The SL Guide To Ibiza

OKU Ibiza is back for its second season. With a relaxed, rustic vibe, this hotel has the feel of a Six Senses property – just at a more accessible price. Offering understated five-star luxury in a beautiful location, it’s a few minutes’ walk from beautiful Cala Gració bay. Accommodation includes rooftop suites with sea views, rooms with swim-up pools and a private four-bedroom villa – perfect for anyone heading to the island with friends. The group – which also has a hotel on Kos – offers an alternative way to experience island life, encouraging guests to disconnect and focus on themselves. Healing rituals include gong baths, reiki sessions and crystal healings. Best of all, the OKU Spa is the first European outpost to offer OTO CBD massages and facials, and its OKU Retreats series is a selection of wellness breaks hosted by some of the best-known names in the fitness and wellness world.

Set to open next year, this boutique hotel originally opened in 1933. Now it’s been taken over by Experimental Group, which already owns the island’s ever-popular Experimental Beach Ibiza at Playa des Codolar Salinas. The team has spent the last few months renovating the hotel’s 33 bedrooms and its restaurant and lounge bar Sabbaba Montesol (currently open), which brings together the flavours of Jerusalem and Spain. Following the transformation by French designer Dorothée Meilichzon, the restaurant has spaces inside, on a large terrace and on a striking rooftop overlooking Ibiza Old Town and the port.

For round-the-clock partying, W Ibiza offers a high-octane experience. Set right beside Santa Eulalia Bay, there are six restaurants and bars, each with a different vibe. The rooftop bar is ideal for pre-drinks with the girls, Chiringuito Blue serves seafood and sangria on the beach, and La Llama offers an immersive dining experience where chefs cook your food on the grill table-side. New this summer is Below, a basement nightclub which hosts international DJs every night of the week, while the main atrium has big-name musicians like The Martinez Brothers. Ideal for a fun girls’ trip, rooms are modern and spacious, and the infinity pool has Insta-worthy in-water loungers.

The Standard has finally landed in Ibiza. Fronting the Vara de Rey plaza in Old Town, the hotel is set in a stark white building that forms the backdrop for the bright, eclectic décor and landscaping throughout the property. The design celebrates the 1960s energy that originally attracted so many to Ibiza. A street-level restaurant spills onto the plaza during the day, before transforming into a nightlife hub after hours. The Standard also has a separate building – Casa Privada – available for groups. With its own private pool, bar, gym, lounge and 14 bedrooms, the hideaway is just a block away from all the amenities of the hotel, but with the privacy of a villa, including two suites with outdoor terraces and tubs.

Four-star Nativo Hotel Ibiza opened late last summer – and is perfect if you’re looking for something fun, relaxed and a little bit boho. It’s in Siesta, a tranquil residential area of Santa Eulalia del Río, on the northern coast of Ibiza. Close to the beach, there are also three pool areas – we like the look of the adults-only one, which is on the rooftop next to a restaurant and cocktail bar. The two ground-floor pools are enclosed by natural sand zones so guests can walk barefoot, alongside palm trees, sunbeds and hammocks. For accommodation, we like the look of the rattan-swathed swim-up pool suite.

One of the biggest openings on the island last year, Six Senses has already cemented itself as a go-to spot for those in the know. With excellent service and all the facilities you’d expect from a Six Senses property, it’s perched over beautiful Xarraca Bay. The hotel has already received a string of awards for its eco-friendly design (think solar panels, renewable energy and geothermal cooling systems in the infinity pool). There’s a variety of rooms on offer, a spa with an extensive treatment list, and bars and restaurants for various occasions, including HaSalon headed up by Israeli chef Eyal Shani, and the new Beach Caves inspired by Latin America. A top choice for a blow-the-budget trip.

For total luxury, Nobu is set on the shore of Talamanca Bay – one the quieter beaches on the island. Rooms and suites are sleek and have been designed to blend in with the scenic settings – think rattan furniture, natural colours and light wooden furniture – and some have private pools overlooking the beach. There are two outdoor pools (waiters will bring jugs of sangria to your sun lounger) plus a spa for indulgent treatments, but the main draw is the food. Diners can eat at Nobu’s destination Japanese restaurant or BiBo by Michelin-starred Dani Garcia for Mediterranean dishes.