A frequent visitor to Ibiza, Northern Irish designer Rachel Kelly shares her little black book of ‘grown up’ places to visit, dine and stay on the White Isle …
One commonly held impression of Ibiza is that of a haven for sweaty young ravers, marauding stags and hens, and thumping techno music – none of which I wish to run into on holiday. The real Ibiza, the one to which I return often, has a cosmopolitan, slightly older, sophisticated vibe but with a hippy heart and a thriving eclectic and creative community, albeit beneath an increasingly glossy exterior.
Ibiza offers much of what I’m looking for in a short break at a short range from Ireland. Stunning countryside and great beach clubs, delicious Spanish food, and a generally very warm and chilled Spanish vibe. Four or five nights is all I need at any one time, just enough to relax and recharge after a busy time at work. This ties in perfectly with my work designing for my resortwear brand La Mandarine as I find so much inspiration every time I’m there.
Rachel Kelly.
Given my work, people watching at the beach clubs is the ideal market research for me. I pay attention both to the styles women are wearing but also how they are wearing them. I also check out each beach club’s own boutique and scope out potential new wholesale customers as I already supply a number on the island.
La Mandarine.
The hot island weather is also a reminder of how light, breathable cotton fabrics are such an important part of my collection to keep cool in the heat, something I can quickly forget back in the north of Ireland. I mainly use organic cotton, double gauze and cotton voile for that easy, breezy feel and for comfort when temperatures nudge 30 degrees. While I love the heat, I mainly visit Ibiza outside the main July/August season when everywhere is a little quieter – the beach clubs, restaurants and hotels are all more peaceful and accessible for bookings.
Here are some of my favourites:
Ca Na Xica.
STAY
1 Es Trull de can Palau is an old favourite. Low key, uncrowded, quiet and chilled agritourismo with pleasant rooms set in the countryside yet just a short hop (ten minutes in a taxi) from Ibiza town. www.estrulldecanpalau.theibizahotels.com
2 Ca Na Xica has been my favourite stay to date. Stunningly beautiful with the most fabulous gardens and pool, it’s situated around 20 minutes from Ibiza town heading towards Santa Gertrudis. On one visit the concierge also arranged a local walking guide which was a great perk and made for a really special afternoon. www.canaxia.com
3 Es Cucons Hotel was the perfect base for a beautiful trip to celebrate a special birthday with a few girlfriends. A rural family-run retreat in Santa Agnes. www.escucons.com
4 Atzaro Agroturismo is another super and very pretty rural hotel; it kickstarted the whole agritursimo trend in Ibiza and is still one of the top boutique hotels to visit on the island. Set amongst orange groves, it’s also the perfect location for destination weddings. www.atzaro.com
5 Many of my friends stay closer to the action in the Hotel Parque in Talamanca and rate its location and great quality/price ratio; www.hostaltalamanca.es. The Standard, a Balearic offshoot of the stylish chain, is well placed in Talamanca and has a great vibe although of course it’s also more expensive. www.standardhotels.com
Ibiza Rocks House at Pikes Hotel.
PARTY
I think of the beach clubs like ‘clubbing by day for grown ups’! Great music, food, drinks, guaranteed seats (or beds) and generally a really cool chilled vibe. Granted it’s fairly expensive ‘clubbing’, but a lot of fun for a couple of days.
1 Blue Marlin in particular attracts visiting celebs as it nails the glammed-up, hedonistic essence of Ibiza’s beach club scene. www.bluemarlinibiza.com
2 El Chiringuito Es Cavallet delivers a classic menu and sleek service with a chilled out vibe and you can eat on the beach or in the restaurant. It’s very hard to fault and is probably my favourite beach club. www.elchiringuitoibiza.com
3 Jockey Club at Salinas isn’t fancy but its still a pleasant spot for a good value restorative brunch and some low key relaxing in the sun after a night out. www.jockeyclubibiza.com
4 Beachhouse over in Playa d’en Bossa has matured into a really cool spot and it’s also one of my favourites. www.beachhouseibiza.com
5 For a fun night and dancing out I love Pikes, now known as Ibiza Rocks House at Pikes Hotel. It’s famous from back in the day as the location for Wham’s Club Tropicana video and hosting parties for Freddy Mercury. Because of this Pikes still draws an interesting, slightly older crowd. In my experience, it always delivers a fun night out and you run into the most interesting people. www.pikesibiza.com
Marytierra.
DINE
1 Donde Marian et Miguel is a steak restaurant near Santa Eulalia and is definitely worth a visit. The service is friendly and there is a good wine list to complement the menu too. www.dondemarianymiguel.com
2 Cas Pagés near Santa Eularia is a really pretty spot to eat classic Spanish fare. Its rather rustic ambiance is perfect for a leisurely supper in the garden on a balmy summer night. www.caspages.es
3 The Fish Shack in Talamanca is unassuming, and offers mid-range prices. While the wine list isn’t stellar the fish is fresh and delicious, simply served with potatoes and lemon.
4 Marytierra in Santa Eulalia has the friendliest staff ever and delicious, well-priced (by Ibiza standards) food. Definitely worth trying.
5 You can’t visit Ibiza without sampling tapas, perfect for a late supper of small plates after a big day at the beach. One of my favourites is La Bodega near the medieval walls of the Old town. It is justifiably popular so expect a queue in high season. www.labodegaibiza.com
Las Dalias Market.
SHOP
Browsing the cute boutiques in the Dalt Vila (the higher, old part of Ibiza town) and muscling my way through Las Dalias hippy market in San Carlos or Punta Arabi in Es Cana gives me lots of food for thought and inspiration for my designs. A morning spent shopping in the cute shops of Santa Gertrudis, a charming little town in the middle of the island, followed by lunch, is a fun start to the day too.
Follow Rachel on Instagram @lamandarinebeachwear. For more tips on Ibiza, pick up a copy of June issue of The Gloss.