Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay: When You Want Good-Time Vibes Without a Full-On Party

Stay Here For

A bite of the action, not an entire plateful. This hotel isn’t exactly snoozy, but it does give you a respite from the clubs and the crowds that fill them.

Set on Talamanca Bay, a quiet bay a few miles from Ibiza Town, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay is just a 20-minute stroll from the fan-favorite Pacha Ibiza Nightclub: close enough to stumble back to after a night of partying, and far enough away to feel like a refuge from it all. But that delicate balance is only part of why the hotel appeals to such a broad swathe of travelers—and how it somehow manages to satisfy them all.

Part of a growing brand born of an extension of chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s hit restaurants, Nobu hotels are designed to be certified crowd-pleasers. Stay at Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, and you’re as likely to see partyers pregaming with espresso martinis before hitting the clubs as you are families with young children headed for the beach.

As soon as you enter the hotel, you’re immediately drawn to the swimming pool, which overlooks a shoreline punctuated by plush daybeds and crisp white umbrellas. It helps that there’s no wall between the pool and the lobby—guests in caftans seem to float between the two with a preternatural ease. The design is modern and Mediterranean, and spaces are overwhelmingly white and aquamarine with the occasional flash of natural wood, rattan and straw. The pull of the sea is a constant at this hotel: Many rooms have a sea view, but all have floor-to-ceiling windows and a terrace.

And it’s the adults-only pool, not the lobby, from which everything flows. To the left of it are the pool bar, Bay Café and the spa, while to the right are a family pool, Nobu, the kids club, the gift shop and the Spanish restaurant Chambao. (There’s also a juice bar, because health and hedonism are offered in equal measure here.) Between it all sits the lobby lounge, where you can sink into a cushy sofa, cocktail in hand, or chat with a friendly staff member who’ll happily share their insider tips for cutting the club lines.

All day long, there’s a constant stream of comings and goings. There are the hotel guests who shuttle back and forth between their rooms and the rest of the resort, and the visitors who drop in to buy a day pass and hang by the pool. As day turns to evening, the various bars (including one on a rooftop) start to heat up and the tables fill at Nobu. It’s definitely a bit of a scene—and there might be an A-list celeb sighting or two—but it’s all part of the draw.

The Room

Rooms and suites have everything you need and nothing you don’t. The mattresses are extremely comfortable, so whether you tuck in early or have a late night, you won’t want to drag yourself out of bed in the morning. When you do, you’ll be glad to find a Nespresso machine and full-sized bath products by Barcelona-based brand Natura Bissé with which to freshen up in the marble bathroom. Of the hotel’s 152 rooms, more than half have a sea view, but all of them have floor-to-ceiling windows and a terrace. The Rooftop Junior Suites offer an outdoor hot tub and some junior suites include a plunge pool.

For the crème de la crème, you’ll want to book the nearly 3,800-square-foot Nobu Penthouse Suite, which has a kitchen and dining area in addition to a living room, king-size master suite and two additional bedrooms. Naturally, it comes with A-list perks like airport transfers, ambassador service (like a cross between a butler and concierge), breakfast served in the suite each morning, one 60-minute spa treatment per day and daily use of two poolside Bali beds or seafront sunbeds.

The Features

Nobu is known not only for traditional sushi but also for creative cuisine fusing flavors from around the world.

Don’t miss: A dinner featuring Nobu classics like yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño and miso black cod. If you’re familiar with Nobu’s immense menu, order à la carte. Otherwise, put your trust in the chef and get the seven-course omakase tasting menu, which includes cold and hot dishes like caviar-topped tuna tataki, nigiri sushi and lamb chops.

Standout features: The main pool and daybeds right on the beach are exactly where you want to be. The Bali beds that line the adults-only pool must be reserved and require a €200 minimum spend, but there are plenty of daybeds with the same plush mattresses and umbrellas on a sandy strip looking out onto the beach. There are also lounge chairs directly on the sand by Chambao.

Can’t stop thinking about: The Matsuhisa Benedict, one of the breakfast dishes at Chambao. In a twist on the traditional, poached eggs are served on a bed of crispy tofu with blanched spinach, snow crab, shiso hollandaise sauce and salmon roe.

The Lowdown

The kids club is free and offers a range of activities, from arts and crafts to stargazing.

What are you packing? A sequined or animal-print swimsuit, a billowing caftan and a pair of strappy sandals.

What are people drinking? By the pool, it’s cava (a sparkling wine similar to prosecco) or rosado (Spanish rosé) all day. After sunset, it’s all about espresso martinis (after all, you need fuel for a night out), lychee martinis and really any other type of martini you can imagine.

The dish you’re re-creating at home: Chambao’s grilled artichokes topped with shaved Parmesan (black truffle optional). The artichoke leaves are pushed open and flattened, creating a perfect disk on which to layer a mountain of cheese and truffles.

Do it for the kids: The kids club offers genuinely enjoyable activities, from sushi-making to stargazing. In the past, they’ve even hosted sneaker-decorating workshops with a local artist who customized a pair of sneakers for chef Nobu himself.

Are guests staying in or going out? There’s a constant flow of people coming and going, both among hotel guests and those who buy a day pass for the pool or have dinner at the restaurant; the vast majority of the latter are external guests.

Lounge chairs are available on the beach just beyond Chambao.

Fast Facts

• Number of rooms: 152 
• Number of pools: 2
• Fitness center? Yes
• Spa? Yes
• Salon? There’s a nail bar
• Number of bars/restaurants: 5
• 24-hour room service? Yes
• Childcare and kids club? Yes