La Isla Bonita

Lucy Halfhead finds peaceful privacy, soothing sea views and luxurious poolside lunches in Ibiza

- Lucy Halfhead

Ibiza has long been a refuge for escapists, from the artists and writers who fled fascist oppression in the 1930s to the 1960s hippies seeking enlightenment at Es Vedrà, a small rocky island just off its south-west coast said to have magical magnetic powers, and the dedicated partygoers of the 1990s. Today, with clubbing no longer possessing the same cachet, the island is reinventing itself once again as a place to relax and recharge.

This summer sees a host of exciting openings on the White Isle, including a Six Senses outpost hidden on a site standing at just over 10 hectares, and the launch of a new brand OKU Hotels, which has slow living at its heart. These are following in the footsteps of the already-established Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, which my two friends and I were lucky enough to call home for the weekend, during the brief window last year when Covid-19 travel restrictions were lifted.

A swift drive beyond the airport, but far enough away from the neon lights of Playa d’en Bossa and San Antonio to feel secluded and tranquil, the property sits on Talamanca Bay, where the sleekest yachts bob silently on the waves. Nobu has made the transition from restaurants to resorts look easy, with a knack for picking the best locations in destinations such as Barcelona and Los Cabos—and this Ibizan base is no exception. It felt surreal to be in a different country again, but reassuring to see that careful precautions were being taken, with mask-wearing and hand-sanitising being de rigueur.