Inside the hotels reshaping Ibizan style that you should book this summer

The white island is hipper than ever, boasting newly opened gems and revamped historic hotels and villas – we talk to the designers behind four of our favourites to discover why they’re summer’s hottest inspiration.

Fincadelica Xarraca

Ever admired a Slim Aarons photograph and wished you could just dive in? Well, at Fincadelica Xarraca, you can. Alongside instantly recognisable locations such as the pool at Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc in Antibes and Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, this Ibizan property was also snapped by the renowned society photographer back in 1978.

Now, the nine-suite, 3,000-square-metre estate, which overlooks the sparkling azure waters of Cala Xarraca Bay on the northwest side of the island, is available for private hire to discerning (and wealthy) guests.

Behind the project are prestigious diamond supplier Mati Rachminov and Serena Cook, founder of Deliciously Sorted, Ibiza’s iconic luxury concierge company. No surprise then that the offering is five-star and fabulous. Think soaring ceilings, a saltwater pool, wraparound sea views and a soundproofed club, as well as custom-made and collectable furniture including vintage Murano lighting, a ‘Croissant’ sofa by Hans Hopfer for Wiener Werkstatte and a limited edition ‘KAU’ chair by Angela Damman.

Beyond the usual reiki, reflexology and breathwork sessions, cacao ceremonies, human design readings and crania-sacral therapy can also be arranged. ‘The Xarraca customer loves great design,’ says Carmen Straasma, the creative behind the effortless interior. ‘They relish privacy and expect things to be decadent but discreet. These are next level client’s but they still want home from home.’ From £60,000 per week, fincadelicaibiza.com

Montesol Experimental

A haven for design afficionados who also love a hippy vibe, this is a laid-back spot from which to explore Ibiza’s beaches, restaurants and legenary nightlife. A reinvention of the white isle’s oldest hotel (the building is a UNESCO Property of Cultural Interest), which from the 1950s to the 1980s played host to celebrities such as Pink Floyd, Orson Welles and Caroline of Monaco, the handsome property sits in a prime location at the foot of the historic Old Town, a short, espadrilled stroll from the vibrant harbour.

Recently reworked by Parisian interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon, the 30-room, three-suite hotel has a relaxed atmosphere thanks to its textured walls – some dotted with seashells – and its playful, bohemian décor, which includes handmade masks by Majorcan contemporary artist Anna Alexandra and Play-Doh-like stools by French designer Diego Faivre.

‘What we love is that the Montesol steps away from the clean lines and white spaces that you’d expect to find in Ibiza,’ says Olivier Bon, co-founder of Experimental Group. ‘Dorothée weaves texture, shape, colour and comfort with such ease. No two rooms are the same and there is an element of surprise behind every door.’ From £245 per night, montesolexperimental.com

Pikes

Club Tropicana, drinks are free’ sang a young, tanned and unfeasibly handsome George Michael as he bobbed on a lilo on what was to become one of the most famous swimming pools in the world.

That pool is at Pikes, the legendary Ibizan boutique hotel whose rock ‘n’ roll credentials outstrip anything else on the island thanks to a glittering roster of guests including Grace Jones, Tony Curtis, Spandau Ballet and Freddie Mercury, who held his 41st birthday bash at the in-house nightclub, now renamed ‘Freddie’s’.

Originally founded in the 1970s by Tony Pike, the property has retained its unique charm and still draws people who like to party. ‘They love music, arts and culture and the quirkiness of the hotel, as well as its colourful history – they expect a fun time!’ says Lucinda Swayne of Lucinda K Design, the studio responsible for the resort’s recent refurbishment.

Lucinda worked with British designers and local Ibizan makers to redesign nine of the original bedrooms as well as the new ‘Garden Rooms’, which, in keeping with the overall mood of the property feature gold basins, decadent outdoor baths and rattan bars for pre-party drinks. Bespoke, exotic wallpapers, cushions and lampshades by Divine Savages and geometric ‘Piccadilly Line’ fabrics by Kirkby Design complete the offering.

‘These aren’t typical elements you’d associate with a Mediterranean hotel, but it was important for us to preserve its identity,’ she says. ‘It’s eccentric, it’s magical – there’s nowhere else like Pikes.’ From £160 per night, pikesibiza.com

Six Senses Ibiza

An air of absolute serenity washes over this hotel, which is remarkable considering its incredible size. Sprawled across a hillside at the northern tip of the island, the gently terraced, clay coloured property, plastered so as to blend into the rugged cliffs, offers a seemingly endless menu of activities for the modern ‘haute hippy’.

At the top of the scale accommodation wise, 19 luxurious private residences and two exclusive mansions come with chefs, concierges and expansive terraces for both sun salutations and indeed sundowners, while a further 116 rooms and suites, all designed by architect and owner Jonathan Leitersdorf, are scattered across the site.

Boasting a selection of restaurants, bars and, of course, a state-of-the-art recording studio, produce is local and biodynamic, menus are organic and sustainable, as is the covetable fashion and jewellery in the luxury fashion boutique. ‘Six Senses guests prioritise community and crafted experiences with an added touch of quirkiness,’ says David Mulin, general manager at the premier destination. ‘Our intention is to encourage people to reconnect with themselves, others and the world around them.’

Wellness, spirituality and longevity are the buzzwords here, and as a result, the 1,200-square-metre spa hosts sessions from expert yogic masters and functional fitness experts, while treatments come courtesy of the best global practitioners. In addition, the RoseBar is a one-of-a-kind club aimed a lengthening your lifespan via the power of cryotherapy, hyperbaric chambers, biohacking and more. But whether shamanic healing is your jam or you’re just here for the serenity and sunsets, this really is Balearic hospitality at its finest. From £456 per night, sixsenses.com/en