Review: Casa Maca, Ibiza | Daily Telegraph
Published by telegraph.co.uk, September 2018
Casa Maca is blessed with a now all too rare commodity in Ibiza - quintessential Balearic spirit. A little slice of laid-back heaven hidden among the island’s rolling, bucolic hills, its views of the majestic Dalt Vila skyline and shimmering Mediterranean beyond are breath-taking.
Location 8/10
You’d be hard pressed to find a more ideal, centrally placed hotel. Located just a 10-minute drive from the airport and a five-minute drive from the bustle of Ibiza town, somehow it remains blissfully relaxed. Peering out from the Can Palau hilltops onto the hubbub below feels a bit like starring in your own fairytale - for you, time stands still; elsewhere, it continues apace. It’s a deliciously moreish feeling that will see you readily relinquishing a beach.
Style / character 9/10
The main building is a 300-year old farmhouse with typical whitewashed walls that juxtapose the bright blue sky. Inside, an ancient olive mill sits regally in the main lobby, a striking monument to the hotel’s heritage. The surrounding gardens are home to rows of aromatic lavender, olive trees with twisted trunks and an abundance of brightly-coloured flora. Interiors are soothing with walls and soft furnishings in shades of sage, orange and fawn, and furniture made from natural materials - a theme that sweeps through communal areas into bedrooms. Cosy corners abound and there are lots of subtle details like terracotta vases and statement lampshades that make the place pop. The Anadon family (of Café Mambo and La Torre fame) recently took over the site and are slowly but surely reviving its rustic beauty.
Service / facilities 9/10
The staff’s easygoing attitude and constant smiles play a huge role in Casa Maca’s charm. On one occasion while sat round the pool we had nothing to rest drinks on, so a waiter ran off and reappeared 10 minutes later, a solid wood table stacked upon one shoulder - for a while we weren’t sure if he’d made it on the spot. There’s a fabulous onsite restaurant with an outdoor terrace serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and an alfresco chill-out area romantically lit by big, swaying bulbs. The Airstream serving cocktails to accompany a barbecue grill on Friday and Saturday evenings scores sizeable hipster points. The pool is lined by creamy, canvas parasols and comfy day beds, and the view from here is spectacular from sunrise right the way through to sunset, even more so with a cold glass of cava in hand. Wellness treatments are available on request.
Rooms 8/10
In keeping with the hotel’s Ibicencan aesthetic, rooms are spacious, stylish and fuss-free. Polished clay floors are cool underfoot, chestnut-coloured sofas are strewn with stripy cushions and curled wrought-iron appears in lamps, tables and bed frames. Beamed ceilings add authentic appeal while wooden wardrobes and desks provide character. Espresso machines, flat screen TVs and mini bars come as standard. Bathrooms have rain head showers, whirlpool tubs and are stocked with paraben-free Grown Alchemist products. Each of the 10 suites differs slightly in decoration but all have private terraces.
Food & drink 9/10
Acclaimed Spanish chef David Reartes oversees the menu, and his preference is to use local, organic produce, and eventually crops grown on the Casa Maca grounds - 40,000 seeds will be planted this winter. On the lunch and dinner menu dishes range between 12€ and 28€. The burratina with papaya compote, snapper tiradito and grilled octopus are all standout. Between 1pm and 4pm during the week a classic menu del día is available for 22.50€, a cheaper way to sample homegrown flavours. The pool menu features hearty snacks like Buddha bowls, burgers and king crab sandwiches. A continental breakfast of croissants, fruit, yoghurt, cheese and ham is included with some room deals, or otherwise is available for 15€. There’s also an excellent a la carte breakfast menu offering eggs Benedict served between slabs of pillowy brioche and açai bowls big enough to swim in. Overall, the food offering is exceptional.
