Ibiza or I-be-tha? No matter how you pronounce it, the Balearic island has always been a site of contradictions. When you think of it, do you imagine hippie-types dancing naked on the beach? Or do you think of EDM types who, okay, also maybe are dancing naked on the beach?
The island has come a long way since the 1960s, when it first bubbled up as a quiet vacation destination for hippies in the know. Nowadays, Ibiza is more known for its epic nightlife. But thanks to a smattering of new openings, the island is reclaiming its place as a home of wellness and connection to nature. These days, the choice is up to you: hippy Ibiza or trippy Ibiza?
The official hotel of cosmopolitan party girls and guys, The Standard opened its newest location in Ibiza earlier this year in the heart of Old Town. The hotel has one of the only rooftop pools on the island so it’s already made a splash on the nightlife scene.
For a chic wellness retreat, book into the newly-opened Six Senses Ibiza. Located on the Xarraca bay on the Northern tip of Ibiza, the resort is a favorite for its wellness-centered programming like Alma Festival, a three-day festival of spirituality, wellness and celebration, and “the RoseBar at Longevity Center,” a spa and wellness program that combines science and spirituality with treatments like epigenetic testing, IV infusions and somatic therapy.
If no hotel stay is complete without easy access to sushi and celebrities, you’ll want to book at Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay. The five-star hotel is located on Ibiza’s sleepier Talamanca Bay and, thanks to its location, staff will deliver bento boxes to your boat parked nearby.Or book a stay at one of the island’s many agroturismos to get in touch with Ibiza’s quieter side.
The impossibly idyllic Can Domo is the perfect style marriage of old-school hippie and modern minimalist, but it’s probably best known for making its own extra virgin olive oil. You’ll want to pick up a souvenir bottle to give all your meals back home a taste of Ibiza.
Go off the beaten path at Atzaro, one of the island’s most beloved agriturismos. You can dine at one of the restaurants on the finca and understand just how fresh “farm-to-table” can really be. The vegetables you’ll eat are all grown on the estate and even the spa uses organic products plucked from the ground just a few meters away.
Ibiza Glamour
THE ATTICO
LA MER
WESTMAN ATELIER
AMINA MUADDI
Worldwide Japanese favorite Zuma (founded in London) opened its third seasonal Ibiza location on the rooftop of the Ibiza Gran Hotel. Guests can dine on favorites like black cod marinated in miso or tiger prawns with yuzu while watching the sunset and enjoying world-class DJs on the scenic rooftop.
El Silencio Ibiza – from the Parisian hotspot Silencio – is helmed by three-Michelin starred Chef Mauro Colagreco. The Argentinian chef has created a menu of mouthwateringly fresh Mediterranean flavors cooked over an open flame.
When you’re craving some old-school authentic Ibizan cooking, head to Sa Soca, a traditional Spanish restaurant that’s been run by the same family since 1976 in the municipality of San Josep de sa Talaia. The restaurant has a casual vibe, where you can dine on classics like paella, bullit de peix (local fish stew) or sofrit pages (a hearty meat stew).
Renowned as “the most popular beach club on TikTok,” (with more than 12 million views on its location tag) O Beach Club Ibiza is the ultimate beach party. On a typical day, you’ll find aerial acrobats, people popping bottles of champagne and revelers dancing on tables from (quite literally) morning to night.
For something a bit quieter (but still lively), visit Cala Llonga. It’s one of Ibiza’s most popular beaches – but it’s also one of its biggest. There’s plenty of room on the sand for everyone from families to party-goers recouping from a night out. And there’s cafes and snack bars for everybody, too.
BEACH ESSENTIALS
