Ibiza’s sunset hotspot Savannah appeared this week in the media half demolished, what’s going down on the Sunset Strip?
Located on the famous west coast of Ibiza known to the rest of the world as Ibiza’s ‘Sunset Strip’, Savannah stood tall within its place amongst neighbouring giants Café Mambo and Café del Mar. Opening it’s doors for the first time in 1997, the venue was always Café Mambo’s little sister venue but somehow managed to play a major part in the development of the now jostling sun-facing strip.
Photo by Phill Wood 1998
Known for it’s infamous pre parties in the late 90’s and further, Savannah has been home to sizeable nights like Defected with MK and Toddla T back in 2014, Solid Grooves in 2018 with Flashmob, Retro in 2019 with Paul Taylor, Hed Kandi in 2011 with the likes of Lovely Laura, Wonderland in 2010 with Pete Tong, Cream in 2010 with Laidback Luke, Release Yourself in 2011 with Roger Sanchez. Judgement Sundays in 2012 with Judge Jules and going back further Sundissential back in 1998.
Photo by Phill Wood 1998
Onto the modern day and what we know about the circulating rumours around Savannah in 2024. First appearing on Ibiza social media guru Dwayne Muffin’s Instagram channel, Savannah has been pretty much tore back to bare bone structure. The reason for this? Mambo Group has sold the Savannah building and legal wrangling of Hotel Catalina has been resolved. The history of the Hotel Catalina is chequered with Crime and corruption. The first hotel on the sunset strip, the hotel opened in 1957, and when its original owners sold it to the Playa Sol group things began to go south. The owner of the group was arrested for corruption and workers rights abuse in 2010 and in we think 2009 the hotel was shut due to frozen assets.
Fast forward to 2024 and welcome ‘Vibra Yamm’. With a said €15.8 million investment and a completion date for 2025, the new four-star hotel will encompass the old Catalina hotel as well as another building to the rear.
The Vibra Yamm hotel is inspired by relaxed luxury and will have 113 rooms in two buildings: Sea View and Urban Side In the Sea View building there will be 64 rooms, a relaxation and wellness area with spa, sauna and massage room; it will also have a gym and a restaurant is planned where the famous Savannah restaurant is currently located.
So 2024 summer season will be the first in 27 years without Savannah’s beautiful terrace and fine dining. It has to be said the café had lost it’s twinkle over the last few years, with rising prices in Ibiza and the offerings and variety spreading across the island, the sunset strip faces like many it’s biggest challenge; staying relevant. Café Mambo holds strong engaging the social media world and offering the VIP feel for the rich, whilst Café del Mar still holds the hearts of Ibiza veterans the world over. With new addition Space Eat and Dance struggling to find its place on the strip already, this new addition in 2025 will be watched closely. So as Savannah bows out, we say thank you for many years and many parties in the infamous Backroom, a shame it wasn’t given the send off it so well deserved. Don’t you agree?
