A holiday in Ibiza can have many facets: Some days you might want to wake up to dazzling sea views, on others you might want to recharge amongst the tranquillity of the countryside. But for the days – and nights – that you want to be at the heart of the action, the Montesol Experimental hotel offers the perfect place to stay in one of the island’s most emblematic locations.
Situated on the bustling Vara de Rey square – just a short stroll from the lively port and on the cusp of Ibiza’s stunning Old Town – guests of the stylish abode can enjoy prime views on the iconic silhouette of UNESCO World Heritage Site Dalt Vila.
And, speaking of island history, the instantly recognisable yellow and white building that is home to the Montesol Experimental is an Ibiza icon in its own right.
Built almost 100 years ago in 1933 and designed by renowned Ibizan architect Juan Gómez Ripoll, the elegant neo-colonial building has not only witnessed decades of visitors arriving on Ibiza’s shores but is also considered the oldest hotel on the island.
From Hollywood royalty to Europe’s aristocracy, free-spirited hippies and bohemian rockstars, the likes of Pink Floyd, Orson Welles, and Carolina de Mónaco are all said to have stayed at the renowned boutique hotel.
In 2023, the Montesol hotel was taken over by the renowned Experimental Group, an independent hotel group founded in 2007 by childhood friends Olivier Bon, Pierre-Charles Cros and Romée de Goriainoff; later joined by Xavier Padovani.
Currently, the thriving hospitality group boasts 11 hotels in Paris, London, the Cotswolds, Ibiza, Menorca, Venice, Verbier and Biarritz. Foodies and cocktail connoisseurs will, of course, recognise the Experimental name from the eponymous “Experimental Cocktail Club” bars in metropolitan cities such as Paris, London, and Venice, as well as the atmospheric Ibiza beach club, Experimental Beach, at romantic sunset spot Cap d’es Falco.
Checking in for an overnight stay – after a beautiful lunch at the aforementioned Experimental Beach, full review here – the first thing that struck us when we entered the reception area was how the warm and welcoming new design would really be suitable for travellers of all occasions.
Refurbished by Dorothée Meilichzon in January 2023, the soft pinks and yellows, calming light blues and cosy rust hues ooze a cosy appeal that will make gaggles of friends, romantic couples or even multi-generational groups feel right at home.
Attention to detail can be found in every nook and cranny; from cosmic elements such as moon and sun symbols to vintage telephones, hand-crafted masks by Mallorcan artist Anna Alexandra or the eye-catching “Playdough Stools” by Diego Faivre. One thing’s for sure, your Instagram feed will LOVE the Montesol Experimental.
Opening the door to our room, it was impossible not to instantly fall in love with the many charming design touches – and THOSE views. Facing the vibrant Vara de Rey square, at nightfall the pastel-coloured backdrop of Ibiza’s Old Town turned into a magical nocturnal scene filled with sparkling lights.
The only way to top this enchanting vista – quite literally – was to head a few more levels up to Montesol Experimental’s stunning rooftop terrace – the only rooftop bar in Ibiza Town from which you can see both the beautiful silhouette of Dalt Vila as well as the hustle and bustle of the port. It’s the perfect spot to escape the busy streets down below for a little while, and sip on a crisp glass of wine or one of Montesol Experimental’s cocktail creations.
Those with a taste for Asian cuisine might also want to try the gourmet treats from the raw bar, which, in partnership with Kanpai, offers a mouthwatering array of nigiris, sashimis, tartares, tiraditos and more.
However, as temperatures had not quite reached the desired level of ‘balmy summer’s eve’ just yet, we decided to try out the cosy Café Montesol restaurant on the ground floor of the building. A bright and welcoming space where hotel guests and outside visitors alike can enjoy a hearty breakfast in the morning, at night the relaxed and colourful dining space turns into a tapas and grill eatery with a varied menu perfect for sharing!
Upon walking inside, we instantly fell in love with the cavernous private dining space at the back of the room, with two half-moon-shaped cutouts and colourful seashell embellishments adorning the walls, adding a whimsical and quirky touch.
Starting our dinner in style, we ordered a couple of cocktails: The floral and sweet Rosita with Tequila, rose cordial, apple shrub and lime and the citrussy, smokey Oxmal made from Mezcal, lime, chilli and achiote syrup with a dash of mandarin.
We let the kitchen team choose a selection of sharing plates for us and, soon enough, a mouthwatering selection of dishes appeared.
A couple of personal favourites, we highly recommend the Tuna Tartar served with an aromatic Salmorejo dressing and Pipirrana, as well as the Braised Artichokes topped with Mahón cheese and pickled egg yolk.
“This is the kind of food I would like to eat more often, but don’t know how to make myself,” it was declared.
A Mediterranean classic, the tender Red Prawns “Al Ajillo” proved another hit, while you can virtually never go wrong with the classic Pimientos de Padrón – and this was the first time we tried the Spanish specialty when the green peppers actually had a healthy crunch to them!
At the heart of Café Montesol’s dining room you will find a 360-degree open bar and barbecue, where a selection of meat and vegetables were already sizzling away.
Watching our food prepared in front of us, next we tried the tender and flavoursome chicken, delightfully charcoaled and served with a spritz of ‘burnt’ lemon and jalapeño emulsion.
And as a final hurrah, juicy Sirloin strips served with anchovy and caper chimichurri rounded off the fabulous selection very nicely indeed.
Room for dessert? Always! With a strong coffee and a gorgeous, buttery Caramelised “Torrija” bread pudding served with vanilla ice cream, we finished our meal on the proverbial ‘cloud nine’.
All there was left to do was to drift back up to our room and fall asleep in the marshmallow-soft bed. Quite literally THE DREAM.
To sum it up: If you are looking for welcoming, relaxed and stylish accommodation in the heart of Ibiza Town that works equally well for a couple’s getaway as it does for a trip with friends and family, we can’t recommend the Montesol Experimental enough – at the very least, drop in for a cocktail on the roof terrace or a casual and delicious dinner.
For further information and to book visit www.montesolexperimental.com.