Paradise is in Cala Nova
How many times have you wished that time would stop in an instant? That everything was as easy as pressing the 'stop' button, taking a deep breath, forgetting everything and continuing.
We don't have that button and we can't make the hands of the clock stop turning, but We have condensed in 48 hours the perfect experience to recharge your batteries in front of the sea and feel like the king or queen, not of the world, but of the island of Ibiza – which is not bad at all.
Your motto? "Hedonistic luxury." Your location? The beautiful Cala Nova, in Es Canar, in the east of the island. Your name? Bless Hotel Ibiza , the second accommodation –after Bless Hotel Madrid– of the Palladium Hotel Group luxury brand: Bless Collection Hotels.
Because sometimes it is not necessary to stop time, but to invest it in oneself. Next, the perfect getaway, the definitive respite, the enjoyable hotel, the swimming pool in the heights with which you will dream for the rest of the year... In short, the Bless experience. Check in!
The infinity pool where you can swim and fly at the same time
FRIDAY
Before entering what will be our haven of luxury for two days, let's talk about its location: Cala Nova, a golden sand beach located in the Es Canar area, within the municipality of Santa Eulalia del Río.
A leafy pine forest is the prelude to this coquettish little cove of about 250 meters in length, where, turned to the sea, we find our destination: Bless Hotel Ibiza.
3 p.m. Check-in. The Bless experience begins as soon as you walk through the doors of this five-star hotel that welcomes you with calm elegance and sophistication, with a color palette where black and white rule, accompanied by winks in pastel and gold tones and geometric lines.
All the interior design of the hotel, included in the exclusive seal of The Leading Hotels of the World , bears the signature of two studies, Urcoisa and HBA: Concept Design , and drinks from various inspirations, each one more evocative: the refined sensibility and minimalist aesthetics of Coco Chanel, the Belle Époque, the Mediterranean that bathes the Balearic Islands, the French Riviera and the Italian coast...
Llum Pool Club
After leaving the trance in which we had plunged contemplating the high ceilings of the reception area and the dance of the flames in the fireplace –decorative, obviously– and download the bliss app –with all the information about events, gastronomy, press and the possibility of reserving the spa or the gym from the smartphone– we take the elevator to our room, whose design continues to focus on the elegant color palette of the lobby.
The entire room breathes an avant-garde and extremely chic style that we could well define as “eclectic Mediterranean”, Well, if we look beyond the pale pink sofa, the oak dresser and the king size bed that screams “get rid of me once and for all”, we find nature again: with that pine forest that reaches almost to the sand and gives way to the blue sea of Cala Nova.
Let's also stop at the bed, from which you can enjoy the views, but above all that long-awaited rest that we have been looking for. For this, the hotel puts at our disposal the Blessedbed® experience, thanks to which we can sleep like angels between 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and on a mattress specially designed for Bless Collection Hotels.
eclectic mediterranean
5:00 p.m. Bubble bath. In the bathroom (where we do not overlook the Le Labo amenities) a whirlpool bath awaits us where we can watch a film between bubbles and enjoy a soothing bubble bath, or as they call it here: the Bathology® experience. Its ingredients? Artisan soaps, essential oils, bath salts, candles and special set-up in the room.
The bathologist (or soap butler) will recommend the most suitable bath for your skin type: energizing (with calendula oil), relaxing (with arnica oil and essences of lavender, tangerine and pine), sensual (with pink clay, rosehip oil and aroma of jasmine, vanilla and litsea), scrub (with grape seed oil and essences of orange, eucalyptus and lemon) or bless (with almond oil, Ibiza salt and essences of orange, eucalyptus, lemon and mint).
The salts come from the Ses Salines Natural Park, declared a World Heritage Site, and the essence of the oil is from Santa Inés, on the northwest coast of Ibiza. Also, soaps are 100% natural and, together with the aromatic herbs of the island, they create the perfect combination of aromas.
Is there anything more relaxing than a bubble bath in front of the sea?
8:00 p.m. Etxeko. Every hedonist knows how to appreciate gastronomy and good food and we assure you that the Etxeko restaurant, under the baton of chef Martín Berasategui, It is up to the most demanding palates.
“At Etxeko Ibiza I propose you to travel through my origins in the old part of San Sebastián and let yourself be seduced by my creations, according to the whim of the sea, the countryside and the seasons”, is how Martín Berasategui inaugurates Etxeko's menu.
Etxeko means 'homemade' in Basque. and this is how we feel as soon as we set foot in the restaurant of the Basque chef, who has twelve Michelin stars to his credit. It has two tasting menus, one with seven passes and the other with nine, in addition to the menu, which includes several dishes from both menus.
Both menus start with a trio of bites that we are advised to take from left to right: osmotized melon with caipirinha; crispy squid with its own ink, Ibizan sobrassada creams and honey jellies; and semi-liquid Ibizan goat cheese croquette.
We continue with rustic bread and a selection of four butters – citronella and lemon leaves and kefir; Ibizan tomato, thyme and lemon and boletus– that disappear in the blink of an eye
The appetizer is a refreshing jalapeño foam with black garlic ice cream, cucumber mayonnaise and mackerel sashimi, which, if we choose the long menu, is followed by one of Berasategui's classics: the caramelized mille-feuille of foie, smoked eel and green apple – delighting (and silencing) mouths for 25 years.
“This millefeuille was one of the first dishes I learned to make with Berasategui in 2010, it is an emblem of Martín, and that bite in the mouth is the real bomb,” he says Paco Budía, chef in charge of the kitchen at Etxeko.
Caramelized mille-feuille of foie, smoked eel and green apple
The homage to the countryside and the sea comes from the hand of the Ibizan tomato on a translucent pickle juice, touches of salted sardine, cheese snow and liquid olives. They recommend taking it by sliding the spoon across the plate to catch all the possible flavors.
The next pass on the long menu is 'La Dehesa', a Old beef tataki macerated with thyme and orange, pickled onion in cherry and citrus teriyaki sauce.
The pass 'El Oceáno' in the short menu is presented with a shrimp rosso, accompanied by ajoblanco, beet tartar and purple shiso granita. In the long it is a tasty grilled hake with creamy thai, mollusks in textures and touches of Bloody Mary.
Next, 'The Tradition', represented in the short menu by a Roasted foie gras with seaweed, rested on horseradish curd, fermented soy broth and hazelnut salt. In the length, the brand new Luismi beef tenderloin with chard chlorophyll, cheese bonbons and Iberian sauce.
Etxeko's terrace
We continue with 'La Frescura', a liquid yoghurt bonbon (or a gin fizz in the case of the short menu) that gives way to desserts and prepares us to put the sweet final touch to the evening with 'La Sorpresa', a coffee cream - caramel with a light cocoa ground and mascarpone ice cream.
Finally they arrive the petit fours, to taste in the following order: lemon and almond financier; cocoa cloud; cold rooibos tea soup with crackers; Homemade Ferrero Rocher and a tart strawberry gummy.
In the liquid section we find both national and international labels. Yes indeed, the setting invites you to opt for Balearic options such as Can Rich Ereso white wines (V.T Ibiza. Malvasia, Chardonnay), Savina (V.T Formentera. Moscatel, Viognier, Malvasía, Garnacha Blanca) and chibia (V.T Mallorca. Callet, Prensal, Giró Ros); the rosés Bes Rosat Gray (VT Ibiza. Monastrell) and sea rose (VT Formentera. Merlot, Cabernet, Monastrell) and the BlackNose VT Ibiza reds. Monastrell, Syrah) and the Can Rich Lausos reds (VT Ibiza. Cabernet Sauvignon) and Black Soul (VT Mallorca. Callet, Fogoneu, Manto Negro).
We left Etxeko in a cloud and arrived floating in our room, where the best bed in the world awaits us. You can not ask for more. Good night Ibiza.
SATURDAY
10 a.m. Breakfast is served on the terrace of the Salao restaurant and the buffet unfolds in every corner of Tris Vermutería Bar where we find fresh seasonal fruit, dried fruit, all kinds of bread, sausages, churros, cereals, yogurt, homemade jams, a gluten-free section and even a small table full of sweets.
An orange juice full of vitamins awaits us at the table and a friendly waiter who will ask us what coffee or tea we should drink and if we want some of the breakfast options that they prepare in the kitchen: french omelette to taste; Avocado, Arugula, and Poached Egg Toast (we'll just say “oh my gosh”); açaí bowl with fruits and cereals; or pancake with sour cream, blueberries and maple syrup.
12 noon to soak After having a good account of breakfast, we are ready to start our most hedonistic Saturday in the hotel pool with overflowing sheets of water and views of Cala Nova. A full-fledged ode to dolce far niente where you can let yourself be caressed by the sea breeze and enjoy the sound of the waves and chill out music (which also plays underwater).
We know what you are thinking: are we not going to leave the hotel? Actually, it wouldn't be necessary, but we feel like putting our feet in the sand, so Let's take the little door that takes us directly to the beach and let's also take a dip in the salt water. The pool will still be there waiting for us on our return and also the Llum Pool Club and its delicious cocktails!
Another of the beautiful corners of the hotel: the little garden next to the pool
3 p.m. Today we eat in the purest Mediterranean style in Salao, a restaurant with an informal and carefree atmosphere from which you cannot lose sight of the pool or the sea.
As a first starter, we chose a selection of the most appetizing sushi: spice tuna roll (based on Balfegó bluefin tuna and avocado with nori seaweed) and gon roll-avocado ebi tempura (with panko-battered shrimp and cream cheese).
The second starter is still just as appetizing and fresh: the fish ceviche of the day, accompanied by yellow pepper, red onion, cancha, corn and sweet potato.
The main course is starred, how could it be otherwise, by a paella that takes us to seventh heaven and which is followed by a dessert that you have to make room for yes or yes: the piña colada taco, a saber with pineapple gelee, coconut sponge cake and creamy pineapple.
The digestion? At about 10 meters, our beloved hammock with views of the sea, the pine trees and the island of Tago Mago.
Salao restaurant terrace
6:00 p.m. Calm. We are strictly fulfilling what we had come to do: focus solely and exclusively on ourselves. So let's continue down that path, which leads us straight to Magness Soulful Spa, a temple of wellness inspired by the Ibiza countryside and the uses of the plants that grow in it.
It has Turkish sauna or hammam, water circuit and hydrotherapy, aromatherapy showers, jacuzzi and treatment and massage cabins.
In addition, a very special event is held in the spa itself (check the calendar) called Opera Spa Night, with a live performance by an opera singer, chromotherapy and healthy drinks and snacks.
The spa where to activate the slow mode
Those hedonists who do not forgive training even if they are on vacation will be able to continue with their routine in Fitnic Power Gym, the hotel gym, which has state-of-the-art machinery, personal trainers and the Sweat Box experience, a high-intensity training offered in a virtual room with 360º surround image and sound.
For reasons of capacity, it is necessary to reserve both the gym and the spa, through the app or directly at reception.
By the way, if you don't feel like getting ready tonight... At the Rossano Ferretti beauty center they will do it for you!
Exterior of the Magness Soulful Spa
7:00 p.m. Cocktail time. Mixology is another of the strong points of Bless Hotel Ibiza, which offers its guests the Mixology® experience, guided by its excellent barmen. Choose a cocktail from the menu and listen to the stories and curiosities about this art while the mixture is shaken in the shaker.
You can enjoy the cocktail in your own room but also in the Llum Pool Club, in Tris Vermutería & Bar or in our favourite: Epic Infinity Lounge, the rooftop that you will never forget –and to which you will return in your mind again and again when you are at home–.
In its cocktail menu we find the Epic Signature section, with options like: old spiced (Glenmorangie whiskey, pepper, ginger), berry cosmos (Vodka Belevedere citrus, red fruits, cranberry and lime juice), pack pack (Don Papa Rum, honey, lime and bitter) or the explosive Chicano (Pisco, ginger ale, angostura and lime juice).
Also take a look at the sections Volcano of my Land Signature (in which we stayed with the Frozen Margarita based on Volcán de mi Tierra blanco, triple sec, lime juice) and that of micheladas (a Mexican drink made with beer, lime juice, sauces, Clamato and spicy). A chin chin (or several) for Ibizan hedonism!
The sunset unfolds its charm over Cala Nova
8:00 p.m. The sunset, very little by little, makes its appearance, dyeing Cala Nova purple and giving way to the moonlight, which illuminates the infinity pool on the roof (which we will recreate later, promised).
We decided to stay for dinner on the heights and enjoy the art of sharing. To start, a delicious cause of olive octopus with potato, avocado and kalamata olives and an aguachile of prawns, hibiscus flower and jalapeños.
From the hot dishes section, we are left with the piggy pibil (pork, purple onion, habanero chili, achiote and corn cake) and the beef rib taco with barbecue sauce and lime.
Please, that tonight and the cocktail that we just ordered -We have lost count of how many we have- never end.
Olive octopus causa with potato, avocado and kalamata olive
SUNDAY
Our last hours at Bless Hotel Ibiza will be spent in the rooftop pool, right next to our dinner yesterday. We couldn't leave without enjoying the views in daylight or diving into what, for us, is the best infinity pool on the entire island (not to mention the entire Mediterranean).
Here, the pool water merges with the blue of the sea, provoking us an inexplicable reassuring vertigo that we don't want to stop clinging to.
Without hyperbole or exaggeration: we would take a thousand planes to Ibiza, the necessary ferries, we would even go swimming if we had no other choice, for dive back into the pool (and the full experience) at the Bless hotel. You'll only understand when you've done it and has far exceeded all your expectations, from start to finish.