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Ibiza foodies

Where the river meets the sea – Hotel Riomar Ibiza

The perfect place to find peace this summer.

Welcoming hotel guests, island residents and visitors alike, Hotel Riomar Ibiza is the perfect place to find peace, soak up the sun, enjoy sundowners and great meals with a like-minded community of Ibiza lovers.

Words: Danni Landa | Photos: Photography by November Studio, Ana Lui, Lutz Vorderwülbecke, Romualdo Abellán and Filipe Wiens

Ibiza is known for many things, but the beauty of its coastline is without a doubt the island’s most captivating attribute. Little known amongst visitors however, is the magical spot where the Santa Eulalia River streams into the bay, dispersing its waters into the sapphire blues of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s at this beautiful estuary where Hotel Riomar Ibiza can be found – established in 1968, it was one of the very first hotels on the island. Now, the mid-century modernist building has been luxuriously and sensitively renovated, retaining many of its original features and a touch of nostalgia.

Each of the 116 rooms at Hotel Riomar Ibiza is light filled and furnished with all the latest mod-cons – decked out in subdued and refined colours, mixing sophisticated beach house style with a sleek and modern ambience. All come with a balcony or terrace. The sea and deluxe sea rooms overlook the never-ending Mediterranean Sea in all its glittering colours. The river view rooms look over the graceful river which was rehabilitated to its full glory several years ago and is now home to plenty of fish and the cutest mama ducks with their fluffy little babies. Elsewhere, four suites are designed to provide a sense of calm and restfulness, complete with pillow menus, a living area, two private balconies with expansive sea views plus luxurious bathroom amenities to induce a pleasant sense of laziness.

Established in 1968, Hotel Riomar Ibiza was one of the very first hotels on the island and it’s now been luxuriously and sensitively renovated to respect its heritage while looking to the future.

While the rooms are sumptuous enough to lounge in all day long, Hotel Riomar Ibiza’s facilities and agenda mean you won’t stay indoors for long. The hotel’s proximity to the river means guests can take a short and easy stroll along the pathway bordering the water, past the ducks to the ancient Roman bridge. With wooded areas nearby plus the long stretch of golden sand making up Santa Eulalia Bay, the team at Hotel Riomar Ibiza wanted to incorporate the natural beauty of the surrounds into the hotel’s daily life, and so, TRIBE was born. A new space within the hotel, this secluded garden terrace has a crushed seashell flooring softer than any sand. During the day natural shade casts a dappled light across the space designed for deep relaxation and there’s a special spot to indulge in the complimentary wellness menu.

As dusk falls over Santa Eulalia Bay, TRIBE transforms into a vibrant community of island lovers. Open to island residents, visitors and hotel guests alike, the vibe at TRIBE attracts an eclectic crowd bonding over a shared love of music, amazing cocktails and delicious snacks. Starting at 5pm in time for cocktail hour, TRIBE hosts DJs spanning the full spectrum from funk classics and Balearic beats to 90s hits, full moon nights and emotive sunset sessions. Just like the iconic style of Hotel Riomar Ibiza itself, the soundscapes at TRIBE have been curated to evoke a timeless synergy between the past and present and events continue into the night to keep the beat alive.

Wellness and well-being have always been guiding principles for Hotel Riomar Ibiza. The unique location, with access to the velvety sands of Santa Eulalia Bay, means there are countless opportunities to connect with nature. Positivity flows through the hotel and the guiding vision is to create opportunities for balance, serenity, connection and joy for every guest. Each day features a complimentary wellness gathering, be it hatha, vinyasa, restorative or bliss yoga – a class that’s practised to the beats of a chill-out playlist. In addition, guests can sign up for any number of other activities such as paddle boarding, snorkelling, hiking and horse riding – all of which are designed to reveal Ibiza’s natural beauty and connect you back to yourself.

Perhaps one of Hotel Riomar Ibiza’s best-kept secrets is that day passes to the pool are available for non-guests too. The day pass is just 80€ per person and includes entry into the pool deck area between 10am and 8pm, a sunbed, parasol and 40€ credit to spend in Ocean Brasserie and Bar. Day passes allow islanders of a similar mindset to enjoy, connect and relax in the beautiful surroundings of the hotel. The aim is to relax, rejuvenate and re-energise under the rays of the Ibiza sun, and just one day by the pool here is enough to make you feel as if you’d been on staycation.

One of Hotel Riomar Ibiza’s best-kept secrets is that day passes to the pool are available for island residents and visitors staying elsewhere on the island – the perfect staycation for a day.

Settle in for a full day of sunbathing, swimming and service from the expert Hotel Riomar Ibiza team. Take a spot overlooking the pool deck’s magnificent sea views or nab one of the hotel’s sun loungers on the beach. The perfect antidote to the full rays of Ibiza’s sun, Ocean Brasserie and Bar offers a chic opportunity to cool down and re-energise via a menu of delectable dishes and bespoke cocktails. Start with grilled edamame and some of the best quality jamón to be found in Ibiza. The rest of the menu features ultra-healthy choices such as a super green salad, burrata with artichoke, pistachio and basil, and the Brasserie’s signature poke bowl served as a rice cupcake with toro tuna, avocado, cantaloupe and nori.

Heartier meals at Ocean Brasserie and Bar represent the excellent produce and unique flavours of the island and beyond. The truffle quesadilla comes with mushrooms and Scamorza cheese with the option to add chicken – it’s perfect to share, especially if you add a serve of crispy calamari with yellow aíj mayo. The classic Ocean beef burger is slathered in Gruyere, black aioli, lettuce and tomato with a side of French Fries. In steep competition to the classic is the Ocean Veggie burger with a Beyond Burger patty and all the trimmings. Kids are catered for with their own menu comprising of everybody’s favourites – chicken nuggets, fish goujons, tomato spaghetti and a ham and cheese toastie.

As the day begins to cool, Ocean Brasserie and Bar transforms into a twilight haven of great food, great drinks and a chilled-out vibe – also open to the public. On the evening menu, starters include scallops with roasted eggplant breadcrumbs, herbs and lemon, red prawns served with caviar and ricotta cream and delicious steak tartar. Main meals are an international affair with scrumptious options such as grilled whole lobster, Wagyu flat-iron steak, 30-day aged rib eye and toro tuna courgette spaghetti with sesame among other tasty delights. Again, kids will be happy with their own separate menu while the grown-ups enjoy working their way through the list of handcrafted cocktails developed by Hotel Riomar Ibiza’s very own mixologists.

Soundtracked by resident DJs and with views stretching out towards a horizon blushed with sunset colours, Ocean Brasserie and Bar is ideal for romance as well as gatherings with friends. Hotel Riomar Ibiza captures everything beautiful about Ibiza, from the gorgeous beach and sea views to the natural surrounds of the river and a strong sense of community.