Step into Ryans Lola’s pool area and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d walked into an episode of Love Island. Pink flamingo pool floats, Instagram-ready Bali beds and bikini-clad 20 to 30-somethings posing poolside with their hair in rollers is the vibe here at the adults-only San Antonio hotel, the latest in the brand’s series of playful, contemporary hotels dotted around Ibiza island.
The 104-room party pad only opened in June and has already earned itself a reputation as one of San Antonio’s hottest new live music hotels, with a rotating line-up of daily DJ sets and weekly live music events on the stage next to the pool.
From disco-ready rooms to NFT-making workshops, here’s what to expect.
Where is it?
In the heart of San Antonio, just a 25-minute drive from the airport and a 30-second walk from the beach. You couldn’t be much closer to the sea if you tried.
Style
Flamingo pool floats and retro red telephones. Exposed brick walls with neon-coloured song lyrics above the bed. Bold yellow Ryans branding on just about every surface you can see.
Loud and proud is the vibe here, whether it’s the Love Island-style yellow day beds out by the pool or the playful neon handwriting on the mirrors in the rooms. Don’t book if you’re looking for five-star luxury or wellness chic. Do book if you like a contemporary urban feel with fun young touches and a rotating line-up of music-loving guests from all around the world.
In-room kitchenettes and football tables give the place a boujie hostel feel at times, but the whole place is spotlessly clean and endlessly fun. Ryan might have more stamina than me, but he definitely knows his audience.
Which room?
Each of Ryan’s 104 rooms is playfully decorated, from retro phones and Marshall speakers to bright yellow ‘don’t disturb’ cushions and single bicycle wheels doubling-up as table legs.
All of them come with a fridge, laptop-sized safe, TV, mini-bar, plus a suitably-playful collection of KitKats, Haribo sweets and Chupa Chubs lollies, plus your own Ryan’s-branded, Chilli’s-style reusable water bottle, stickers and card holder for the back of your phone.
Each of them except for the Superior Stage View rooms come with a balcony and in-room kitchenette – useful for saving money on meals or if you’re out so late you miss breakfast (there was a maximum of six of us at breakfast both mornings).
Superior Stage View rooms are the smallest and overlook the pool area, then there are bigger Studio Sea View with views over the bay, Studio Terrace Sea View rooms with more space and larger balconies, and then the even bigger Studio Stage View rooms designed for live music-lovers looking to watch Ryans’ pool shows from their own private 13-meter terrace.
The hotel’s star room is its four-person Living Room and comes with a spacious 36 square-metre room and impressive 17square-metre terrace on the top floor overlooking the pool area and stage. Disco ball included.
Food & drink
Bloody Mary Mezcal cocktails with smoked bacon and jalapenos. Extra spicy smash burgers with green pepper mayo and chorizo cream. Eggs, pancakes and fresh coffee to wash away the hangover.
Food at Ryans Lola’s is simple but effective and knows its audience, providing that audience likes its food with a kick. Breakfast is a buffet affair served down in the reception/social area and you’re welcome to eat it out by the pool, not that you’ll struggle for seating – we were the only guests at breakfast on the first morning. Clearly everyone else was still snoozing. Expect all the usual cereals, eggs and fruits, plus some fun extras like pancakes and muffins.
Dinner is served in the same space and comes courtesy of La Buena Muerte, a Spanish Burger restaurant that has created an exclusive smash burger menu for Ryans hotels called 666. Expect fun, colourful milkshakes and devilish burgers from a smash burger with slow cooked ribs and jaegermeister BBQ sauce to a vegan option made with panko crusted aubergine.
There are hot dog and salad options too, with sides of fries or sweet potato fries or coleslaw (served in a fake skull), plus some fittingly-provocative desserts like a Resurrection banana cheesecake with miso salted peanut. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to combine your stay with a fittingly-devilish horror movie screening or challenge night testing how much spice guests can handle. Perhaps that’s the real reason they all skip breakfast.
Facilities
The pool area is at the heart of Ryans and it’s all been designed with that party vibe in mind. Think pink flamingo pool floats, inviting white Bali beds submerged into the water and bright-coloured loungers, day beds and bean bags dotted around the poolside. There’s a BOX bar serving snacks and cocktails and daily DJ sets, weekly acoustic sessions and a packed calendar of Rock & Ryans live music events right through until the end of September.
Elsewhere, there are social spaces dotted all around the hotel, from extra-large football and ping-pong tables to chilled-out sofa areas. Other highlights include monthly art workshops from graffiti to NFTs; regular beer-tasting events featuring everything from local craft beers to Ryans’ own-brand pint; and a Ryans bar-hopping experience taking in the bars and pubs of San Antonio.
A printed copy of the hotel’s own-brand paper, The Ryans Times, will be handed to you on arrival, with details of check-in and check-out times and a QR code to the hotel’s WhatsApp group that’ll keep you up-to-date with all the key happenings inside and outside of the hotel, and even gifts you can win during your stay.
What to Instagram
The view of the pool area from your balcony. Preferably when the DJ has just kicked off.
Best for?
Young-at-heart 18-30 music-lovers looking for a party pad right in the thick of the San Antonio action. Don’t come if you’re looking for a wholesome spa weekend, do come if you’re after the proper Ibiza party experience (if you’re in a swimming costume, you’re probably overdressed). The ‘forever young’ slogan printed in bold above the bed should be a good indicator.
How to get there
Fights to Ibiza are two-and-a-half hours from London Gatwick. It’s just a 25-minute taxi at the other end.
When should I go?
Anytime during the summer season, though September is a popular time for those looking for an end-of-season break outside of the school holidays while the weather is still balmy and warm (temperatures should average 27C, if you’re lucky). The hotel’s live music event schedule runs right up until the end of September.
