We landed in Ibiza to 28°C heat and completely blue skies, and it felt like summer was still in full swing. Everyone was excited to be there, with the slightly rowdy but very happy energy you get when a few days of sunshine, music and very little sleep are ahead. Waiting outside was a slick black Pacha transfer, complete with the famous cherry logo on the side, which whisked us straight to Pacha Hotel. We were welcomed with glasses of Spanish cava and fresh, sweet strawberries before heading up to our room.
Pacha Ibiza has been part of Ibiza’s story for more than five decades, and staying directly opposite the club made that history feel very present. The hotel itself is playful and modern, with a curved, futuristic hallway leading towards the rooms. There was also a cheeky glass panel in the shower, meaning whoever was showering could still be seen from the bedroom. Our balcony let in plenty of light, while downstairs there was a small pool that felt peaceful and chilled despite being just across the road from one of the island’s most famous clubs. After travelling, we spent some time by the pool to reset before the night ahead. A Caesar salad and pasta later, we were ready to get dressed and head out for our first night.
Our first stop was 528. We caught a beautiful orange sunset on the way over, before arriving to Hot Chip’s electronic sound and plenty of disco energy. The crowd was slightly older than some of the Ibiza nights you might expect, but everyone was incredibly friendly and the atmosphere was exactly what we wanted. We ended up making friends on the dancefloor and getting caught up in the fun. There is something about Ibiza that makes this happen very quickly. You arrive with your own group and, before long, everyone seems to be part of the same one.
But the real advantage of staying at Pacha Hotel became apparent when it was time for round two – we just crossed the road. Pacha Ibiza has been a symbol of Ibiza nightlife for over 50 years, and walking through the doors still feels like stepping into a piece of club history. GORDO’s TARAKA had taken over Tuesdays for the summer, bringing his high-energy sound and global concept to the club, and by the time we arrived, the night was well underway. Our night featured GORDO alongside Shimza, HoneyLuv, Vanjee and Gala, with the dancefloor already packed.
Pacha Ibiza’s recent reinvention has also given the club a fresh energy, with immersive visuals, new lighting and sound design and the VIP Garden bringing a new feel to the space. After more than five decades, the famous cherries are still everywhere, but there is nothing dated about the experience inside. The sound, production and packed dancefloor make it easy to understand how Pacha Ibiza has managed to remain such a huge part of Ibiza nightlife while the island around it continues to change.
The next morning, we woke up a little tired, but still buzzing from the night before. Breakfast involved plenty of coffee alongside fresh fruit, kiwi, eggs and Spanish ham, before we headed to Destino Five Ibiza, which was a welcome change of pace from the night before. Perched above Cap Martinet, Destino Five Ibiza has panoramic views across the Mediterranean. With the sea stretching out in front of you, Ibiza’s nightlife feels a world away. White umbrellas shaded guests around the Playa Pacha pool, while a DJ played relaxing Ibiza music from a deck in the middle of the water.
It was luxurious but still chilled, which is exactly what you want from an Ibiza pool club. We settled into a cabana with Lychee Mules and Aperol Spritz while the afternoon stretched out around us. The food was just as good, with edamame, sushi, quesadillas and salads arriving across the table, everything fresh and delicious. The service was perfect throughout, with everything taken care of without the relaxed atmosphere ever disappearing.
Destino Five Ibiza reopened in 2025 following its transformation into a five-star resort, with 161 rooms, suites and villas alongside its open-air stage and Playa Pacha. The latter has that classic day-to-night Ibiza feel, with its signature Playa Pacha pool, cocktails, Balearic beats and views towards the sea and Dalt Vila. Pacha ICONS also takes place here, bringing big electronic acts to the open-air stage. Music is a big part of the experience at Destino Five Ibiza, and it carries through from the Playa Pacha pool to the stage without taking away from the feeling that you have come somewhere to relax.
It’s easy to spend the whole day within the Pacha world, moving from the Playa Pacha pool to dinner and eventually onto the dancefloor. With its open-air stage and panoramic setting, Destino Five Ibiza has become one of the island’s big places for music, while the resort itself gives you somewhere to slow down between the parties. After a few hours in the sun, several cocktails and far too much food, we headed back to Pacha Hotel to get ready for another night.
That evening took us to Ibiza Port, where Solomun was playing a special free open-air show. Walking up the promenade, the dock was lined with yachts on one side while the old town was busy on the other, with people having late dinners and gathering around the waterfront. Families danced at the back, techno fans filled the front and nearby balconies were packed with people watching from above. As the sun disappeared and the red lights came up around the stage, the whole waterfront seemed to fill with people. It was a brilliant way to start the evening before heading back into the Pacha world for dinner.
Back at Pacha Hotel, we headed into Pacha Restaurant for a very late meal. Sitting next to the club, the restaurant has a really vibey atmosphere, particularly at that hour, when you can hear the music through the walls and dinner can easily turn into another night out. The menu brings together Mediterranean and Japanese influences, and our table quickly filled with sushi, nigiri, truffle fries and lamb chops, alongside a slightly unexpected but very good vanilla dipping sauce. We finished with peppermint tea before heading back through the club. It was the perfect midnight meal after a night of dancing, and exactly the sort of food we wanted at that point in the evening.
Walking through Pacha Ibiza on the way out, the club was still completely alive. It was dark, loud and packed, with people raving hard into the early hours as Mau P’s Baddest Behaviour took over Wednesday night. The line-up included WhoMadeWho with their hybrid live/DJ set alongside Ale De Tuglie, Frank Storm and Anna Tur, and there was no sign of the night slowing down. After a relaxed afternoon at Destino Five Ibiza, dinner at Pacha Restaurant and then finding ourselves back in the middle of the club, it was another example of how connected the different parts of Pacha feel.
Mau P Presents Baddest Behaviour at Pacha Ibiza
The next morning, we woke up tired but very happy. With a few hours before our flight, we walked around 15 minutes from the hotel to Talamanca Beach, where the sea was sparkling and the morning was much more peaceful than the previous two nights. We sunbathed, swam and spent some time in the water before heading back to the hotel. After two late nights, a quiet morning by the sea was exactly what we needed, and spending it there was also a reminder that there is much more to Ibiza than its nightlife.
Playa Pacha
Back at Pacha Hotel, we packed up before being whisked to the airport in another Pacha transfer. The trip had been short, but we managed to pack in almost everything that makes Ibiza so addictive: long days in the sunshine, very late nights, incredible food, music, the Mediterranean and a lot of dancing.
The Pacha Group has spent more than five decades building a world around music, hospitality and the particular spirit of Ibiza. Experiencing Pacha Hotel, Pacha Ibiza, Destino Five Ibiza and Pacha Restaurant over the course of 48 hours showed just how far those famous cherries now extend beyond the dancefloor. Each has its own identity, but music runs through all of them, whether it is playing beside the pool in the afternoon, coming through the walls over dinner or keeping the club packed until the early hours.
By the time the black Pacha van pulled away from the hotel and took us back to the airport, we had spent almost the entire trip moving through that world. From cava and strawberries on arrival to Lychee Mules beside the pool, Hot Chip at sunset, GORDO at Pacha, a day at Destino Five Ibiza, dinner beside the club and one final swim in the Mediterranean, it had been a very good 48 hours in Ibiza.
For more info on The Pacha Group check out the links below.
Pacha Hotel – www.pachahotelibiza.com
Destino Five Ibiza – www.destino.fivehotelsandresorts.com
Pacha Ibiza – www.pacha.com
528 – www.528ibiza.com
GORDO’s TARAKA – www.pacha.com/residence/gordo-taraka
Pacha Restaurant –www.pacha.com/restaurant
Words by Ama Samra
