Tropicana Eivissa Cala Jondal — Restaurant in Sant Josep de sa Talaia

Oh dear - "the only way is up", one desperately hopes...

Backstory: Tropicana, on Cala Jondal, has long been a favourite of mine, especially when compared with Blue Marlin, Yemanji etc who also share the beach.

Prior visits have been a celebration, in every way. They say all things are in balance - well, that balance came back to bite me on the proverbial this week.

Tropicana is situated on the stoney but spectacular beach of Cala Jondal, roughly 10-minutes from the airport (via a diabolical road - but that being no fault of the venues!, I'm just giving fair warning)

Arriving on a breezy but sunshine day, I stood at the entrance, hoping to catch the attention of a staff member so I might find my reserved table.

Over the course of several minutes numerous staff passed me. Within arms distance (or closer, once or twice...) None carrying plates or drinks, but off to chat importantly with colleagues. It was quite obvious I was waiting to grab someones attention. Eventually, rather than be welcomed, I had to step forward and request assistance. A quick frown from the staff member, a glance around the tables and I was pointed to my reservation (note, not politely led to it) The staff member resumed his chat with his colleague.

On sitting at my table, there was absolutely no follow-up service whatsoever. No "would you like a drink?" Wow.

The table was sizeable - a party. After almost half-an-hour, fellow guests running classically late, I finally managed to catch the eye of a waiter and request both a drink, and perhaps, if it's not too much trouble some pan i alioli... The pan i alioli was placed - and this defies belief - at the other end of the table!

If it can be believed, it went further downhill from there. I watched the staffing levels for a while - was that the problem? Had the team not been sensibly assigned sections, perhaps? Whilst the venue was busy, staffing seemed adequate.

When the full party did arrive, we still had to request service, for our orders to be taken. No "Are you ready to order"...

And the food. Ye Gods.

I left half of mine, donating it to a friend for her dogs, and departed without staying for dessert.

The visit was not the Tropicana I was so familiar and fond of. Granted they're in their last week of the season, but I cannot reconcile that with the appalling service, and sub-par food.

I'll go back. Once more. Next year. Hopefully my visit this week was just a rare catastrophic disaster, but until my next visit I honestly cannot recommend Tropicana - a sad change to my last 9 years of "best place on Cala Jondal when money, attitude, service, and cuisine are all factored in"

Indeed, I am so fond of the venue that it saddens me to leave such a blistering review right at the end of their year. I so wish, for all concerned, I could leave a very different commentary.

Have a lovely break, Juan and team, and may 2020 be a 5*...

Tropicana, located on the VIP beach destination of Cala Jondal in Ibiza, stands out for its traditional Ibicenc hospitality amid more commercial establishments.

My visits to this expansive, feet-in-sand restaurant over nearly two decades have consistently been met with warm welcomes and exceptional service, reflecting its family-run heritage and commitment to memorable dining experiences.

This year, the service was notably excellent, with Maarten and Maria expertly taking care of our diverse group of 10, ensuring a pleasant experience for both adults and children.

The restaurant's broad Mediterranean menu caters to all dietary preferences, offering a variety of choices. The garlic chili prawns were generously portioned, and the "Blind Man's Paella," despite a few unexpected bones, was a highlight for its taste and presentation.

The meal was further enhanced by a selection of excellent, well-priced wines, contributing to a well-rounded dining experience.

The considerate addition of hand towels for meals involving finger foods and the offering of a traditional chupito at the conclusion of our meal highlighted Tropicana's attention to detail and adherence to tradition.

What distinguishes Tropicana is not only the quality of its food or its beautiful setting but its successful combination of excellent service, atmospheric allure, and culinary excellence at a value that is hard to find in Ibiza.

With amenities for children and beachfront sunbeds, Tropicana caters to a full day's experience, encapsulating the essence of Ibiza's luxurious yet relaxed lifestyle.

In a location where sophistication often comes with a high price tag, Tropicana remains a favored exception, promising a return not just to its beautiful shores but to a style of dining that emphasizes warmth, tradition, and...

I booked a table at this restaurant two weeks in advance and received email confirmation from the restaurant itself.

Upon arrival for a 3pm booking there was confusion between staff as to where they were going to seat us. I was told that they have had a problem with their emails recently. We were sat in the bar area for a drink whilst a table was prepared. So after ten minutes of standing around we took a seat expecting to order drinks. Finally we were given a wine list after fifteen minutes. A restaurant table eventually became available and we were seated forty five minutes (3:45pm) after our booking time. We then didn’t receive menus for a further twenty minutes so I have nothing good to say about the customer service in this restaurant. I certainly don’t have high standards but all of the above are surely the basics of running a restaurant. Maybe it may have helped if we were Spanish or owned a yacht…

As for the food, it was ok, nothing extraordinary.

I’m not one to write reviews often but we had planned this meal well in advance as we wanted to get along to the Blue Marlin (next door) to see one of our favourite...