Lying on a double soft-as-a-cloud sun lounger around Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay’s main pool, being delivered cocktails and sushi to our bedside while enjoying a sea view is as indulgent and relaxing as it sounds.
We weren’t sure what to expect from a hotel whose brand name is more synonymous with Japanese cuisine, but don’t worry – no futons here!
You arrive from a busy, dusty street, but even before you are greeted with a glass of Prosecco, a glimpse of the pool and the beach beyond gives you an idea of the oasis that awaits.
The hotel is a five-star destination, with 152 rooms (including 90 suites), and all the trimmings you would expect with that rating – from a spa, hair salon by John Frieda, boutiques, three restaurants, two pools (including an adults-only) and a kids club.
Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay is a great spot to relax and enjoy the cuisine, views and proximity to Ibiza’s iconic clubs
A highlight for us was the weekly complimentary ‘Licor de Hierbas Ibicencas’ workshop, led by very knowledgeable botanical specialist Jason Clark, who guides you in brewing the island’s local tipple.
Seated round a table full of local plants and herbs, you learn about the island’s botany and history, have a little tasting and also get to make a bottle of Ibiza’s iconic digestif to your own preference (and seal it with hot wax – very fun).
The great kicker is you get to reminisce on your holiday in six months – because it’s only then that it’s ready to be cracked open and enjoyed – a souvenir that’s definitely got the edge on a fridge magnet!
Ibizan local Jason Clark, who leads the complimentary weekly liquor workshop
The rooms at Nobu Ibiza Bay are bright and airy with views over the pool and beach
By day, Ibiza Bay’s beach deck offers relaxed barefoot luxury with some delicious (and often killer-strength) cocktails.
However, a bed by the edge of the main pool doesn’t come cheap; these coveted spots all have a €250 minimum spend requirement. But when you account for lunch, snacks and cocktails for two, achieving this is an easy if not indulgent feat.
If you would prefer to save your money for sightseeing outside the hotel, there are also plenty of free beds on a sandy spot nearby, and around the second pool.
The Rooftop bar area is a great place to start your evening and watch the sunset, listening to the DJ sessions and enjoying the breeze, all set against the glittering backdrop of Talamanca Bay.
And it makes a great springboard to enjoying the best of Ibiza’s nightlife, with the likes of Pacha just a short cab ride away.
Guest relations manager Alvaro Besoy is on hand to help with recommendations outside the hotel as well. He directed us to a rustic restaurant The Fish Shack (and is really is a shack) a short walk from the hotel – serving up a simple, cheap but delicious selection of fresh fish served with salad and potatoes.
In August, the hotel is perfectly placed to witness two celestial events from a spectacular vantage point: the rare total solar eclipse on the 12th and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, a cosmic alignment not expected to recur until 2135.
The hotel will be offering guided walks to watch the spectacle from some breathtaking locations.
The eclipse package includes accommodation, daily breakfast overlooking Talamanca Bay, lunch by the beach, as well as daily wellness rituals to reset and recharge – from yoga to breathwork.
Rooms in the package start from €1,795 per night between 7th to 17th August, inclusive of a minimum of five nights’ accommodation, listed activities and transfers.
In addition to this, Nobu are offering a bespoke ‘Beyond the Sun’ stay – but only for those with very deep pockets. The experience is being auctioned off and bids for start at €50,000, with a direct purchase option available at €100,000.
Outside of Beyond The Sun, rooms at Nobu start from €495 (£430) in low season and €995 (£868) in high season.
But it doesn’t matter whether you’re a stargazer or a thrill chaser when you stay at Nobu Ibiza.
Its world-class hospitality is easily adapted to all your holiday dreams.
