Formentera's Best Restaurants

Perhaps our all-time favourite Formentera restaurant, Es Molí de Sal was a salt mill in its previous life and is set high up on a rocky outcrop just south of Playa de Ses Illetes with superb views up and down the coast. The menu skews traditional with classics such as calamares and croquetas but all cooked to a very high standard. Don’t skip the simple-yet-outrageously-good vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce for dessert (a hit with adults and kids) before flopping on their chill-out deck for sunset.

For a long family lunch, Juvia is ideal as the kids can run up and down the beach while you sit back and sip your hierbas. The staff really make families feel welcome and the food is a notch above the standard for Es Pujols. This resort is a bit overdeveloped for us but it’s worth heading here for this hidden gem of a restaurant on the edge of town. They also have a cute chiringuito bar that’s open for lunch and dinner with a more casual menu and cocktails.

In the small village of Sant Ferran, this unpretentious spot has been serving up traditional, hearty fare for over twenty years. The portions are always super generous and the menu has some of the classics such as Bullit de Peix , arroz a la banda, roast sucking pig and Xai amb pebre (fried lamb with sweet peppers and sobrasada). This is our go-to for something cosy and authentic  and afterwards it’s nice to head for a wander in the village with its pretty church square and summer night market.

With seasoned Spanish chef Nandu Jubany at the helm, it’s no wonder Es Còdol Foradat is the foodies’ choice. His son also did a great job on the interior design, hitting that luxe chiringuito vibe. The menu mixes local island dishes with Spanish favourites and a big focus on seafood. After lunch, the tiny coves here make the perfect spot for a post-meal siesta beside some of the clearest waters on the island. Just don’t leave without trying their epic take on a traditional Balearic bread pudding, Greixonera.

Hidden in the port, Can Carlitos’ location might be unassuming but step out the back and you’ll find a lovely beachside terrace positioned perfectly for a Balearic sunset. As the sun comes down, it gets pretty lively with some great music. Part of Jubany’s empire of restaurants, it’s an ideal option for a farewell supper before heading back to Ibiza. Just don’t forget to book ahead if you want to guarantee a much-coveted sunset table!

Sharing its name with the tranquil cove it sits beside, Es Caló offers some excellent traditional fare in this less-visited corner of Formentera. Serving one of our favourite paellas on the island, the locally caught prawns and flame-grilled squid are also always excellent. It has gorgeous panoramic views of the limestone cliffs and that classic Formentera turquoise water and makes a great stop for a lunch if you’re en route to La Mola market.

Formentera has a large Italian population and subsequently some excellent Italian restaurants. This spot in the main village of San Francesc has a sweet terrace and is lovely for a chilled dinner and a bowl of handmade pasta. Work up an appetite pre-dinner with some of the boutique shopping close by (we always swing by Manebí) and save some room for a post-dinner gelato (we alternate between La Mukkeria and Ladacrem!).

On Migjorn, the island’s longest beach that runs along the south of the island, new boutique hotel Hannah has replaced Casa Pacha  and brought a new go-to restaurant to this part of the island. While the menu is more on the pricey side, the food is worth it with its mix of wood-fired rice dishes, Basque grilled meats and an array of raw plates.

Hidden down a small street in the main town of Sant Francesc, on a balmy evening there is nowhere much better than Can Carlos’ twinkling terrace. It has the same owners as two of our go-to Ibiza restaurants (Amalur and Amalurino) and here the menu is an elegant take on Mediterranean classics including fresh pasta, local fish and a tiramisu you will want to leave space for.