The Island That Never Sleeps: The Perfect Thursday Night in Ibiza
Home of so many gorgeous beaches…no glow stick required. (Photo: Jackie Strause)
As it turns out, you don’t have to be a fist-pumping 20-something or an EDM aficionado to fall in love with Ibiza. There are enough sublime beaches and innovative restaurants to haunt your #TBT daydreams long after you leave. But come the weekend, the true Ibiza magic certainly lies in the epic DJ parties where you can dance until the sun comes up.
Here’s how to spend the perfect Thursday night in Ibiza:
3 p.m. — Check in to the Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza. A mere 10-minute taxi ride from the airport, this five-star high-rise, which opened last summer, is a lively hotspot that doubles as a seaside oasis. Boasting a location on the longest beach on the island, its bustling Beach Club restaurant — where Moët champagne flows like water — begs you to enjoy a Spanish-style late lunch. Take in your new surroundings as you burrow your feet into the white sand.
The party gets started early here. Really early. (Photo: Jackie Strause)
3:30 p.m. — Venture over to the spa for a Rhythm & Motion massage. Since you don’t have time to take a full-on siesta, this 50-minute, music-infused treatment is the perfect substitute. In typical Ibiza fashion, the rubdown is set to soothing techno tunes, leaving both your mind and body rejuvenated after a long flight. The vibration and sounds keep you in a trancelike state so you feel power-nap energized, instead of groggy, when you leave. Make sure to rinse off in one of the freshwater pools before you head to your room.
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6 p.m. — Watch a no-filter sunset at Experimental Beach at Cap Des Falco. Hop into a cab to this nearby gem for a fiery, Instagram-worthy sunset to kick off your night. The private beach and local haunt is tucked away at the end of the Ses Salines salt flats and is well worth the bumpy ride past towering sand dunes. Watch Ibiza’s never-ending sunlight disappear across unforgettable views of the Mediterranean as you sip on bespoke cocktails while noshing from a tapas-friendly menu — but make sure to leave room for dinner.
No filter…seriously. (Photo: Jackie Strause)
8 p.m. — Dine like EDM royalty at Sublimotion by Paco Roncero. Only in Ibiza can you eat at the “world’s most expensive restaurant.” The one-of-a-kind gastronomic show, which you need to book in advance, costs a hefty 1,700 euros ($1,900) per person for three hours of dinner theater.
Just a low-key dinner. (Photo: Jackie Strause)
The setting changes with each of the 15 courses, using breakthrough technology, edible props, and choreographed surprises. For a meal with a more affordable price tag, head to the chef’s other restaurant inside the Hard Rock, Estado Puro, for traditional Spanish tapas with a twist.
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Head over to the most expensive restaurant in the world to find out whether it is worth it. (Photo: Jackie Strause)
10:30 p.m.— Turn it up at Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel. After dinner, walk next door to the island’s ultimate party spot. Thanks to a celebrity clientele and a revolving door of A-list DJs, the open-air pool club boasts the most-talked about day and night parties. Make friends with someone staying in a suite if you want a VIP view of the stage, or grab an area at the back bar for a bird’s-eye view of the madness. Trance powerhouse Armin van Buuren is the headliner for this season’s Thursday-night parties.
12 a.m. — Dance until sunrise at Pacha. Outdoor parties on Ibiza wrap promptly at midnight, so you’ll have to change venues if you want to dance into the wee hours. Pacha has locations all over the world — the first opened in Sitges, outside Barcelona, in 1967 — but Ibiza plays host to the most famous one in all the land. The staple EDM nightclub has five rooms, some with alternatives to house music, and has seen nearly every well-known DJ walk through its doors. This season, David Guetta runs Thursday nights until Nicky Romero takes over in September. If you do make it until the sun comes up, spend Friday relaxing and rebooting on the majestic beaches of Formentera —you deserve it.
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