was played. These days, the pyramid acts as a signal to indicate the club is coming to a close, as the first waves of the morning’s natural bright sunlight streams in.

With over ten bars, a boutique and four VIP areas (including the all-new Prive Divine beside the main dance floor in 2008), it can be said that there is literally something for everyone inside Es Paradis, but the club itself has become synonymous with its famous water parties.

During the Fiesta Del Agua, giant fountains see the club become more of a water park as 80 000 gallons of water are pumped into the room turning it into a giant swimming pool – certainly a novel way to spend your Ibiza night – so popular they are now held twice a week. Experienced water party goers will advise you to bring a bathing suit and get changed just before the event, leaving your clothes in the cloak room so you won’t need to go home looking like a drowned rat – and remember that Es Paradis has one of the more strict door policies, so you won’t be allowed in beach gear. We can’t help but wonder where the water ends up at the end of a night?

AMNESIA. By day, it’s easy to dismiss this oversized whitewashed building on the side of the road as just another Ibicencan finca. By night, it’s plain to see why it’s retained the title of International Dance Music Awards Best Global Club for two consecutive years. This is not just another club – this is Amnesia.

Whether you’re in the guest list, VIP or regular ticket sales queue, the atmosphere is electric. With multi coloured lasers circling the sky above, Bat-signal style declaring the club open for business, all eyes and thoughts are on one thing – getting through the unassuming front doors. Then there’s only one decision left for you to make. Left or right?

To the left is the famed terrace – once open-air but now enclosed it still retains a greenhouse-esque feel thanks to huge palm trees, decorative bronze camel statues and a cavernous glass roof that allows warm natural light to stream in come sunrise. With bars scattered around the perimeter and a multi-layered dance floor complete with two enormous podiums in the centre – generally reserved for the professionals thank you very much – it’s very much a meeting point for locals and workers, with plenty of nooks and crannies to lose yourself in. Musically, expect a house or experimental flavour, leaving the harder edged stuff to the main room.

Source: Virtual Ibiza

Just one glance at those two very famous cherries that make up the club’s logo makes you think of so much more than a piece of fruit – they have come to virtually define the landscape of Ibiza nightlife. What could well be one of the biggest clubbing brands in the world, and certainly one of the biggest on the island, Pacha Ibiza has been around for over 30 years (since 1973) so one thing is for sure – these folks know a thing or two about what they’re doing!

The beautiful whitewashed finca-style building might not look like much by day, however at night it literally comes alive. The white exterior takes on a pink, blue or green hue depending on the shade of floodlight illuminating the building, creating a warm glow that can be seen from across the harbour – a glow that definitely announces that Pacha is open for business.

While the outside is aglow and the grand entrance changes appearance every evening with new décor announcing the evening’s theme and guests, it’s the inside of Pacha that everyone is clamouring to get into and of course where all the real action takes place – and thankfully for those lucky enough to live on the island, it’s open all year round.

With more nooks, crannies, alcoves, corners, staircases, corridors and secret doors – just like your good old every day traditional Ibicencan finca – than you could ever hope for in the perfect club, Pacha is also home to multiple bars, many dance floors, a funky rooom, pool tables, podiums, an exclusive VIP area, outdoor terrace, sushi restaurant, merchandise store and the famous Pacha dancers – including some perched in gigantic champagne saucers!

One of the most amazing things about Pacha is its ability to reinvent itself night after night – just like the Madonna of clubs! Scores of workers spend the entire day transforming the venue into a new club, to suit each theme of the promoters, from the current star of the weekly roster, the French fancy F**k Me I’m Famous to Ibiza Sunday stalwart, Flower Power, and everything in between.

Legend has it that the whitewashed wall as are repainted each and every morning after the DJ has played his final tune and the last clubber collected their belongings from the cloak room in order to maintain the pristine whiteness and that there’s a special secret room below the DJ booth for only the über-VIPs.

SPACE. There are clubs, there are super clubs – and then there is Space. A staggering six-room extravaganza built across three levels, Space began its life as just your average conference centre in Playa Den Bossa, beginning its metamorphosis into über-club in 1989 when Pepe Rosello took over the venue and transformed it into a discotheque… the discotheque that would pave the way for daytime clubbing and set standards all the other clubs would be aiming to reach for years to come.

But let’s skip ahead a-l-m-o-s-t 20 years, to 2008 when the club is about to throw open its doors to eager clubbers, DJs, music enthusiasts, performers, celebrities – oh let’s just be honest, everyone in Ibiza! The legendary opening and closing parties incorporate a giant outdoor arena, which on regular days operates as a car park, and six other rooms.

Source: Virtual Ibiza

The Rock Bar is nothing less than an Ibiza institution and one where you’re likely to meet the real (or more precisely, adopted) locals of Ibiza. Located in the centre of the port’s main drag and next door to Base Bar, it’s one of the biggest – not to mention busiest – bars in the area and even has indoor seating to accommodate the overspill from the busy terrace area.

Check out the photos adorning the walls inside to get a feel for the celebs and international party people who have traipsed through the Rock throughout the course of its history, and don’t be surprised if you see the same faces turn up year after year – the Rock crew inspires a seriously loyal following.

As far as the crew are concerned, you won’t meet a more eclectic bunch on the whole island – at least not all gathered in one spot night after night. Get chatting to one of the two Sids (that’s Young Sid and Old Sid to those in the know) to hear tales of Ibiza’s past that you couldn’t make up if you tried, make Pacha’s Funky Room mastermind Vaughan (the cat in the hat) your new best friend or swap stories with Nick while you sip your cerveza. It’s these characters that give the Rock its personality and the keep the famous Ibiza spirit alive. They’ve been there, done that and probably wouldn’t be caught dead in the tshirt.

Be sure to get in early to get yourself a premium seat on the terrace and check out the pre-club parades – we suggest taking a seat between the two doors and beneath the illuminated sign so you can enjoy the music coming from the resident DJs inside – The Rock is a favourite haunt of the We Love gang in particular, so don’t be surprised if you see some of Space’s big names jumping behind the decks for an impromptu spin.

Source: Virtual Ibiza

Don’t be fooled by the seemingly seedy surroundings of Limelight – while it might seem slightly chaotic as you walk towards to ghoulish green light emanating from the exterior, once you’ve taken a seat down the side of the building, the hospitality and amazing service from the Limelight crew will make sure you do more than simply stop for a drink or to purchase your club tickets.

With icy cold drinks – sometimes a little difficult to source in Ibiza during the peak of summer – and fresh chupitos constantly delivered to your table, you won’t mind being wedged into your seating like sardines. In fact, after a couple of shots you’ll probably even start to prefer it that way – Ibiza is all about the love right?

Source: Virtual Ibiza

The most recent addition to the strip, Match Bar is a very chic and swish affair – dare we say it’s even quite grown up! At the beginning of the busy frontline, it’s modern façade makes most of the other bars in the area appear slightly rustic in comparison.

Orange and black branding and sleek décor in keeping with Match’s sister bars in the UK make this easily identifiable to visitors from the UK, but no matter where you hail from, look beyond the exterior and you’ll find the cocktails here are second to none. Think icy cold caipiroskas, fresh minty mojitos and delicious daquiris while you chill out on the comfy couches on the terrace – these are the factors that are seeing Match fast becoming a destination bar after only one year of operations.

The bar is up and running by 6pm, a good three hours before the rest of the area comes to life. The busy terrace area is drenched in sunlight while the surroundings feel tranquil and tropical – such a huge difference from its after dark alter ego!

To call Base Bar a hive of activity would be an understatement – you can practically feel the buzz before you even take a seat! With it’s famous neon signs proudly declaring its presence in the trees and above the door, it’s easy to see why Base is a popular meeting point in the port – you can’t miss it!

You’ll find charismatic owner, long time island resident Jason Bull (also the man who brought you the über-hip Es Vive hotel) on the scene to give you tips on the hottest parties, clubs and places on the island and (in our opinion) quite possibly the best looking bar staff (male and female!) on the island are on hand to cater to your every drinking need. No need to leave your chair once you’ve settled in – table service is swift and steady so you’ll never be thirsty.

While the staff may be truly cosmopolitan, the crowd at Base Bar tends to be more on the British side. You’ll find yourself rubbing shoulders – quite literally in the hectic month of August – with the who’s who of the clubbing industry, from promoters and managers to world famous DJs.

And speaking of DJs? Base Bar is famous for nurturing up and coming talent, with previous residents including Jo Mills, Sarah Main and Andy Baxter. In 2008, DJ Ben Santiago makes a welcome return to the decks each and every night. While he may seem hidden away inside the tiny DJ booth, tucked just inside the doorway, his music certainly isn’t, pumped out to the busy terrace, treating visitors to Base to diverse and eclectic sets fusing his signature chunky tech-house style with his love of classic funk, jazz, reggae, rock and soul.

The official pre-party home to Miss Moneypenny’s, Hed Kandi and Fierce Angel, there’s no such thing as a quiet night at Base Bar. Get there early – it’s definitely one of the busiest bars in the port strip and if you want to score a ringside seat for the parades, we’d suggest arriving around midnight so you don’t miss out.

Source: Virtual Bar

At the very end of the famous port strip, sits Reunion Bar Lounge, with Ulises Braun at the helm and at your service. Famous for his Ibiza Reunion parties in Zurich in the winter, Ulises spends the summer nights schmoozing and charming visitors and locals alike and making sure your night spent sipping cocktails on the Reunion terrace is one to remember. Or, depending on the amount of Hierbas you’ve consumed, perhaps those memories might be a little hazy the next morning!

There’s no DJ – but let’s be honest, you’ve got the rest of the night for that sort of thing really. If you want to claim that you’ve had your very own Ibiza pre-party, Reunion is also available to hire for private functions, so for one night at least that coveted port-side location can be all yours.

Source: Virtual Ibiza

On one of the most prominent corners in Ibiza’s busy port, you simply can’t miss this iconic institution. As partof the El Divino family, you’ll easily spot the club night logos being projected high up onto the top of the building, like ibiza’s very own bat signal, calling clubbers to attention as they begin their night.
Zoo is the official home to El Divino’s pre-parties, most famously Salvacion on Tuesday nights. With the beauty of having a view into the square or out onto the water, you’ll most likely be enticed into the bar with the offer of two-for-one cocktails, free shots or even bottles of champagne or jugs of sangria for big groups – and once you’re sitting down, the people watching will probably prove to hard to break away from.

A premium place to buy your disco tickets, at the height of summer you’ll also find Zoo is a magnet for good looking guys and girls – sometimes it’s more like a scene from an MTV film clip than simply a bar in Ibiza – just the way we like it. Table service is mandatory – though there is an inside area to Zoo, it’s rarely used – the terrace is the place to see and be seen.

Source: Virtual Ibiza