Last time I visited Ibiza….
… I was 18 years old, single, and looking to party. We stayed in a cheap apartment in San Antonio, bought cheap vodka for ‘pre drinks’ and then head out to the super clubs at 1am. I know, I can’t believe that’s me either! How things change! 8 years later, I return to the White Isle for a totally different experience.
First of all, we planned to actively avoid the areas that I’d visited the last time I was there – staying this time in the North of the island, in a small village called San Juan. Far away from the clubs and the nightlife, we chose a boutique hotel; the Giri Residence as our base for our relaxing stay. It was perfect – the residence had just five rooms, each designed with a different theme and colour design and equally beautiful and typical of a more traditional Ibiza. I’d only been in the hotel for 10 minutes before I felt like part of the family. Guests are shown around the residence as well as the ‘secret’ passageway which leads straight to the heart of the village, and are told how there are no set menus or price lists; instead, you just ask for what you’d like, and the chefs or staff will prepare it for you – it’s just like being at home, just a very luxurious one!
The pool area was an instagrammers dream, with private cabanas for those seeking shade and plenty of corners for getting those all important snaps. The courtyard was equally as picturesque, and on my first evening there (before I was joined by Maddie) I enjoyed a scrumptious Ibizan chicken dish with a glass of rosé. It was 9.30pm before I settled down for dinner, thanks to the late afternoon sun which means you can sunbathe until gone 8pm in the evenings. Bliss!
Compared to my crazy party trip of previous years, it was hard to believe we were on the same small balearic island. Yes, the beautiful beaches and perfect weather was the same as I remembered, but everything else was world’s apart. San Juan had a totally chilled out vibe; the day that I arrived happened to be the day of the weekly village market, with stalls lining the streets selling beautiful wares from on-trend wicker basket bags, to dream catchers, silk dresses and jewellery. The entire village seemed to be on the picturesque streets that afternoon, dancing along to the steel band that played, and enjoying the warm afternoon sun.
After enjoying an hour or so soaking up the atmosphere of the street party, I seeked some shade at the Giri Cafe – owned by the same family as the Residence – and equally as beautiful. Also with a rustic Ibiza vibe serving organic and local dishes, it seemed to be the place to be for the residents and visitors alike. With fresh juices and salads on a daily changing menu, the casual cafe turned into a chic restaurant when the sun went down.
I very much hope to visit the Giri Residence again on my next trip to Ibiza, but if we aren’t fortunate enough to secure a room (they get booked up very much in advance!) then I’ll definitely be making my way back to San Juan to visit the cafe and pop into say hello to Vincent, Ester and the rest of the friendly family of staff that made us feel so welcome at the Giri Residence.
For details on what I wore and more on our trip in Ibiza, check out my Outfit Diaries video here;
Have you visited Ibiza before? xoxo
