Review: Mikasa, Ibiza | Daily Telegraph
Published by telegraph.co.uk, August 2018
This subtly sophisticated hotel is brilliantly located within walking distance of Ibiza town, Marina Botafoch and the nearby beach of Talamanca. Breakfast is served till 7pm and the rooftop Lebanese restaurant boasts top class cocktails and some of the best Dalt Vila views on the island.
Location 8/10
Just seconds from the waterside, Mikasa’s location is both picturesque and convenient. It’s a five-minute walk from the glitz and glamour of Marina Botafoch and all its shiny moored superyachts; a 20-minute walk from Ibiza town (or you can hop on a boat pretty much directly in front of the hotel and whizz across the harbour in five minutes); and a five-minute walk from Talamanca, a sweeping stretch of sand lined by a selection of great restaurants and beach clubs. There are also several clubs close by, should you wish to sample Ibiza’s notorious nightlife scene.
Style / character 8/10
Light, bright and airy, Mikasa is luxe but understated, cosmopolitan without trying too hard. Despite its diminutive size, it feels spacious, largely thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and straw rooftops in communal areas that allow you to peak out to the blue sky beyond. The outside entrance is bedecked in peppermint coloured tiles that continue upstairs to the alfresco terrace. Here, Lebanese sharing plates are served on mismatched crockery beneath swaying Moroccan-style lamps. Downstairs, there’s more of a Balinese vibe, with chunky wooden tables, wicker chairs and elaborately potted plants. The hotel is open all year round, so in winter expect more rugs, cushions and throws to add a splash of cosiness.
Service / facilities 7/10
There’s no pool or spa at Mikasa but don’t let that put you off - you’re still close enough to both beach and town to source whatever you’re looking for on those fronts without too much effort, and staff are always on hand to help out with bookings and suggestions. Both Lebanese-inspired, on-site restaurants are excellent - nothing beats dining with views of the Dalt Vila skyline in the distance, whatever the time of day.
Rooms 8/10
There are 16 rooms in total, each with names inspired by the 12 phases of the moon and the four seasons. They’re all slightly different in character but share the same rustic undertones - think soft furnishings in natural shades of grey, beige and mustard set against white walls and wooden floors, then spruced up with chunky timber headboards, chairs and hanging rails. Beds are draped in silky soft cotton sheets, and bathrooms are small but come with rain head showers and Rituals toiletries. Superior rooms have balconies. On occasion, noise from the corridors is audible.
Food & drink 8/10
The downstairs restaurant is more of a daytime meeting place, serving breakfast and lunch from 8am to 7pm - a god send if you’ve stumbled home from a club in the early hours and don’t have the strength to rise again till afternoon. Choose from dishes including simple scrambled eggs (6€), a Lebanese breakfast of Manakish (zaatar flavoured pita bread) served with tomato salad, babaganoush, and cheese (18€), or pancakes (10€). For something healthy try the sizeable açai bowl (9.50€). Club sandwiches, burgers and salads are available for lunch. In the evening, head to the alfresco rooftop terrace, where a range of delicious Lebanese sharing plates are on the menu. For 35€ per person, sample 14 dishes chosen by the chef to share (if it sounds like a lot, it is), including hummus, tabbouleh, garlic prawns, and kibbeh. There’s a tempting range of classic cocktails here, too - sunset viewings taste best when washed down with a Tom Collins. Food isn’t included in the room rate.
