How I Holiday: Hayley Worley On Why Glitzy Party Paradise Ibiza Is Surprisingly Family Friendly
Emma Bishop
Head Of Content: Features And Lifestyle | Urban List
Welcome to How I Holiday, a series of travel stories and recommendations shared by friends of Urban List from Aotearoa and Australia.
Ibiza might be known for its party scene and beach clubs, but its relaxed Boho spirit also makes the Mediterranean island paradise surprisingly ideal for families. Here, co-founder of Sheet Society and chic new sleepwear brand Resting Hayley Worley transports us to long stretches of beach, a down-to-earth fish shack and a family-run paella joint that serves delicious food without the stuffiness of fine dining. Her biggest takeaway? The possibility of holidaying with three kids and successfully balancing family time, friends and fun.
Describe Ibiza in 5 words.
Fun, vibrant, golden, carefree and adventurous.
Why is Ibiza special to you? 
We hadn't been to Ibiza before, and when we started having kids, I thought that ship had truly sailed. Never did I think you could bring three kids to Ibiza, but we did—and we’re so glad we did. The trip was extra special as it really cemented us being able to balance family time, friends and fun.
I’d say the overall spirit and vibe was more bohemian than party. When the party crowd were going to bed, we were just waking up. We were like ships in the night.
What are your favourite venues on the island?
La Formanterra. Specifically, Ses Illetes is a long stretch of beach with beautiful white sand. The turquoise water is unmatched, and parts of it felt like a deserted island—it's not what you’d usually expect from a European beach in summer.
What's a core memory that's stayed with you?
Quite literally sailing off into the sunset. There’s something so special about watching the sun disappear into the ocean, and when you’re out there living on a boat, you feel totally amongst nature.
Where should people eat, drink, stay and play?
Eat:
-
Chez Girdy on La Formanterra has a beautiful mix of fresh Italian food with a Spanish influence. The ceviche was a favourite (along with the countless jugs of Sangria). We went for a late lunch and stayed until things really kicked off around 6pm.
-
Fish Shack in Talamanca has a beautiful local, down-to-earth feeling—a welcome reprieve from the more glitzy Ibiza scene.
Drink:
-
Golden Hour at Sunset Ashram. We went here before our club night and loved the DJ, cocktails and the sunset dancefloor right in the middle of the restaurant.
-
Cala Jondal. We popped in for an afternoon drink as we couldn’t get a dinner reservation. Immaculate vibes and great people-watching.
-
Cafe Del Mar on the mainland. Like, the original Cafe Del Mar. It’s quite touristy, but it was such a vibe being there at the birthplace of chill house music. If those walls could talk…
Stay:
-
We chartered a yacht for the week, which meant we were able to move around quite a bit. It’s about a 30-minute sail from the main port in Ibiza to La Formanterra. We sailed around the island for a few days, up the east coast of Ibiza, then back down to the west coast. Sounds a bit boujee, but between six adults (with four kids), it was actually very comparable to a hotel.
What's the best meal you've ever had in Ibiza?
The paella at Juan Y Andrea. It's family-run, and the food is amazing, but not in a stiff, fine-dining way.
Picture eating freshly grilled seafood with your toes in the sand, cold rosé in hand.
What's the best event on Ibiza’s cultural cal?
For us, it was seeing FISHER at UNIVRS. What I loved about Ibiza is that the club scene felt way more about the music rather than the party. The pure scale of the clubs, the sound systems and lights are unlike anything else.
People coming from all over the world to share a dancefloor is pretty damn special, too.
Where are the best spots to shop?
The Old Town has lots of great boutiques, plus a few more fancy ones on the harbour. From a vibe perspective, we loved shopping at the beach clubs. Cala Jondal had a Jacquemus pop-up when we were there, and the Dolce & Gabbana takeover at Clap House was a leopard lover’s dream.
How I Holiday: Where Pinky And Kamal Founder Natalie Carusi Finds Magic In Bali
How I Holiday: Ellidy Pullin On Why Bali Is The Best Place To Bring A 3-Year-Old
