Hostal La Torre, Ibiza

When I was invited to Ibiza a vision of chaotic clubs and all night parties entered my head. But in fact, after my three days on the island, my opinion of this sunny destination is completely changed. Ibiza is an idyllic and interesting place to visit, with white-washed villas, gastronomic restaurants and beautiful beaches.

Ibiza

My home for three days was Hostal La Torre, a basic but stylish hotel in the countryside of San Antonio.

Hostal La TorreHostal La Torre

Hostal La Torre has a quiet and easy-going charm about it. We spent lazy mornings lounging in the sun, and I also spotted bikes which guests can use around the island. The white arched walls were kept company by a range of tropical plants and flowers, and there are plenty of places to sit with a book or a cocktail.

Hostal La Torre

The 17 rooms and suites are sheltered and spacious. We were lucky to be in Room 1, a junior suite with epic views of the endless Mediterranean sea. The room was simple and clean with a comfortable big bed and a pleasant living space. The bathroom was very small, but perfectly functional with a powerful shower and Campos de Ibiza toiletries for convenience.

Hostal La Torre

A continental breakfast is served in the restaurant. We chose to eat outside, and had to battle a swarm of wasps each morning, but it was worth it for the panoramic views. The breakfast includes hot pastries, fresh fruit & yoghurt, granola, meats & cheese. The freshest orange juice and strong coffee is also included.

Hostal La Torre

Anyone who knows Ibiza well will know Hostal La Torre for its incredible sunset views. The back of the hostel leads down to the sea and every evening locals and tourists gather on the decks to enjoy a drink or dinner while the sun slowly dissolves into the horizon.

More information on Hostal La Torre and book a room here.

I travelled around the island with Avant Car Ibiza.

Matthew Curtis Hair Salon, Rosewood Hotel

Most hairdressers will tell you to get your hair cut every 6-8 weeks, or more regularly for short hair. Laziness and a busy diary means I usually get my hairstyle refreshed twice a year, or every season at best.

As the cooler Autumnal days arrive I decided it was time for my bi-annual hair cut and colour. I headed to one of the smallest boutique hairdressers in London for a makeover with Jason.

Matthew Curtis Hair Salon

Matthew Curtis is located within the Rosewood Hotel in Holborn, next door to the luxury spa. The salon is inspired by the Orient Express, decorated in a glamorous retro style. Celebrity hairdresser Matthew Curtis and his team are skilled hairdressers and professional colourists, well-rehearsed in creating fashion looks for the catwalk and shoots.

Matthew Curtis Hair Salon

Stylist Jason worked wonders with my hair. We chatted briefly about what I liked and disliked about the length and colour of my current hair and decided on a shorter darker hairstyle, more natural and striking for winter. He was quick and efficient painting my hair with a darker tone, whilst we gossiped and I drank tea! After throughly washing my hair with delicious smelling products he chopped away, leaving my hair feeling thicker and glossier. Jason gave my hair a quick wavy blow dry to create a stylish but natural tousled look.

Matthew Curtis Hair Salon

Whether you are staying at the Rosewood Hotel or not, the Matthew Curtis salon is the perfect little venue for a full makeover or a quick wash and blow-dry. The team here also take care of men’s styling and beard trimming.

More information and book an appointment at Matthew Curtis at The Rosewood Hotel here.

Dayrooms Cafe, Notting Hill

West London are slower to catch up to trends… when I want an indulgent brunch on the weekend I usually head East or stay South to check out one of the many great breakfast venues. Recently I had cause to wake up early and travel across London to Notting Hill, in search of Portobello’s best new brunch spot.

Dayrooms

Dayrooms Cafe is a tiny venue on Kensington Park Road, a stylish and relaxed cafe with a vibrant Aussie inspired menu. There are no reservations so you just have to wait and hope for a seat to become available. Because of its size the cafe gets very busy even on weekdays… as yummy mummies pass to pick up their morning cappuccino or creative locals stop by for a tasty morning meeting.

The staff are super friendly and seem to genuinely enjoy working at the cafe. Within a few minutes of sitting down we had our speciality coffee (from OZONE) and craft tea in front of us.

DayroomsDayrooms

The menu is a mix of classic brunch favourites and wacky innovative recipes. We opted for the Honeycomb Hotcake with miso caramel, red berries, and creme fraiche. The hotcake was a pillowy delight topped with a nicely balanced sweet and salty ingredients. If you prefer savoury in the morning, order the generous Sweet Potato and Kale hash which came still sizzling topped with fried eggs, avocado and salsa verde. Slices of sourdough toast are served on the side to mop up all the gooey goodness. There were so many other delicious sounding dishes on the menu that I’ll have to to try… I loved the sound of the Loaded Croissant with truffled eggs and the Sticky sesame chicken roll.

Dayrooms have recently opened a second cafe in central London, so if you can’t get west to Portobello, head to Holborn to try their delicious brunch treats.

More information about Dayrooms Cafe here.