Can Carlitos sits at the waterfront in La Savina, close enough to the harbour that the gap between sea and table feels genuinely short. It is one of Formentera's most consistently praised restaurants — Michelin-listed, frequently full, and worth booking ahead. The cooking is Mediterranean with serious technique: arroz cremoso (a rich, creamy rice with seafood), grilled local fish, and tapas that show more imagination than the average beach-town kitchen. The ingredients are well-sourced and the execution is careful.
The setting is part of the appeal — a terrace with harbour views, good for a long lunch that slides into the afternoon. Prices are on the higher side by Formentera standards, which is to say comfortably expensive. You are not coming here to eat cheaply; you are coming to eat well in a place where the surroundings match the food. Reserve in advance if you're visiting in summer — walk-ins are possible at lunch but risky by the evening sitting.