Review: Petunia, Ibiza
Petunia Ibiza review - in a sentence:
A beautifully-designed and low-key retreat from the hustle & bustle of the ‘wilder’ side of the island, with magical views.
Design: 4/5
As you advance around the Ibizan coast and wind your way down the dirt path to Petunia, you immediately sense that the property epitomises Mediterranean design, in a tranquil and peaceful setting: think whitewashed walls, terracotta tiles, oversized cacti and bougainvillea everywhere. So serene.
The whole property has recently been renovated after being acquired by one of my fave small hotel groups, Beaumier. Fans of the brand will recognise hallmarks of their signature style, but also interwoven with a tasteful and chic finca-style design scheme. The effect is super understated and it feels more like you’re staying at a luxe villa, which I loved.
I would definitely recommend you book a room category with either a balcony to the front of the property, or a rooftop terrace, so you can make the most of some pretty insane views. More on that later…
Food & drink: 3/5
I ate at all of the hotel’s restaurants during my stay - largely because the weather was appalling so I needed shelter! - and while I think the choice of a few eateries is great, I found they were a mixed bag. Here are some honest mini reviews:
La Mesa d'Es Vedrà, which is the main restaurant and where breakfast is served.
Breakfast is fantastic, with a really lovely, premium spread of cold / continental breakfast items as well as a hot / a la carte offering. The coffees were also gorgeeee.
Come dinner time, this restaurant is where the hotel serves authentic cuisine and is definitely a premium offering - read: it’s fancy! The price point is “treat” level and did make me gulp, but the calibre of the food matched it, and I loved everything I had.
Los Olivos, which is the poolside restaurant and more of a casual offering. The meals I had were perfectly nice but nothing to write home about, to be honest! The gastronomy in Ibiza is incredible so there’s no need to waste a meal on an average dish. Bit of a shame.
La Mirada Rooftop, which serves lovely cocktails and light dishes such as crudo and tartare. I really enjoyed the fresh, flavourful dishes - the beef tataki was a highlight! - but I did feel they were overpriced. I suppose you should expect that, when it comes to rooftop dining.
Location: 4/5
One of the biggest selling points of a stay at Petunia is definitely its positioning overlooking Es Vedrà, the teeny hilly island just off the south-west coast of Ibiza. It really is a gorgeous view - people travel from all over the island to experience it from the hotel’s rooftop bar, La Mirada.
Enjoying a couple of cocktails as the sun was setting while taking in the panoramic vista was such a core memory from my stay.
The iconic rooftop bar at Petunia, Ibiza
Besides just the views, Petunia enjoys a quiet location in the Sant Josep de sa Talaia area. This is the perfect spot to enjoy the more chilled side of the island, perhaps if you’re visiting as a couple, or - like me! - bolting on some recovery time after partying till your heart’s content.
If you’re looking to venture out and about, although Petunia is down in the south-west of the island the Old Town is only a 30-ish minute taxi away. Closer to home, Sant Josep is a lovely little town/village, and only a 10-ish mins taxi drive away.
In my opinion the beauty of an island like Ibiza is that everything is pretty spaced out, to be honest - you’ll find yourself all over the island during your stay - so it sort of doesn’t matter where you base yourself, really.
To-do: 4/5
Petunia enjoys a prime position to enjoy the wonderful scenery and nature that Ibiza offers, and there are several hiking trails nearby to enjoy the spectacular views of Es Vedrà.
As well as the hotel pool there are also a handful of gorgeous calas in the area: Cala Carbó is the closest, and Cala Vadella and Cala d'Hort are also nearby. During my 2-night stay I was car-less so chose to visit Cala Carbó, as it’s only a 5-10 min walk from the hotel. It’s not a particularly lovely or scenic walk, but once you get to the stairs at the top of the cove you’re rewarded with this stunning view and a small but very beautiful cove.
There are sun loungers for hire as well as a simple beach-side restaurant, serving great fresh fish and Balearic classics. A lovely little spot to while away an afternoon!
Back at the hotel there’s heaps to do, with regular yoga classes and film nights on offer, as well as live music.
The only thing letting Petunia down is its lack of an indoor gym or spa facilities - I think the addition of those would make this literally the perfect spot to grab some R&R on the White Isle.
Reasons to book:
Perfect for some down time on the White Island
Absolutely idyllic setting, with incredible views
Access to a lovely and very quiet cove
Any negatives?
It wasn’t a negative for me, but it might be for some: you’re not in the absolute thick of it here - i.e. you’re not walking distance to the Old Town etc. - though only a short cab away
The final word:
The perfect boutique bolthole to slow down and enjoy the quieter and more authentic side of Ibiza, plus the incredible views of Es Vedrà and proximity to gorgeous Cala Carbó made this stay, for me.