Clap House Ibiza review: The perfect retreat away from hedonism
Looking for a spot of luxury relaxation to recharge your batteries on the White Isle? The Clap House has you sorted.
By Nick Reilly
In the height of Ibiza’s hectic summers, there’s no shortage of options for those looking to party until the sun comes up.
But the question of what to do if you’re looking for a spot of decadent day recovery from said parties, or indeed searching for a more relaxing pace of life on the island, remains a much tougher proposition.
Enter The Clap House, which might just be the ultimate answer to that conundrum. Having opened earlier this year in the sedate hills near Talamanca, it’s a hidden oasis where relaxation, fine dining and wellness are very much the order of the day. And with Dolce & Gabbana on board for a seasonal takeover (you can’t miss the leopard print pattern adorning the VIP poolside cabanas, parasols and the inflatable rings floating in the pool), it’s no surprise to report that luxury and decadence are also key factors at play here.
It’s reflected in the sprawling pool which spans the entire main area of the Clap House and, as a result, allows it to appear more like a hidden lagoon where you’ll be more than happy to wallow for a few hours. If you’re not feeling so intrepid then that’s fine too, the plastic loungers in the shallows offer a more tranquil option for those only wishing to dip their toes.
There’s similar tranquility to be found in the SEVEN Wellness Club, which takes the Dubai-born wellness brand and brings it straight to the White Isle. If you’re looking for a full workout or a softer recovery session, members and day guests alike can access an array of strength and cardio zones, spa recovery areas, and a curated schedule of classes including Reformer Pilates and yoga. Again, it’s that commitment to relaxation and wellness that really shines through here.
But when those sessions and swims are done and bellies are duly rumbling, The Clap House truly comes into its own with a menu that will leave you duly satisfied, but perhaps not to the extent where you’ll feel like any wellness work is about to undone. This is true of the eclectic sushi offerings you can munch on poolside or, as we found out, the delightful burrata. Crisp and clean cooking is very much the MO here.
All washed down, of course, with an array of cocktails that range from classic Espresso Martinis (because caffeine will always bring you back from the brink) and the gorgeous Nippon Sangria, which takes the balearic punch and injects it with ingredients such as sake and yuzushu to provide a distinctly Japanese twist. They’re all served by an attentive poolside team who are constantly on hand to take orders at a minute’s notice and – as we experienced on our poolside cabana – keep up the overall VIP experience.
It’s perhaps no surprise to report that there’s a price to all this luxury that won’t necessarily be to the taste of everyone’s wallets. A single sun lounger starts at €100 Euro, although this includes a food and beverage voucher of half that amount. Similarly, the luxury cabana we sampled (and it really is luxury, we say after a lengthy afternoon snooze), starts at €550 but includes one bottle of Veuve Clicquot and €200 worth of food and drinks.
Between friends that comes a more feasible proposition and, we would argue, entirely worth it if you can afford such luxuries. And that’s true of The Clap House in general. If you can go, do. This sublime new spot offers a mixture of much-needed relaxation and Balearic cool, but you sense it won’t be long before this hidden gem becomes the talk of the entire island.