4 nights in Ibiza showed us two very different sides to the Island…

7 Pines

7 Pines is the sort of resort you could quite happily never leave. Sprawlling accross 56,000 square metres, the 5-star resort has been designed to reflect a white-washed Ibizian villiage, surrounded first by opulent gardens and then the uninterrupted ocean. Each of the 185 suites (note: not ‘rooms’) has either a terrace or a balcony, so there’s a real feeling of personal space to relax and explore.  Perfect for a wellness break, indulgent stay, or something in-between.

The first thing that occurred to me was how everything just runs *so* smoothly. Our cases were quietly whisked straight out of the taxi to our suite, and we were invited to sit with a welcome drink taking in the views while the most flawless check-in process I’ve ever experienced got underway.

Fast forward half an hour or so (the signature blinis were really very good), and we were taken to our suite. We went on foot because we were literally hopping distance in the The Laguna, but there were ample golf buggies at reception for the further  areas of the resort: Ibenico Village or The Cliff.

So the suite. Minamilist, clean lines, lots of white with touches of blue. A (not-so) mini replica of the resort, really.  And the amenities inside were arguably better than I have at home – most notably the (fully stocked) wine fridge.

The thing that struck immediately at 7 Pines was their attention to detail. When we got to our living area (separated from the actual bedroom by stairs. STAIRS!), they had printed photos from our Instagram pages, and written the most beautiful welcome card. The staff (of which there were gazillions) were available to help with whatever we needed, from drinks by the pool to emergency charge on our phones.

Wanting to get to know the local area a little bit, we went for a jog on the first morning and discovered sweeping ocean views. It was little tricky under foot, so on the second morning we headed to the gym for a workout instead. The gym is probably the best-stocked hotel gym I’ve ever seen.

Actually, the amount of equipment probably rivals some of the best gyms in London. Everything from spin bikes and curve runners to kettlebells, med balls and dumbbells. They also have a class schedule in the mornings, which are run by external PTs. We did mobility & core with @TheIbizaCoach, who gently guided us through a series of movements which were pretty enlightening about our levels of flexibility and areas to work on.

So we worked up an appetite, then we worked our way through the sushi menu for lunches.

Lunches are generally taken a la pool, so we saved the restaurant experiences for dinners. And naturally booked into both for sundowners and dinner on the adjacent nights. Which is when we discovered the 7Pines tradition of a gong to mark the exact moment of sun-set.

Our first dinner was at Cone Club, the more casual of the two restaurants, and the home of the gong. Pictures say a thousand words so I won’t labour the point. Suffice it to say: tapas, cocktails, watching the sun set over Es Vedra from your clifftop nest. Dreamy.

 

Night two was on the upper level, at The View. The View has the buzz of a London Mayfair restaurant, with uninterrupted views of the ocean. It’s mediterranean fine dining (and drinking) – we had the 4 course set menu with wine pairing.

A truly adaptable resort that can be quite literally whatever you want it to be, I will be back asap.

Pikes

The second half of our visit was to the infamous Pikes, known as something of an institution across the island.  Nestled in the hills, it seems to rely on word of mouth for bookings, which creates the feeling of community and belonging when you arrive. In fact, the guests I spoke to had invariably been visiting for years, making an annual pilgrimage back to Pikes.

Visiting Pikes is a bit like finding Narnia down the rabbit hole. The decor is quirky and constantly surprising, and there is a real sense of history. If walls could talk there is the feeling these ones might be scandalous.

Wellness isn’t particularly high on the agenda at Pikes, which seems to come alive after lunch. That said, there is a tennis court (bright pink, obv). Altho when we surfaced circa 9am, the absolutely pristine  racquets we were given seemed to suggest the court isn’t used terribly often. At least, not for playing tennis.

Because of the layout of Pikes winding through the hills, there seemed to be new spaces to explore each day. A day at Pikes really feels like a journey – rooms lead to rooms which lead to corridors, which lead to spaces you didn’t reach yesterday. The general rule for navigating seemed to be to follow the music – something which seemed particularly fitting for traditionally hedonistic side of Ibiza.

Our suite followed a similar principle. You entered through the second room, through to the master, which lead into the most eclectic bathroom, and through there was a final room, with loo and sinks. The windows and doors were all historic-looking thick dark wood like something out of an ancient castle, and small details in the room made it feel the truly authentic Ibithan experience. Like the shower that was definately too small for a modern person (I only just fit under it) with a hap-hazard mosaic of tiles in the background.

A big thing at Pikes is their brunch, which draws people in from near-by hotels. Cocktails feature heavily, and there is an aptly named “recovery bowl” that is apparently one of their most popular dishes each season.

Dinner is in the lower level of the dining area – bright pink, roofless (there are sails artfully strung over-head), and decorated with some thought-provoking art.

Pikes is a must-visit to experience some of the older traditions of Ibiza. Truly hedonistic, there is an immediate feeling of belonging, and we left feeling like we had new friends in the staff. Perhaps less-so in the cats, who apparently didn’t much love being picked up…