5 reasons to visit Pikes before the Ibiza season is out

There’s one word that makes the heart of any self-respecting Balearic renegade light up with glee. A word so drenched with infamy that you can basically feel the bristles of Freddie’s moustache running down the side of your neck when you hear it uttered. A word so simple, but so frisky, that it might just be the most iconic on the island. Pikes. It rolls off the tongue with a spring in its step, rubbing its hands joyfully at the prospect of another wavey day on the White Isle.

The history of the hotel is etched into Ibiza lore but as the sun begins to set on the summer of ‘18 – the 30th anniversary of the second summer of love, no less – it’s clear that as a site of warm, lovely hedonism Pikes is still valiantly going strong with a cheeky glimmer in its eye, much like the man who started it all. It’s one of the only places where you can still tap in to the original atmosphere of the island and has inspired a flurry of theme-hotels, all vying to recreate even one salaciously rumpled bedsheet of Pikes’ bohemian charm.

Visit on any given day or night and you’ll brush elbows with DJs-in-the-know like Artwork, who scamper about the place like it’s their home-from-home or you’ll bump into Ibiza legends like Baby Jane, who’ll take your experience to 100 quicker than you can say “pass me the sequins”. There’s still time, so here’s five reasons why you should visit Pikes before the season is out.

This summer Pikes has welcomed Honey Dijon and Luke Solomun’s Deputy Of Love concept, which seeks to “bring colour, vibrancy, theatricality, queerness, inclusion, and a sexually-charged energy and environment back to club culture”, has brought in Guy Williams’ new gay/mixed party Flash for a monthly residency and invited performance artists like Baby Jane and Raven Mandella to host and hold court around the grounds of the hotel and on its dancefloor, inside Freddie Mercury’s former bedroom. Watch out for the impromptu drag opera performances and be prepared for frequent outfit changes.

Ibiza is a place of excess but also one of spirituality, which you’ll experience at the “magnetic” rock Es Vedra, wandering the stalls of one of the island’s hippy markets or at a yoga session or crystal bowls ceremony, often held deep in verdant countryside with stunning views of the coast and sparkling blue sea. Events like Cosmic Pineapple at Pikes offer a calm counterpoint to the rowdiness of San An or Playa d’en Bossa, where you can immerse yourself in a variety of wellness activities as well as a cheeky dance, of course.

Pikes’ Bulldog Brunch takes place on a Tuesday, making it the perfect place to pick up from where you left DC:10 or Amnesia the night before. The hotel is as charming during the day as it is at night, with its many nooks, crannies and quirky design details coming into focus in wonderful sun-drenched technicolour. It’s the perfect place to cotch, with music provided by IBZ veterans Mark Broadbent and Andy Wilson (aka Grim & Wilson) and a revitalising brunch menu that’ll have you back in action in no time. If you’re wanting to embrace the hair of the dog or getting on one from fresh, there’s a devilish selection of Bulldog gin-based cocktails to try.

Dinner overlooking that iconic swimming pool? It’s got to be done at least once. Pikes prides itself on its feel-good menu, overseen by Head Chef Lee Milne, who’s as comfortable making nourishing dishes like glazed pigs cheek or 11 spice cauliflower as he is chatting at the bar once dinner service is done. Head to the restaurant if you’re looking for a balance between mediterranean flair and the best home cooking, the perfect place to start an evening exploring the rest of the hotel. The cocktails are some of the most inventive – and punchiest – on the island, too.

Partying in Freddie’s room; chatting breeze on one of the many beds dotted about the grounds; recreating Michael’s pose by the pool; making friends with strangers. A night at Pikes feels like you’re at the best house party ever, as you basically have free run of the place. It’s steeped in hedonistic history and you’re there to make new party stories of your own. Let us know if you find the secret ball pit.

If you're visiting Pikes in October, stop by one of the Pikes Cocktail Club masterclasses which take place throughout the month