Mondrian Ibiza – Hotel Review

Cala Llonga sits on the south-east coast of Ibiza, a broad sandy cove sheltered by pine-clad hills, long popular with families and a world away from the clubs of the west coast. Here, Mondrian Ibiza rises above the beach, a striking white terraced building that began life in 1969 as the Hotel Playa Dorada, one of the island’s early tourism hotels.

As the contemporary Mondrian Ibiza, it is the cool sister of a two-hotel resort that includes Hyde, both managed by Ennismore. Together they offer guests four pools, seven restaurants and bars, including the standout alfresco Japanese, Niko, as well as the classic chiringuito Sonrojo right on the beach, and a live-music cocktail lobby bar.

The Arrival

You walk in, and the design embraces you immediately. The reception is a bold statement, with a royal blue check in area, architectural alcoves and arches and a contemporary art show running through the lobby and bar. The ground floor flows as a single connected space, from check-in past the guest desk to a central bar and a salon of deep sofas and a billiards table, the windows framing views of terraces, the pools and the bay beyond. It all opens onto a wide timber deck, furnished with sofas, and dining tables set under the pines, the cove sparkling below.

The Design

The reimagining is the work of Beades Architects on the exteriors and Cuarto Interior on the interiors, and both respect the building’s mid-century origins with a light touch. The white terraces remain mid-century in spirit, the interiors contemporary Mediterranean, with leather, rattan, wood and moulded concrete softened by bouclé chairs, colourful rugs and sculptural lighting. It manages to feel both true to its 1960s heritage and thoroughly contemporary too.

The heritage story is shared with guests. In every room sits a copy of the Cala Llonga journal, a beautifully made magazine of vintage photographs, clippings and stories tracing the history of the cove and the original hotel. It was created by Pilar López Amorano, who handles the hotel’s PR and is part of the island’s arts, music and communications scene, and it gives the property a sense of place.

The Room

Mine was a one-bedroom suite, two original rooms combined, which gives it two balconies, one off the bedroom and one off the living room, both looking over the cove. The layout is generous and properly thought through. The stylish sofa folds out to a second bed, there is a separate WC at the entrance and a full bathroom beyond the main bedroom, so the suite works as easily for a family as for friends sharing. There’s a minibar, kettle and coffee machine, and the bathroom carries refillable (and very sought-after) Grown Alchemist amenities.

The welcome gift was a lovely touch; a plate of min cakes from the pastry chef, all made with island almonds. These included a mini flaó, the traditional Ibizan mint-and-cheese tart, a lemon profiterole, an almond tart and chocolate almonds, with a note explaining the traditions behind each one.

Pools & Beach

The setting is the real draw. Mondrian Ibiza sits directly above Cala Llonga beach, a lovely crescent of sand. There’s also a ferry pier that runs out from just below the hotel, with services to Formentera, Ibiza Town, Santa Eulalia and Es Canar. Between Mondrian Ibiza and Hyde, guests have access to four pools set at different levels, each with its own pace and music.

Dining

The two hotels share seven places to eat and drink, so there is no shortage of choice without ever leaving the property. Dinner belongs to Niko, the modern Japanese restaurant that is the signature restaurant of Mondrian Ibiza. Tables are set al fresco under the pines with lanterns strung through the branches and a small lamp glowing on each table. The food more than lived up to the setting. We ordered dishes to share, with the hamachi yellowtail coming sliced into delicate slivers arranged like a star, clean and elegant on the plate. Black cod arrived with miso and pickled vegetables, flavoursome and buttery, without excessive sweetness. Duck noodles were rich with mushrooms and yakiniku sauce, and the sushi was faultless.

Lunch is veery much an island experience. We took a table at Sonrojo, the old-school chiringuito on the sand, with a contemporary Mediterranean style, with lovely furniture and a shaded terrace open to the breeze. From the table the whole cove lay in front of us, families stretched out on sun loungers, children splashing at the shoreline, and out in the bay the yachts and dinghies sat at their moorings, floating on the impossibly clear water. We shared a few plates to start, the tuna tartare on brioche toast with kimchi mayo, seafood croquetas, and then a classic arroz senyoret carried out on its paella pan and served at the table.

The rest of the line-up includes The Bungalow, the poolside grill at the Hyde, which offers a good gourmet burger, while Cuyo, the Mexican, was the least convincing, pleasant enough but not authentic Mexican cuisine.

The Vibe

Sun & Moon, the destination bar by reception, is a striking space opening onto a terrace, and the cocktails are prepared with expertise. At weekends, Ibiza Global Radio broadcasts live from here, the DJ sets carrying on into the evening as the light goes down over the bay.

Nature

For all the beachside style, the authentic island is right outside Mondrian Ibiza. The pine-clad hills begin a ten to fifteen-minute walk from the hotel, and Mondrian works with Stevie of Balearic Outdoor Adventures, who shapes hikes to suit, from a gentle meander to a proper climb of the nearby peaks. We followed him out to quiet coves, learned the local flora and the island’s medicinal herbs, and walked among wind-twisted Sabina trees to a lime kiln two or three hundred years old, once used to burn the lime that whitewashed and disinfected the island’s houses and to make its charcoal.

Wellbeing

There is also no spa on site, which some will miss; the focus instead on a 24-hour gym and fitness studios, with full spa days a short drive away at the larger island resorts.

Final Thought

Mondrian Ibiza is an on-trend beachside hotel that gets the balance right. Design, dining, beach, and music with abundant nature within walking distance. The reimagining of the 1969 Hotel Playa Dorada is done with real care, and the Cala Llonga journal in every room is a lovely touch.