Chilling Out at KM5

It had been almost 10 years since I last went to Ibiza, and there is something to be said about club 18 - 30 holidays and not really getting the opportunity to scratch beneath the surface of Ibiza, to explore it’s hidden sights and uncover the seemingly exclusive nightclubs and venues. This trip however, was different, not least because I was staying a good distance away from the craziness of San Antonio, but because the entire trip had been designed around a tight budget, designed to spend less on the flights while investing the savings in some luxury accommodation (with a pool).

San Agustín, which is situated on a hilltop overlooking the west coast of Ibiza, was my home, and the luxury villa in this charming and untouched area was the base from which I would explore Ibiza properly. Over my five day holiday my friends and I was able to enjoy beautiful seafood and swimming (while dodging the jellyfish) at Cala Carbo, a wonderfully secluded beach which was around 10 minutes’ drive from San José, excellent evening meals and people watching in Ibiza town as well as a stand out and totally unexpected night at a roadside venue we knew only as KM5.

I have to admit to being considerable out of the loop when it came to what artists or DJ’s were worth seeing in Ibiza and if we were going to part 40+ Euro to get into a club, what sort of night we should be looking at. When a recommendation came to hunt down a late night roadside bar, which was near Ibiza airport, I couldn’t help but think it was going to turn into something from Tarantino’s Dusk till Dawn movie.

But even after the drive at midnight, and being directed down a dusty roadside track to a parking space by a staff member welding a touch, I wasn’t prepared for just what was in store. This was no roadside bar, it was an oasis.

We walked into the venue (which, unusual for Ibiza we thought, was free to get into), and were welcomed by an incredible array of open-air bars, beautiful Bedouin style tents, comfortable sofas, tables which doubled at light boxes, lush palms, candles and colourful pillows. Further in, there was a very high end restaurant which split out to the lounge garden as well as an indoor bar complete with DJ and a live saxophonist, paying a chilled house set.

With the superb soundtrack, the attentive staff, the setting and the fashionable, yet unpretentious mix of cocktail sipping revellers, KM5 felt incredibly exclusive, and it was definitely one of our best nights out. The drinks weren’t cheap, but for such an enchanting setting, this place is essential.

KM5 is situated around 5 kilometres from Ibiza town, on the road to San José just after the airport. Take care as it’s easy to miss. Just look out for the roadside side or view their website to book a table: http://www.km5-lounge.com/

This post was written by Simon from cheapflights.co.uk (the nice people who sponsored our opening party competition earlier this year!) who visited Ibiza in September 2011. Simon stayed at this 7 bedroom villa in San Augustin.Images from superficialyvulgar.>