In The Know: The Ultra-Chic Way To Do Ibiza

For the best part of a century, Ibiza has been a stalwart summer magnet for beautiful, bohemian, brilliantly unconventional vacationers. Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Pink Floyd were among the free-spirited creatives who helped write the island into the zeitgeist in the 1960s, with Kate Moss and her friends – including Jade Jagger, Naomi Campbell and John Galliano – following suit from the ’90s onwards. Decades later, the island now welcomes over three million visitors each year, making it one of Europe’s most sought-after destinations and a permanent fixture on luxury travel wish lists.

Ibiza’s greatest artistry, though, is its power of reinvention. Much like island regular Madonna, Ibiza always seems to reveal a new identity, just when you think it might have slipped out of style. The hippie beginnings gave way to the superclub era, followed swiftly by its wellness awakening and the rise of agritourism. And now another, even more exclusive Ibiza is emerging.

From enigmatic private estates to specialist concierges, and inland gastronomic havens to the next phase in conscientious discovery, here is a selection of Ibiza’s most alluring new offerings.

The benchmark for luxurious privacy has been raised, with the conversation shifting away from standalone villas to fully serviced, hyper-secure private estates. This is where you can find gorgeous architectural homes but within beautifully managed private communities, with every convenience of a world-class resort.

These are few and far between on the island, but the crown jewel of this phenomenon has got to be Sabina Estates. Set across a vast stretch of protected landscape on Ibiza’s southwest coast, Sabina is a deliberately stealthy, but internally spectacular, self-contained ecosystem. Conceived by British property entrepreneurs Anton Bilton and Glyn Hirsch, it brings together residences designed by some of the world’s most respected architects, including John Pawson, Sir David Chipperfield and Studio MK27, each positioned to maximize on the island’s legendary sunset views.

As condos go, Sabina’s are practically palatial. Among the smattering of homes are some that stretch to more than 1,600 square meters, but beyond the obvious allure of this kind of privacy, guests still have access to an extraordinary level of beck-and-call service. There is a clubhouse, restaurant, spa, wellness center, amphitheater, temple, tennis and padel courts, children’s facilities and concierge teams capable of arranging literally everything, from private yachts to lavish in-villa celebrations.

One of the other reasons that it has become one of the island’s most influential addresses is because it reflects an aspiration to gain access to a highly curated community of like-minded owners, architects, creatives and entrepreneurs. Its seasonal residences are available on a minimum one-month basis; a considered approach that fosters a sense of familiarity among guests and preserves the discreet, distinctive atmosphere.

Think private chefs flown in for a single evening, sunset dinners on land that is normally inaccessible to the public, or a last-minute charter to Formentera on a very special boat.

For dining in particular though, services like Le Collectionist help bring some of the island’s most storied culinary talent to your estate, while Deliciously Sorted – one of the White Isle’s oldest fixtures, known for devoted relationships with venue managers and restaurateurs – can reliably land sought-after tables in places that have been booked out for months.

Imagine it now: a candlelit courtyard table under the renowned festoon lights at the elegant Finca La Plaza in Santa Gertrudis and the chance to sample Executive Chef Sergio Cardeñosa’s ‘beurre noisette’ grilled langoustine, on a whim.

Ibiza’s dining schema once revolved around its beach clubs. And while having sundowners at Café Mambo is still a glorious experience, the gastronomic scene is passionately evolving.

Santa Gertrudis continues to attract food pilgrims. Beyond Finca La Plaza is nearby Aubergine by Atzaró, which feels so charmingly private, you might as well be dining on Mars. One of the chicest contemporary culinary ventures, however, is tucked away just outside of Ibiza Town.

Enshrouded by the hills of Can Palau, Casa Maca is, at first glance, deceptively simple: a restored 300-year-old farmhouse surrounded by lavender fields, olive trees and organic gardens. The view is already a fine selling point though. Beyond the restaurant’s terraces is the magnificent silhouette of Dalt Vila, its Unesco-protected fortress walls glowing a bright umber in the evening sky.

Don’t be fooled by the uncomplicated façade, though. Dinner here is a marvel, as head chef Álvaro David Ospina blends local farm-to-fork principals with theatrical open-fire grill dining experiences, producing exceptional cuts of meat – four different types of Wagyu steak – alongside roasted leek and grilled cauliflower, with his particular Colombian flare.

Given that there are also DJs on rotation and a gleaming silver airstream serving cocktails, you might find yourself wanting to take advantage of one of the establishment’s 10 guest bedrooms for the night, too.

Increasingly, talk among design-conscious travelers centers on Santa Eulalia and its neighboring enclaves. Among them, Siesta has become something of a hush-hush haven: a pine-covered residential hillside with sleepy mornings, a short walk from restaurant street Carrer de Sant Jaume, which boasts Michelin-approved La Era and views of Ibiza’s only river.

Created by the family behind the celebrated Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel, Nativo Hotel Ibiza has established itself as the luxury sweet spot of the neighborhood. It is environmentally conscious but also an expression of floor-to-ceiling sumptuousness. Rooms are vast, with grand terraces or swim-up pools. Humo, the hotel’s fire-led rooftop restaurant, has become a destination in its own right, while sustainability is woven seamlessly throughout, from plastic-free operations to thoughtful, low-impact design. It is a perfect encapsulation of newly exquisite eco-consciousness.

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