From the hot new openings to hidden gems to island institutions.
Whether Ibiza ever went out of fashion is debatable, but there’s no question that the White Isle is currently enjoying something of a renaissance. It has witnessed a string of scene-shifting new openings in recent years – like the luxe Six Senses in Portinatx, on the island’s north coast, which unveiled its chic Beach Caves in 2022, and The Standard in the Old Town. And though Ibiza will forever be associated with hedonism, the original clubber’s paradise has much to offer a different breed of pleasure-seeker these days. This summer, a wave of new restaurants, like the Ibiza outpost of Mayfair favourite Maine, and a pop-up from Michelin star chef Nieves Barragán, is securing its position as a foodie destination, as well as a party one.
Designer Silvia Astore, who splits her time between London and her hideaway in the hills around Sant Josep de sa Talaia, has long been hooked on the free-spirited lifestyle unique to the island, and confirms it is humming with renewed energy. “There has always been a hype on the island,” she says. “However it has definitely been thriving. There are new openings constantly, and now with many more fashion-based events we are definitely seeing a different crowd starting to discover the island’s magic.” Sure enough, model (and former British Vogue cover star) Mona Tougaard, shoe designer Amina Muaddi and Rihanna’s stylist Jahleel Weaver are just some of the industry insiders to have been spotted there on trips recently.
Within months of The Standard opening in 2022, the hotel, which overlooks the castle in the Old Town, had already played host to bright young things like actors Florence Pugh, Sheila Atim and Will Poulter, and designers Maximilian Davis and Chet Lo. Vogue’s own Rosie Vogel-Eades, global director of talent and casting, fell for the cute rooftop bar and pool when she checked in. For 2023, it’s added Casa Privada, a 14-suite rentable villa that has all the mod-cons of a luxury hotel (including a yoga studio) with added privacy – perfect for a big group trip. Sir Joan is similarly well-placed for pals looking to take advantage of the party scene: it overlooks Ibiza port and the buzzy restaurants and bars of the Old Town, and has the vibe of a stylish music exec’s office, all wood-panelled walls and music history books. (Breakfast there – a feast of nourishing salads, pastries, indulgent egg dishes and more – runs on until 1pm for those with particularly sore heads.) Meanwhile, three years after its opening, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay remains an oasis of relaxation, still close enough to the clubs to be a party pit-stop but so pristine and serene it could be on a different planet from Pacha – especially now it’s home to its own Six Senses spa and fine dining Spanish pop-up, Gusto, from Sabor chef Nieves Barragán.
If you’re looking to get away from it all rather than dive headfirst into the heart of the action, choose one of the island’s charming agriturismos instead of a traditional resort. Can Domo is impossibly chilled, within walking distance of the beach at Cala Llonga, and something of a foodie destination in the evenings. Voguecontributor Pippa Vosper – who is among the recently converted, having visited Ibiza for the first time for a wedding – recommends Can Sastre (“chic and quiet and with the rustic decor I hoped to find on the island”), and has already earmarked Los Jardines de Palerm, a small boutique hotel in a 400-year-old finca in San José, for her next trip. Style director Poppy Kain, meanwhile, recommends booking a room with a private terrace at Atzaró: “The on-site spa is incredible, the staff are so friendly, and it has its own herb and vegetable garden,” she says.
Read the full article here:
https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/ibiza-guide