Paradise Lost Ibiza is a rum and cocktail bar named after Milton’s poem about the struggles between good and evil in the Garden of Eden. Some even say Ibiza is the Garden of Eden itself; in 650 BC, the Phoenicians created a port in Ibiza Town named “Iboshim” after Bes, the Egytian God of music and dance and the enemy of evil who fought the bad spirits and banished snakes. The Phoenicians believed Bes had blessed the island because they found no trace of snakes or poisonous creatures, like the Garden of Eden.
Paradise Lost Ibiza is in its eighth year, celebrating the good and bad in us all – it’s a refuge from the world and a utopia of perfectly mixed cocktails in a relaxed and unassuming environment tucked away in the back streets of Sa Penya in the old town of Ibiza.
I caught-up with Captain Jim to discuss his cocktails, the bar’s eclectic musical taste, and what’s happening this summer at Paradise Lost.
Hello Captain Jim
Alright Bekkaroooo
So, how long have you been in Ibiza?
Erm about 24 years.. (I think?)
What was your first job when you got here?
Spacepods… don’t ask … pre-smartphone, if I told you, you wouldn’t believe it
You were the head barman at Aura for six years. Aura was great, particularly for the locals, until it closed in 2012. Was that what inspired you to open Paradise Lost?
Well, like Aura, I wanted somewhere for the locals and the tourists to hang out—a cosy bar with great liquor and good tunes—and there wasn’t one, especially in Ibiza Town, so I opened Paradise Lost. It’s also the sister bar to Paradise Palms in Edinburgh.
People might not know Paradise Palms. It’s also a record label. Tell us about Paradise Palms
Paradise Palms is in Edinburgh. It’s a bit like Paradise Lost Ibiza – but in Scotland. There’s a recording studio above the bar where they run their record label from. The label has been going since 2017.
Where can you hear and buy their music?
Bandcamp https://paradisepalmsrecords.bandcamp.com/.. and on vinyl available from For The Record Ibiza
Any exciting things happening at the bar this year?
It’s always exciting, and I can’t really say too much as I don’t want to give the game away, but it’s always good!
So who’s your favourite resident DJ ?
Haha.. well you of course Miss BOSH !
That was obviously a trick question cos the music is ALWAYS top-notch.
But you can decide for yourself..
Paradise Lost Ibiza is open seven days a week in the summer and weekends in the winter as well as open for private events throughout the year.
Paradise Lost Radio Show broadcasts every Thursday at 12 noon on Ibiza Sonica FM (Ibiza time) and past episodes are on uploaded on Mixcloud.com
Get in touch: [email protected]
