More and more people are spending long stretches in Ibiza working remotely. And more and more are discovering that not every café is right for opening a laptop.
This guide is about exactly that: what to look for before you sit down, which areas work, and how to do it without wearing out your welcome.
What makes a café good for working
Five things, and they’re not always what you’d expect.
Accessible power outlets. They’re the first thing to run out. If the place has two and they’re behind the counter, you’ve got two hours of battery life and that’s it.
Stable wifi, not fast wifi. For a video call it doesn’t matter if you’re getting 300 Mbps if it drops every ten minutes. Ask whether it works well for calls before you commit to a meeting.
Smart noise levels. Total silence is worse than it sounds: you can hear everything and you won’t even dare type. The ideal is a constant background murmur.
A real table. A small round coffee table can’t fit a laptop, notebook, cup, and charger.
Long hours with no break. Many places close at midday. If you’re going to be there for four hours, check that first.
The areas
Ibiza town and the port have the highest concentration of cafés. Great atmosphere and plenty of choice, but in summer they fill with tourists and finding a free table at eleven is tricky.
Marina Botafoch works well for meetings and for impressing a client on a video call with the backdrop. Higher prices.
The inland villages, like Santa Gertrudis or Sant Joan, are the quiet option. Fewer people, more tables available, with the downside that you need a car.
The south and the airport road is the most practical option if you’re staying in the area or have a flight that day. Easy parking and longer opening hours.
The season changes everything
This is specific to Ibiza and you won’t find it in a generic digital nomad guide.
In summer, from June to September, the cafés in the centre are for tourists. Sitting at a table for four hours in August isn’t realistic or fair on the place. If you want to work, look for spots outside the tourist centre or go very early.
From October to May the island is a different place. There’s space, there’s calm, and the people around you actually live here. That’s when Ibiza truly works as a place to work. If you’re thinking about spending some time here, check out our guide to Ibiza in winter to get a feel for what the island is like off-season.
Etiquette, which matters more than you’d think
Working in a café is a silent agreement, and it’s worth keeping to it. Especially on a small island where you’re going to come back.
Order in proportion to how long you stay. One coffee doesn’t entitle you to four hours at a table. If you’re going to be there all morning, have breakfast and order something later.
Avoid peak hours. Between 1pm and 3pm, the table you’re at is the one the place needs to serve food. Don’t be that person.
Headphones always. And if you have a long call, step outside.
Ask before taking a large table. Especially if you’re on your own.
Clear up when you leave. It seems obvious. It isn’t.
If you follow this, most places will end up knowing you by name. And in winter, that counts for a lot.
Working in the south, next to the salt flats
If you’re staying around Sant Jordi, Playa d’en Bossa or the airport area, you don’t need to head into town.
We’re open every day from 9am to 8pm, without closing at midday, and we have our own car park. That takes care of the two biggest frustrations: the midday break and parking.
You’ve got breakfast, a full menu to stay for lunch without moving, fresh juices and coffee. And when you’ve had three hours of screen time and need a break, the Sweet Corner is right there.
You also have the Ses Salines Natural Park five minutes away, which is priceless for clearing your head in the mid-afternoon. If you haven’t been, here’s our guide to what to see in the park.