Weds Wrap – Ibiza (‘Beefa’), In A Wheelchair, Clubbing Included.

Last week was my annual holiday with my family and friends, 11 of us stayed in the luxury villa, Can-Morna, in San Carles, Ibiza and originally it was not adapted for wheelchair use although it was all on one level.

The owners however couldn’t have been more accommodating and even adapted the wet room by removing a screen, flattening the entrance and adding a grab rail. I used a portable toilet frame and portable bed rails (details here), which we transported for free on BA (click here for our details on accessible flying). So the villa was great, eventually.

Now I went years ago to ‘Beefa’ so my memory was hazy of places to go but I knew the North was relatively quiet, Ibiza Town was for an older crowd and St Antonio was for the young party animals – this still held true! But one thing had changed and that was the accessibility of the island. Every restaurant we went to had ramps and many had disabled toilets. There was also a good taxi service with many wheelchair accessible vehicles. The people couldn’t be more helpful but then we were spending a lot of money. Since the import of Russian wealth (amongst others) Ibiza is at least comparable to London prices. If anyone knows of cheaper Ibiza options contact us!?

As far as clubbing goes I did get into a couple of places (see below) but there’s also a good article on this at Disability Horizons, see it here. So here’s where we went, that was accessible with disabled facilities:

I’m starting with the best place we visited as it was a-maz-ing! It is Lio which is a cabaret, club & restaurant.

The food was really good but the entertainment is the highlight. apparently it’s different every night and when we arrived we had a number of singers gather around our table and they each sang  a different song to each one of us – beautiful and strangely moving!! The acts consisted of an amazing Flamenco dancer who emerged from a dark veil and dry ice, a man in drag who climbed a rope in different ways to the music ‘I’ll survive’ – depicting a widow enjoying her freedom from her dead husband. There was also a multiple couple, Dirty Dancing dance and a song from Cabaret the musical, where the lead girl sang whilst doing a ‘crab’ walk – impossible you’d think.

Lio was expensive but a unique experience which was ‘racy’ in parts but it definitely puts a smile on your face. It is accessed via a steep ramp at the back entrance and there are disabled toilets. I can’t recommend it highly enough and look out for the fat rich men with beautiful young women! They have to get 3 BBS Ticks for originality & style, fantastic!!

We also went to a number of accessible restaurants and here’s a sample:

Bambuddha is an outdoor restaurant with bamboo canopy and surrounding, that with the combination of dimmed lighting gave it a very calming atmosphere – dimmed lights could have been a bit brighter… The food was really good, the menu is “MediterrAsian.” “Every dish is delicately and uniquely flavoured, blending Mediterranean and Oriental ingredients to give one of the finest sensorial experiences.” Yellow Sea Bass Curry seemed to be the best dish. The only weird thing was the music, which was recognisable but had extra long instrumental intros?? Thought it was a new Ibiza thing but we didn’t encounter it anywhere else – at least it made ‘guess the intro’ easier!

The entrance to the restaurant is flat and had two big double doors, so you can easily get in if someone holds them open. There are 3 steps down into the main dining areas and after that the restaurant is all on one level with great smooth flooring. There is a disabled toilet but you have to go through their shop at the back to get to it… Shops in restaurants is always confusing but definitely an Ibiza thing. They get 2.5 BBS Ticks.

Next we went to El Auyon which “has been, for the past 15 years, the only enclave where to eat Moroccan and Asian food as well as the most exquisite Mediterranean and international food.” Although the waitress serving us was clearly on something,  this was a really lovely restaurant. You could sit both inside or outside at the restaurant, we sat out and had to get down 3 steps to sit in the garden but other than that it was flat. At the entrance of the restaurant there was a ramp, but you need them to open the door for you as it has a Moroccan style opening within the door. We spent the evening telling jokes mine was about a baby Polar Bear……….. If you contact us I’ll tell you the whole joke – it’s v. funny. The Tagine was great with really fluffy couscous, one of the best meals out and they also get 2.5 BBS Ticks.

We also went to Can Curreu which “offers all food lovers and those seeking a quiet and peaceful place, unique style and quality” – The cocktails are the thing I remember most from this restaurant, although the food was delicious the strawberry daiquiri’s stole my heart… Getting into this restaurant you have to use a ramp which takes you up to the hotel pool and round to the restaurant, they do have a disabled toilet,within the hotel and I don’t believe there were any steps inside. We were all feeling rather full by this time but could still admire the beautiful sunset from the restaurant terrace. They got 2 BBS Ticks.

We of course had to try some clubs the first was KM5 (5Km from Ibiza town – get it???). We ate their Argentinian beef speciality which was very tender but you really go for the club experience which included a magician at your table – v.good if not a bit intrusive – a fashion show from the shop within the club and the music, which was ‘Dirty/Electro/Acid House’ (click to sample), with some chilled sounds at times.

It was a lively atmosphere and scrumptious food and like the other restaurants it is largely outdoors and they suggest bringing something warm to wear in the evenings as the area not covered by the canopy can feel quite cold.

The front of the restaurant is all gravel so try to park as close to the entrance as you can. The best way for someone in a  wheelchair to get in is through a side entrance, so let them know your coming and they’ll have someone ready to push you through this VIP entrance. There were no steps within the restaurant and they had a disabled toilet, 2.5 BBS Ticks.

Lastly you have to go to the beach bars in Ibiza where some great DJs play alongside the restaurants and bars, this is a good guide to the accessible ones – Ibiza Inside. One famous beach is Blue Marlin who said they were accessible but I didn’t go as we went to Nikki Beach instead. The food was ok but the music was better and the staff were all good looking & impeccably dressed in white. I installed myself by the bar where ‘people watching’ is best. The highlight was when a Russian ‘businessman’ bought everyone champagne for his birthday. He was of course surrounded by beautiful girls and put the party of City/Essex Boys to shame and for some reason some of the staff dressed as Superman for him?? Nikki Beach is very accessible, expensive but definitely worth a visit. They get 3 BBS Ticks just for the fact that everything is impeccably white & good fun!!

Back to reality now in a grey London. I’m definitely going back to Ibiza as I was impressed with the accessibility and maybe I can pick up  Russian Oligarch?? See you next week.