An Ibizan Garden Paradise: Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel Review

15 hours ago

Simply the best.

This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more

There are two Ibizas. The first is the one that people assume you’re going to; superclubs and beach bars, pool parties and world-famous DJs. The second is the real Ibiza – quiet fincas set in lush countryside, spiritual and creative havens and the echoes of the hippy movement of the 60s on the White Isle. This second Ibiza is slower, more tranquil and infinitely greener. Nothing exemplifies this real Ibiza quite like Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel, a lush green haven that’s going greener by the day, discovers Rebecca Cox.

Review: Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel, Ibiza

I first visited Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel in 2023 for a dinner for 200 guests by Yotam Ottolenghi, the first event of its kind for the Ibizan property and such a standout success that it’s now a firm fixture on the summer calendar (and an instant sell-out every year). I remember walking through the dark gardens on the way out following an evening of superlative food and fabulous company, chatting with new friends and deciding that the next time I visited Ibiza, this would be where I’d stay.

In the two years it took me to return, the team at the family-run property has been busy. The hotel’s commitment to sustainability is evident across the board, with eco-conscious practices throughout its operations. The vegetable gardens I walked through before dinner supply fresh, seasonal organic produce to its restaurants (and beyond), while the property’s energy needs are met by 200 solar panels, electric cars and bikes have been introduced, and water is sourced from on-site wells. Organic waste is composted and used onsite, and the orange farm supplies the estate and wider island. Organic spa products used in the famous spa are crafted using botanicals grown on the estate, centuries-old farming traditions meeting modern demand for environmental conscientiousness, hand in glove.

STAY

Set amidst a 13-hectare estate, Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel features 24 rooms and suites to choose from, ranging in size from small doubles to large stand-alone suites, five of which have private pools. The original farmhouse is over 300 years old, the family’s history on the land stretching back to the 1200s, and the interiors are styled in line with the finca’s heritage; pared-back white-washed walls with local wooden feature beams, splashes of colour in the modern orange-grove and palm paintings recently commissioned to bring the rooms to life. Rooms are split between the main site and a hidden enclave two minutes away, perfect for those seeking complete privacy.

While rooms are comfy and cool, it’s outside them that the property’s true magic can be found. The hotel’s famous 43-metre spa pool (headed with its large ‘Love’ sign at one end and facing the temple-style spa at the other) is a great starting point for walks around the property, though lounging on one of the super-size four-poster sunbeds dotted around here appeals, too. There are fragrant orange groves, horticultural, vegetable and formal gardens to walk through, each subtly scented and alive with colour and wildlife. During a pre-dinner twilight wander through the vegetable garden I felt like I was in that scene in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, where everything is edible and you could pluck any flower or leaf and pop it in your mouth (I resist). The next morning at breakfast on the terrace a pretty blackbird popped out from a large, bushy tree and sang to its mate, and I found myself in Disney’s Snow White, conversing with the animals as we shared the last bites of a buttery pastry.

EAT

Speaking of food, it really is the star of the show at Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel. The hotel’s restaurants exemplify farm-to-fork excellence, focusing on seasonal organic produce and Mediterranean flavours. La Veranda is the main food hub, with the vine-strewn Orange Tree also opening up for dinner in peak season. From the appealing breakfast buffet to the tempting poolside menu and the varied dinner options, absolutely everything I ate was superb. This sentence from the menu: ‘carob and polenta battered aubergine on Greek yoghurt, mascarpone and feta with toasted pistachios’ read like poetry to me, and didn’t disappoint. And though there are plenty of options that include cheese, aubergine and some sort of pomegranate and pistachio vibe, there are hearty, fuss-free options to suit all palettes, and puddings big enough to share but good enough not to (the orange almond cake is a must).

Off-site are two further restaurants owned by the Atzaró Group, Aubergine by Atzaró and Atzaró Beach. Aubergine is an island favourite, a country-chic laid-back all-day-dining spot loved by locals and tourists alike, located in the quiet countryside between Santa Gertrudis and San Miguel. Fresh salads and BBQ favourites are a pull here, while live music and local art are also on the menu, making this a destination beyond dining.

There’s something completely different on offer at Atzaró Beach, on Cala Nova’s sparkling northeast shore. Here you’ll find the same farm-to-table cuisine (more aubergine and pistachios, thankfully) but in a relaxed, bohemian setting, perched above stunning turquoise sea views and featuring a natural wood pergola, daybeds, sofas, and shaded terraces for lounging and dining. Here is your chance for a slice of that Ibizan glamour (still away from the clubbing crowds), stretched out on a day bed with a well-mixed drink or a glass of local wine.

SPA

More than just a culinary destination, Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel’s spa has been a pull for years, and remains the best on the island. Guests can enjoy the gym, daily yoga classes and saunas, hamman, jacuzzi and cold-plunge pools plus spa garden daybeds. There’s a fantastic treatment menu and the Atzaró Integration Massage, inspired by Swedish, Balinese and Thai techniques and using relaxing lavender and camomile oils, was one of the best I’ve ever had.

THE FINAL WORD

A family home for more than three centuries, and now the homeliest hotel in Ibiza, thanks in no small part to the incredible staff. There’s real Ibizan magic in this place, evident in the lush, abundant gardens and pulsating through the consistent cacophony from the resident frogs, birds and bats. On my first visit I felt sure I’d return, and the second has assured me of a need for a third.