Pikes Ibiza: the iconic hotel loved by rockstars
- Posted by
- Alessia Armenise
- Published
Nestled between the hills of the white island, Pikes is more than a hotel, it’s a historical party hub.
You only need to do a quick bit of research to see how many direct flights go from London (but also Leeds and other UK cities) to Ibiza. The Balearic island is one Europe’s favourite destinations and the parties are not the only reason for its success. The white island is full of incredible beaches, cute small villages to explore and yes, parties to attend.
If there’s a place that has been one of Ibiza’s party hubs for decades, it’s the iconic Pikes hotel. This little village within a village – the building was created like a real-life town in the 70s by founder Tony Pike – has seen a lot over the years. A real hub for the music elite, the Pikes was a favourite of the legendary Grace Jones, Freddie Mercury (who held his 41st birthday party there) and even George Michael – Wham’s video for Club Tropicana was filmed in the pool you could be swimming in.
The need-to-knows
Location
Ibiza is a small island but having a car is a necessary evil to explore all the fantastic places it hides.
Pikes is tucked in the San Antonio hills but it’s less than a 10 minute car ride away from some of the island’s most beautiful beaches. If you had a big night and you don’t feel like getting in the car, you can always take a ‘day off’ and spend it by the pool, sipping colourful cocktails and just enjoy the never-ending fun (and the 24-hour bar).
Style
Pikes is a peculiar place and that’s what makes it so special. It was designed to look like a village within a village, with yellow walls and exposed wood and stone – Ibiza style.
The founder Tony Pikes bought it in the 1980s and renewed it slowly until it became what it is today: a small hotel with 25 rooms, an iconic swimming pool, a tennis court, a restaurant and an enchanting garden surrounding the property.
Rooms
The rooms are just as eccentric as the rest of the hotel, featuring gold accents, exposed wood and funky interiors.
A pink neon sign saying ‘Kiss me’ on top of the bed and a big poster claiming ‘Chic and erotique’ (or similar stimulating messages) could be one of the main design pieces in your suite, together with golden palm-trees and monkey-shaped lights. Everything is fun at Pikes, even (and especially) at night.
Food & Drinks
Room 39
Pikes’ restaurant Room 39, headed by (Gordon Ramsay trained) head chef Lee Milne, is the winner of Best Restaurant Award at The White Ibiza Readers’ Choice Awards and is definitely one of the best places to eat on the island. That’s not only because of the delicious food, but also due to its electric atmosphere, which is so palpable everywhere in this iconic hotel.
Starting from this year, Pikes’ team is also collaborating with a local farmer for the creation of the ‘Pikes Patch’, which will provide the kitchen exclusively with locally grown seasonal vegetables. The must try? The chef’s vegan sub – the tastiest cauliflower on the island.
How to get to Pikes
The only way to move around Ibiza is having a car or getting a taxi. No bus goes to Pikes, or practically anywhere else, unfortunately.
Stylist.co.uk tips:
- Ibiza is a great island but public transport is not exactly its best asset. Make sure you reserve a car before you arrive to be able to explore all the beautiful beaches scattered from the north to the south of the island. You can also ask Pikes’ reception team to suggest one of the local rental cars on the island. They are usually cheaper than the big international companies and it’s good to help the local community.
- Before you book, make sure you check what is happening at Pikes while you will be staying there. The hotel is one of the most prolific cultural hubs of the island and some of its events are unmissable. For example, the hotel just launched a series of podcasts around music and culture and this year’s Pikes Ibiza Literary Festival was headlined by famous authors Irvine Welsh and Linda Quinn.
- Enjoy the parties, but make sure you wake up early enough to get a spot on one of the beaches surrounding the hotel. There are many incredible sandy beaches on the island but the summer is a busy time in Ibiza and some of them can be difficult to access after 11am.