Hilton Worldwide’s First Property in Ibiza Starts Welcoming Guests
Originally established in 1933, Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is steeped in history as it was the first purpose-built hotel on the island and has been declared an asset of cultural interest by UNESCO. Credit: Curio Collection by Hilton.
IBIZA, Spain - Curio - A Collection by Hilton announced today the opening of Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza, Curio Collection by Hilton. The upscale, one-of-a-kind hotel is Hilton Worldwide's first property on the island of Ibiza. Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is part of Hilton Worldwide's (NYSE: HLT) Curio brand, a rapidly-expanding global collection of distinctive upscale and luxury hotels, Curio caters to passionate travelers seeking local discovery and authentic experiences.
Originally established in 1933, Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is steeped in history as it was the first purpose-built hotel on the island and has been declared an asset of cultural interest by UNESCO. With its opening as part of the Curio collection, the property has been fully refurbished while maintaining its neo-colonial facade. The hotel's 33 elegant guest rooms have been decorated by famed interior designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán and most rooms offer views of the old town and harbour.
Open year-round, the intimate property is located in the heart of Ibiza's historic centre, just 20 metres from Ibiza's bustling harbour and steps from Dalt Vila ('Upper Town'), a UNESCO World Heritage site which features ancient buildings as well as modern markets. Beautiful beaches such as Ses Salines and Cala Vadella are easily accessible from the hotel, and Formentera Island is a short ferry ride away. Also nearby are nightclubs where guests can experience the island's infamous club scene.
Cafe Montesol sits on the ground floor of the hotel and has been a hub for social life in Ibiza since it was originally established in 1933. It is known among local residents as a place to gather and socialize while enjoying Spanish mediterranean cuisine and tapas specialities, and can accomodate up to 300 guests. Its cocktail bar is the perfect place to lounge while enjoying a refreshing drink and its street terrace overlooks Vara de Rey Boulevard.
"Each hotel selected to join the Curio collection is hand-picked for its distinctive character and Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is no exception to this as it joins 23 Curio hotels open around the world, including Reichshof Hamburg in Germany which was the first Curio hotel to open in EMEA," said Dianna Vaughan, senior vice president and global head, Curio - A Collection by Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton. "We are delighted to add this property to our growing portfolio. With its prime location, bespoke concierge service and top restaurant, the hotel is ideal for travellers to Ibiza."
A bespoke concierge service offers a private service to help plan and manage a trip prior to or during a guest's stay. This assists guests with anything they may need during their stay in Ibiza including restaurant reservations, yacht rentals, diving experiences and more. Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza also runs a partnership which allows guests to reserve private meeting rooms at the nearby Ibiza Archaeological museum. In addition, the property can arrange meetings aboard private yachts with catering by the hotel's food and beverage team.
"We are thrilled to open Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza. The iconic building is Ibiza's oldest hotel and with this refurbishment, its luxury and elegance has been restored to a brilliant quality," said Eduardo Miquel, general manager, Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza. "The hotel is well placed for travellers to Ibiza, particularly those who wish to organize conferences and events during Ibiza's calm winter months. As the property is open year-round and can organize unique meeting experiences, it appeals to business travellers as well as those here for leisure."
Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza participates in Hilton HHonors®, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton Worldwide. The program is open to all guests and free to join. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including an exclusive member rate that can't be found anywhere else, free standard Wi-Fi, digital check-in and HHonors Points.
Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is located at Passeig de Vara de Rey, 2, 07800 Ibiza, Illes Balears. For more information, or to make a reservation, telephone: +34-871-515049 or visit here to book .
Established in 1933, the hotel was the first purpose-built hotel established on Ibiza and was used as a military barracks during the Spanish Civil War. Credit: Curio - A Collection by Hilton
Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza will be the First Hotel in Spain Operating Under Hilton’s Curio Collection
Hilton Worldwide(NYSE: HLT) has reached a franchise agreement with Grupo Avintia to bringCurio - A Collection by Hiltonto Ibiza's historic town centre. The 33-guestroom Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza will welcome guests all-year-round and is set to open this summer, marking Hilton's debut on The White Isle.
Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton Worldwide said, "Ibiza is the perfect location to welcome Spain's first Curio. The island has a considerable reputation as an upscale summer destination and is world renowned as one of Spain's most frequented and vibrant destinations. Gran Hotel Montesol will be one of the few internationally branded hotels on Ibiza, and as a part of the Curio collection it will benefit from Hilton's prime commercial engine while maintaining all of its unique character and charm."
Established in 1933, the hotel was the first purpose-built hotel established on Ibiza and was used as a military barracks during the Spanish Civil War. The building is recognised as a site of heritage and cultural interest by the Spanish Ministry of Culture and many of the hotel's historic features, such as its characteristic neoclassical white and yellow façade will be retained as part of the new designs.
A Mediterranean gem, the port town of Ibiza is a UNESCO World Heritage site with cobbled streets peppered with world-class restaurants, trendy boutiques and exclusive nightclubs. Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is located in a quaint neighbourhood of the town, in sight of the busy harbour on the central plaza of Vara del Rey. Many of the hotel's guestrooms will have balconies overlooking the lofty 14th century cathedral of Santa Maria d'Eivissa, which sits atop the Dalt Vil, the town's highest point.
Carlos Berrozpe, managing director of ADH Hoteles, Grupo Avintia's hotel management arm, said, "This property is one of the icons of Ibiza and we are tremendously proud to be working with Hilton on reinstating the luxury and elegance of this famed hotel for visitors to the island to enjoy throughout the year. This project, with Hilton's seasoned hospitality experience and commercial capabilities, will be a great addition to our portfolio of hotels".
Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza will be less than 10km from Ibiza's airport and a short distance from some of the island's most famous nightclubs and beaches. Ibiza is an island of great natural beauty, with some of the Mediterranean's most picturesque beaches.
Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza will have a restaurant on the ground floor as well as a rooftop terrace that can be used as an exclusive meeting space for business travellers. Part of the restoration and the interior of the hotel will be designed by prestigious Spanish designer Lazaro Rosa Violan.
Dianna Vaughan, senior vice president and global head, Curio - A Collection by Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton, said: "With its fascinating history and elegant look-and-feel this landmark hotel is a sought-after addition to the Curio collection. The well-balanced synergy of the island's legendary nightlife and its long history make Ibiza the perfect location for a Curio hotel."
Curio is a global set of remarkable upscale and luxury hotels hand-picked for their unique character and personality; each one embedded with local history and culture. Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza will join more than 80 properties open or in various stages of development across the world, in locations including Hamburg, Reykjavik, London, Paris and Lagos.
Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza will be located at Passeig de Vara de Rey, 2, 07800 Ibiza, Illes Balears. More information about Curio - A Collection by Hilton may be found at curio.com.
From a bohemian hangout in the 1960s, to an epicentre for the late-80s house scene and then an under-regulated rave mecca in the 90s, Ibiza has gone through several phases, not all of them pretty. The latest incarnation combines elements of its predecessors, but is something wholly different.
Yes, the clubs are still going full-throttle, with big dance-music names dominating the decks, but the focus here is shifting towards the nascent local food movement, innovative craft cocktails, small-scale fashion designers and upscale beach clubs.
Outside the nightlife hubs of San Antonio and Playa d’en Bossa, lies a vast, arid, arrestingly beautiful Spanish isle speckled with farmhouses and almond trees that bloom white in winter. The interior is still relatively undeveloped, the hamlets of Santa Gertrudis and San Miquel remain quaint, and the pine-fringed north coast is rough and ragged. Even Ibiza Town and its Unesco-protected core, Dalt Vila (old town), retain much of their charms and quirks, despite the seasonal avalanche of tourists.
It’s an altogether more likeable, grown-up place held together by a combination of fiercely proud Ibicencos, expats and dreamers writing the next chapter in this island’s strange and varied history.
Hit the beachesAs convenient as it might be to lounge around Playa d’en Bossa, Ibiza rewards those who take a short drive with far more intriguing shores. For softer sands,Aguas Blancas and Cala Llenya remain family favourites. On Sunday evenings atCala Benirrás, look for clusters of pastel-painted VW Beetles as members of the island’s hippy population gather for a late-night bongo session.
Little more than a speck on the map, the pebbled, pine-forested cove of Cala Xuclar remains blissfully underdeveloped. There’s a rudimentary wooden restaurant renting sunbeds for €5 and not much else. Given the isolated location, expect to see one or two less-inhibited visitors working on their bikini-line-free tan. In the evenings, head west for the obligatory snapshot of a magenta-streaked Mediterranean sky at sunset.
The old-school hedonism of cabaret fits right in on an island that never learned the meaning of understatement. Light eroticism mingles with Vegas-style camp at Lío in Ibiza Town for regularly sold-out shows (entrance €70 including one drink, Paseo Juan Carlos I 1, +34 971 310 022, lioibiza.com). Heart Ibiza (from €80 minimum spend, Ibiza Gran Hotel, Paseo Juan Carlos I 17, heartibiza.com), the brand-new contender, is a collaboration between the Adrià brothers (of elBulli fame) and Cirque du Soleil. Here, high-concept, street-food market meets art installations by the likes of Takashi Murakami, Miguel Chevalier and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Things get trippy as guests enter the central dining room, illuminated in part by a psychedelic wall of perpetually morphing LEDs. Acrobatic performances range from titillating to gleefully weird, before dissolving entirely into an open dance floor that boasts live music and performances by DJ heavyweights including Sven Väth and Carl Cox.
Boat charters
Skip the party cruises advertising champagne showers and topless “DJanes”. For roughly the price of admission, larger groups can charter a boat and sail to less accessible, sugar-sand beaches. Stop by S’Espalmador, a nearby uninhabited island, or the starkly beautiful Es Migjorn on Formentera. Smart Charter Ibiza, which is based in Ibiza Town and is managed by locals and long-time residents, has a range of speedboats and yachts, the most extravagant of which come stocked with jet skis and other aquatic toys. • Eight-hour luxury yacht rentals from €1,930 for 12 passengers; speedboats from €506 for eight people. Includes crew, snacks, water, beer, soft drinks, two bottles of cava and towels, smartcharteribiza.com, +34 661 690 651
Visitors in search of hidden treasures among the touristy knick-knacks can scour the hippy markets at Las Dalias (Saturdays, Carretera de San Carlos Km 12,lasdalias.com) and at Punta Arabí (Wednesdays, Avenida Punta Arabí s/n, Santa Eulalia del Río, hippymarket.info).
A boutique crawl through Ibiza Townwill reveal abundant, eye-catching fashion. The first stop could be Kurru Kurru (Paseo Juan Carlos I 1,kurrukurru.com), a hub where local designers gather for weekly fashion salons. Keep an eye out for jewellery by Petra Hauser, made of found insect wings set in precious metals. Next up isEmonk Ibiza (C/ de sa Creu 6,emonkibiza.com), for embroidered suede boots funky enough to stand out at a party, while protecting your toes from wayward stilettos. Then swing by Mirage Beachwear (C/ Enmig 8-10) for jumpsuits and boho dresses in high-quality, lightweight fabrics. Finish off atOliver Decoración (C/ Pere Sala 3, worldsoliver.net), which is crammed with eclectic home decor.
In the centre of the island is Santa Gertrudis, where you will find the petite Salón Europa (C/ Poble 5, lindakaehne.com) which showcases international designers and summerwear by local Linda Kaehne. In the nearby town of San Miguel, stop at the Natasha Collis Shop and Studio (C/ de Missa 5, San Miquel,natashacollis.com) for hand-wrought, one-of-a-kind statement jewellery.
La Belle, San Rafael
Already something of a culinary haven, the dining scene in this tiny town got a boost this summer with this disarmingly pleasant bistro. The courtyard, a study in alabaster minimalism crisscrossed with fairy lights, is pretty enough to lure a crowd on looks alone. Elegant, loosely French-inspired dishes, such as the cod slow-cooked with Iberian chorizo (€29) from Gilles Escaffre, a veteran of Joël Robuchon and Alain Ducasse’s kitchens, plus a sangría de cava brimming with berries, make it a must. •Avenida Isidoro Macabich 6, +34 971 198 335, labelleibiza.com
Set on the top of a cliff known as prime sunset-swooning real estate, this sleek new spot focuses on fashionable pan-Asian tapas. All the usual sushi suspects are present, from makis bulging with tempura-fried soft shell crab to more austere nigiri. One standout dish is salmon ceviche (€19), garnished with edible flowers. •C/ Posta de Sol 21, Sant Josep de sa Talaia, +34 971 806 180,cottonbeachclub.com
La Finca Can Suldat, Es Canar
The word eccentric doesn’t do justice to this local favourite in Es Canar, 14 miles north east of Ibiza Town. Knick-knacks clutter the red-lit interior, while ageing hippies sing Simon & Garfunkel in a vine-covered outdoor dining area. A succinct, hand-scrawled menu references the owner’s Swiss roots with excellent fondue (€24) and raclette (€9), as well as entrecôte smothered in garlicky Café de Paris sauce (€17). Evenings here run long and late, fuelled by a combination of wine and the house-infused limoncello. •C/ Font des Murtar, Carretera Es Canar, +34 971 312 224, no website
Much of the organic produce served at this restored 400-year-old finca was grown metres from the table, the rest up the road. Although the menu rotates constantly, favourites include quinoa with avocado and mango (€16), or wok-charred skirt steak (€19). Conscientiously curated works of art and enough Pinterest-friendly takeaway edibles to make Gwyneth Paltrow envious fill the adjacent shop and gallery. •C/San Miquel (between Santa Gertrudis and San Miquel), +34 971 090 055,aubergineibiza.com
Beso Beach, Formentera
Some would argue you haven’t really been to Formentera until you’ve sampled pricey seafood at the fabled Juan y Andrea. If you can forgo the bragging rights and celebrity spotting, go and sip pitchers of mojitos at this friendly, free-spirited spot on the sand instead, where the T-bone steaks (€33) come with a blizzard of salt crystals, and plump Cantabrian octopus tendrils coil around clouds of mashed potatoes in paprika-tinted oil (€24).
Parque Natural de Ses Salines, Playa de Cavall d’en Borràs, +34 971 324 572,besobeach.com
La Brasa, Ibiza Town
Many of the restaurants clustered in Ibiza Town’s Dalt Vila sport mediocre menus, which may explain why this floral-canopied courtyard requires reservations a week in advance during high season. Expect no molecular flourishes or gussied-up sashimi here, just Spanish classics like braised duck with prunes (€23.50) and, of course, heaped portions of saffron- or squid-ink-tinged paella (from €19.90 per person), made with care. •C/ Pere Sala 3, +34 971 301 202, labrasaibiza.com
Bar Costa, Santa GertrudisLook for crowds of locals, prime legs of aged swine and paintings by artists – some of them swapped for sandwiches – to find Bar Costa and some of the island’s bestbocadillos. • Plaça de l’Esglèsia, Santa Gertrudis, open Wed-Mon 8am-midnight, no website
Experimental Beach Club, Las SalinasJust when it seemed that Ibiza might be overrun with sparkler-topped bottles of Moët, the team behind Experimental Cocktail Club injected some much-needed cool into a rocky beach off the main Salinas drag. It may be airier than its sister speakeasies in New York, London and Paris, but the craft tipples – ranging from humaranja (€14), a breezy sipper of blood orange and maté, threaded with smoky mezcal undertones, to an updated G&T with rosemary-infused Mare gin, capers and seaweed, are true to form. •Playa des Codolar Salinas, eccbeach.com
Sunset Ashram, Cala ContaFor the perfect position to gaze at the Mediterranean sun sinking into the sea, head west to Cala Conta and arrive early in the evening at Sunset Ashram, a Gaudí-esque creation rendered in natural rock, for sundowners. •Carretera Cala Conta s/n, Sant Josep de sa Talaia, sunsetashram.com
Bar 1805, Ibiza TownNamed for the year Henri-Louis Pernod launched the first commercial absinthe distillery, Bar 1805 matches a Mexican-inspired aesthetic with French bar snacks and expertly balanced cocktails. Charles Vexenat, a veteran of London’s mixology scene, is at the helm here, though he regularly invites other international bartenders for cameos. The signature is the green beast, a potent elixir heavy on the notorious emerald liqueur and served in a birdcage punch bowl.
The Beachouse is the mellow option on the Playa d’En Bossa strip
This mellow club strikes a balance between the rowdy Bora Bora up the strip and the more decadent Blue Marlin. By day, patrons sip sangría and munch truffled mushroom pizzas. In the evenings, especially for Guy Gerber’s popular Rumors party on Sundays, the pace picks up under the paper lanterns and turns into a barefoot fiesta on the sand. With no cover and reasonable prices, it may be one of the best (and cheapest) ways to get a party fix in Playa d’en Bossa. •Carretera de Playa d’En Bossa 2, beachouseibiza.com
Mona LisaSip gin cocktails from goblets while a flamboyant, scantily clad parade of club promoters in leather and drag descends on the gay-friendly Mona Lisa cocktail bar. The parade, which takes place every weekend, snakes through Ibiza Town, but the after party stays and goes late. •Carrer Alfons XII 3, monalisaibiza.com, open daily 10pm-4am
Go on a club crawl
Clubbing in the Balearics is big, booming and worth the steep price of admission to experience at least once. For an outdoor day party, Ants (entrance €40, Saturdays, 3pm-midnight) at Ushuaïa (Playa d’en Bossa, ushuaiaibiza.com) starts off groovy by the pool, then progresses to harder beats on the mammoth main stage. Die-hards can continue at the free after-party or grab a nightcap on top of Ushuaïa Towers next door at UP Ibiza Sky Society (daily 6.30pm-midnight,ushuaiabeachhotel.com).
Sankeys (C/ de les Alzines 13, sankeysibiza.info) recently snagged the legendary We Love party from nearby Space (entrance €39, Wednesdays, midnight-6am). Grittier than some of the competition, this offshoot of the Manchester club has attracted a loyal following by favouring underground sounds over electro dance music.
At the glitzier end of the spectrum is Pacha (Tuesdays, midnight-7am, Avenida 8 de Agosto, pachaibiza.com), an icon on the isle for more than four decades, where the staff look like models and drink prices verge on insulting. Splurge on dinner in the club’s restaurant before going to its hippy-themed Flower Power (entrance €47) and dodge the hefty cover.
For sheer sonic scale, Amnesia’s (Carrertera Ibiza, San Rafael, amnesia.es) deafening, crisp sound system remains one of the best. Among its best nights areCocoon (€51, Mondays, midnight-6am), with grinding techno and La Troya (€45, Sundays midnight-6am) which has risqué, gender-bending performances.
If you’re not quite ready to call it quits, head to Ibiza Town for a bocadillo atCroissant Show (Mercado Viejo, open 6am-1am) to see fellow revellers and performers in the harsh light of day.
Hotel Es Vivé, Ibiza TownFresh from a €2.5m overhaul this year, this art deco boutique hotel between Ibiza Town and Playa d’en Bossa offers a quiet place to rest with easy access to the island’s nightlife. The rooftop terrace facing Formentera is the spot for an aperitif, while the soundproofed, subterranean Experience Bar caters for the post-clubbing crowd without disturbing other guests. Swing by for espresso martinis long after other watering holes shut. • Doubles from €120 B&B (minimum four nights over a weekend), +34 971 301 902, hotelesvive.com
Hostal Parque, Ibiza Town
When it comes to bargains, it’s hard to to beat this bolthole in the heart of the old town. Accommodation is basic, but the three penthouse options on the top floor, each with a private terrace from which to survey the medieval walls of Dalt Vila, feel positively posh. • Doubles from €75, +34 971 301 358, hostalparque.com
Atzaró, Santa Eularia Des RiuThis holistic retreat in the centre of the island has understated Balinese touches and is set amid an old orange grove. It’s the ideal antidote to island’s excessive side. A recent facelift rendered the jasmine-scented, bucolic grounds even more luxe. Plush daybeds invite guests to stop and sprawl as they stroll between pools and manicured gardens. Yoga classes, a spa with hammam and gym, and a restaurant serving thoughtful, locally sourced cuisine may account for the fact that many guests spend weeks at a time here, especially during the quiet winter months. • Doubles from €120 B&B, some spa facilities free for guests, +34 971 338 838,atzaro.com
Can Pardal, San Miquel
Ibiza’s Experimental Beach Club is the new place for breezy craft cocktails.
The bass is still booming but, with a clutch of stylish new restaurants, bars, hotels and shops, the tone is changing on the White Isle
With just five individually decorated suites, this 16th-century finca is as intimate as it gets. Rustic interiors and whitewashed walls dripping in bougainvillea add to the ambiance. Travellers seeking seclusion will feel right at home staying mere steps from the town’s historic church, Sant Miquel de Balansat. • Doubles from €153 B&B, +34 971 334 575, canpardalibiza.com
Rent a villa
If you’re travelling with a larger crew, you may want to forgo a hotel. Villa options run the gambit from deluxe pads to rustic fincas.
Owners Direct (ownersdirect.co.uk) allows you to browse reviews of previous occupants and there’s a concierge service to help you meet your specific needs. Essential Ibiza, in addition to helping travellers arrange party tickets, yachts, VIP tables, and boat tours, offers a villa-booking service, as well as the optional advice of its experts. Of the numerous properties available, some standouts include Villa Cristal (from €2,950 a week for six guests), a modern-minimalist, three-bedroom property with views of Formentera from its floor-to-ceiling windows; Villa CasaRosa (from €3,850 a week for 14 guests), a short drive from Ibiza Town; and Villa Sa Paissa (from €2,450 a week for eight guests), near the beaches of Cala Tarida and Cala Conta.
• The trip was provided by Essential Ibiza (essentialibiza.com). Easyjet flies to Ibiza from six UK airports, return flights from £68
