Review: First in: Six Senses Ibiza hotel review

Why book Six Senses Ibiza?
Six Senses Ibiza is a place to truly rest, refuel and reset. The quality of the food, the attention to detail and experiences on offer are simply unmatched on the island, if not in the entire Balearic archipelago.

Set the scene
Eagle-eyed arrivals will first spy the new Six Senses across the improbably blue waters of northern Ibiza’s Cala Xarraca. Sprawled across a pine-clad hillside and accessed by a winding dirt track, the vast property tumbles seaward in clusters of burnt umber terraced buildings. Clever architecture means that the hotel’s true scale – and make no mistake, this is a bells-and-whistles resort with enough diversions to keep guests occupied for weeks – is hidden until the final moment. New arrivals enjoy a brief but energising shamanic smoke cleansing ceremony before floating down into the hotel proper, an elegantly earthy enclave peppered with swaying rattan lanterns and peopled with kaftan-clad haute bohemians. Also expect to see creative tastemakers and a who’s who of Ibiza. Tablescaping queen Fiona Leahy, Louis Vuitton’s Faye McLeod, newlywed Clara Paget and The Crown actor Emma Corrin were all spotted on our visit, along with Sadie Frost, chef Clodagh McKenna and supermodel Arizona Muse. Guests have serious style credentials – from billowy silk Kalita dresses to bodycon Cult Gaia numbers, nothing seems too glam for this place.

The backstory
One of a raft of Six Senses openings, the hotel is owned by the influential architect Jonathan Leitersdorf. His keen eye is apparent everywhere, from the shifting rust hues of the buildings, painted to mirror those of the cliffs across the bay, to the bamboo-clad roofs that resemble Ibiza’s traditional fisherman huts. Wellbeing and community are the buzzwords here, with an impeccable roster of classes and courses from yin yoga and primal movement to cookery, pickling and ceramics. The spa is spot-on, the infinity pool sublime and guests can paddle-board or kayak from a ladder directly into the sea. An ambitious cool-season schedule will see immersive retreats with a spiritual slant.

The rooms
There’s a room for every budget, provided you earn north of six figures. Junior suites occupy the second levels, with juicy views of the dining terrace, pool and sea. Townhouses are multi-level and sociable. For those who can’t leave (and who can blame them?), a number of Six Senses Residences are available to buy. Interiors are muted, tactile and sophisticated, with pale wood, leather and stone the perfect foil for an epic exhibition of framed Magnum photographs. There are some rustic touches in keeping with the hotel’s location, but in reality, these are grown-up spaces with an upscale, international feel. Bathrooms are vast and open plan, with bowls of crunchy local bath salt and floral robes by Milan-based brand of the moment, La Double J. Minibars are stashed with adaptogens such as ashwagandha and cordyceps, along with CBD-infused soft drinks to sip on the private terraces furnished with day beds, dining tables and moon-like outdoor lamps. Some guests choose to stay a month or more, and it’s not hard to see why.

Food and drink
Gloriously, greedily earnest. Breakfast in the Farmers' Market includes spicy shakshuka, chia seed puddings and Flu Fighter shots of turmeric and ginger. The flagship open-air restaurant HaSalon is helmed by Israeli chef Eyal Shani, whose modern Middle Eastern cooking casts plants as the stars of the show. There’s plenty of fish and meat if you look for it, but it’s Shani’s elevation of humble vegetables to hero status that steals the limelight. Hip New York sushi outfit BondST has set up shop in the Beach Caves, while spirulina-slaked smoothies from the poolside Pharmacy Bar (try the Xarraca Colada) are the last word in smug indulgence.

The neighbourhood
Nearby Hotel Los Enamorados, a design-driven bolthole for nomadic creatives, set the new mood for sleepy Portinatx some years ago. Newcomer Rebrots is the go-to local restaurant from the team behind shack-chic Chiringuito Xuclar, while the whitewashed hamlet of San Juan with its happy, hippy Sunday market is a 10-minute drive away. Otherwise, it’s hikes, bikes, boats (the self-drive kind) and beaches.

The service
Employees are beautiful, plentiful and delightful, with a high staff-to-resident ratio that keeps guests from feeling overlooked, although communication between departments could be better. Top marks for having so many Ibicenco staff who delivered endless local advice. Six Senses’ affable and attentive CEO Neil Jacobs was floating around greeting both staff and guests by name, which fits neatly with the welcoming, communal spirit of the place.

Eco effort
The S-word looms large at Six Senses and the hotel’s shouty eco positioning has led to grumbles of greenwashing. In reality, there are masses of eco wins, attested to by being the first resort in the Balearics to be certified by BREEAM, an independent international body which assesses criteria such as energy, land use, pollution and waste. A star in the sustainability constellation is the Agora, the on-site store curated by fashion luminaries Tiffanie Darke and Daniela Agnelli whose hand-picked labels align with their Reduce, Recycle, Rent and Restore manifesto.

Anything left to mention?
Too few sun loungers for the 116 rooms mean the charming pool staff are endlessly placating displaced and disgruntled sunbathers. There is a talk of a new pool, but the hotel’s cliffside location makes it hard to see how. Locally sourced beach baskets are a lovely touch in the bedrooms, but the straw hats had been made in China, which felt off-key.