From US$230 including breakfast
– Warm outdoor hot-tub and in-bathroom spa-bath
– Some of the rooms don’t have views
Sa Talaia certainly has plenty of ‘curb appeal’. Enter the leafy drive to be greeted by plentiful canopied daybeds dotted amongst the shadowy palms. Beyond that is an imposing stonework turret presiding over the large pool. The top of the turret houses one of the 12 bedrooms, which boasts a wraparound balcony and 360 degree views. The hotel used to be the private residence of the owner but has now been converted into a boutique hotel as part of the Palladium Hotel Group. Its style is modern and quirky, with lamps which don’t look like lamps, colour-splattered paintings and random pieces of contemporary art in hallways and staircases.
The vibe at Sa Talaia is friendly without being intrusive, helpful but laid-back. There are periodic activities if you want them such as yoga, meditation or belly-dancing; I unwound with a hypnotic gong meditation on the dappled grass beneath the trees at a civilized 10am. If you’ve come for privacy and discrete service you are left to your own devices. Dinner is available overlooking the gardens or in the glass-fronted restaurant. There’s no menu, just options jotted on a chalk board, depending on what was bought at the market that day. At three courses for 15 euros its simple, fresh fare should you prefer a night in with a bottle of Ibizan red. The kitchen can cater for all requirements, and given the eclectic appetites of guests arriving in Ibiza, focuses on the healthy, tasty and locally sourced.
Even at full capacity we didn’t see more than 6 guests at a time. The Sa Talaia feels quiet, and with grounds so large it’s never going to feel anything other than secluded. Guests drift by the pool, visitors attend classes (we enjoyed the results of a vegan baking class) and the small team of staff (we only ever saw 4) co-exist in this conveniently located small hotel.
