Can you believe Café del Mar in Ibiza turns 45 this year?

By creammagazine, June 10, 2025

Picture this. It’s a Friday night, close to sunset. You’re on the beach with select friends. There isn’t a worry in the world. No work the next day; in fact, you’re on holiday, on an island far, far away. Just you, your mates, the bright sun about to burst into reds and purples on the horizon, and a mesmerising soundtrack of Balearic beats in the background. On the scene are a few pop stars you recognise, on holiday themselves, but really on hiatus for the purpose of tax evasion. It’s a somewhat decadent but certainly magical scene that you might well have experienced, had you been around in 1980 when Café del Mar first opened in Ibiza.

Of course, many of us weren’t around then, and some of us haven’t had the pleasure of visiting the Balearic Islands yet, but we have all enjoyed our share of sunsets with friends, on the beach or on the balcony, often accompanied by laidback grooves and chilled beats. In fact, when we recall what great music came out of the 1990s, out thoughts usually include those classic Café del Mar compilations on in the background at parties, in the car, the office even; helping make things just that little more… chill.

In our busy, techno-driven, info-overloaded age, we couldn’t think of a more appropriate time for chill to make a comeback (or was it always on the cleverer ones’ shuffle list?).

Impressively, the actual Café del Mar venue turns 45 this year. Fashions and decor, of course, have changed since 1980, but the glorious, chilled vibe has always been there, and still exists, albeit with some fine refurbishment.

The venue recently reopened with a redesigned DJ booth and fully kitted-out AV system that reinforces the venue’s commitment to sonic innovation. Later this year, a newly refurbished kitchen with elevated culinary offerings will also launch.

If you don’t have the dosh to get to the actual place, you can always continue to enjoy the sunsets from home, and to that classic Café del Mar since a special 45th anniversary compilation is soon to be released. Highlighting the 45th season and milestone, the comp will feature 30 tracks from absolute legends of the chill/ambient/groove genres, including Röyksopp, Frankie Knuckles, Derrick May, Moby, Todd Terje, and – taking things way back – trance guru, A Guy Called Gerald.

With more releases on the horizon, fans can look forward to a fresh set of mixes, vinyl re-pressings of classic Café del Mar compilations, and their new artist album series, kicking off with Pig&Dan on June 13th. The impressive set fuses P&D’s signature techno-edged soundtrack with the ambient but immersive ethos of Café del Mar’s chill heritage.

A globally recognised institution well-known for capturing the spirit of the Balearic Islands through their sunset sessions, iconic events, and world-renowned soundtracks, Café del Mar continues to be synonymous with the Ibiza lifestyle. Refurbishments and reinvigorated soundtracks should only draw followers and fellow travellers there once more.

And now that we’re all turning 30, 40, 50, we can start planning landmark birthday parties of our own, preferably on an island with those glorious aforementioned sunsets, soundtracks and select friends. Ibiza, anyone?

Antonino Tati

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