La Gaia by Óscar Molina: the soul of Ibiza in a sensory journey signed by Sandra Tarruella

Within the Ibiza Gran Hotel, a serene luxury haven overlooking the ramparts of Dalt Vila, Sandra Tarruella showcases her mastery in the redesign of La Gaia by Óscar Molina, the hotel’s Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant. The result is a space as enveloping as the cuisine it hosts, a carefully choreographed experience where design and gastronomy intertwine.

“Designing La Gaia felt like building a stage for a sensory performance,” explains Sandra Tarruella. “We knew we were creating a setting for one of Spain’s finest chefs, and the space needed to support, never compete with, his vision.” For Tarruella’s team, the challenge was to translate that culinary experience into a silent yet meaningful architecture, capable of stirring emotion.

The creative approach was clear: to reinterpret traditional Ibizan architecture with a refined, contemporary eye, while preserving its essence. “To give the restaurant more character and to embrace chef Molina’s cuisine within such a large space, we imagined a composition of arches inspired by Ibizan churches and vernacular architecture,” says the interior designer. “This also allowed us to conceal the structural columns within the arches themselves, subtly subdividing the space and creating special corners, without losing a sense of overall unity.”

The project is part of an ambitious renovation of the hotel, following the transformation of its Gran Suite Dalt Vila and Open Spa. In this new phase, the studio has also redesigned the hotel lobby and the new Musa bar. All these interventions share the same intention: “to recover the building’s essential elements, peel away layers added over the years, and immerse ourselves in the materials, colours and light of Ibiza,” says Tarruella.

La Gaia’s design faithfully mirrors the gastronomic journey proposed by the chef. Upon entering, a central bar with organic lines welcomes guests with the first appetisers. Further in, two large counters clad in natural stone frame the open kitchen, where Molina personally greets diners. There, as a nod to the past, the jellyfish by Danish artist Katrin Kirk float once more—a reimagined installation from the restaurant’s previous version.

At the far end, an arch separates the private dining area: a sculptural wooden table stretches beneath a suspended lamp that casts soft reflections over a carpet of natural stones arranged in a delicate organic pattern. “Each corner of the restaurant needed its own identity, its own sense of intimacy. But everything had to be part of the same story, with no interruptions,” Tarruella reflects.

Between the arches, tables are arranged with gentle irregularity, like islands within the space. Some gueridons are integrated into the thick walls as niches; others are light, metallic, with wooden or leather trays; some heavier ones rise from the floor like small functional sculptures. Along the façades, natural fibre panels filter the light and evoke the island’s traditional crafts.

The materials—lime, stone, wood, and plant fibres—not only reference local architecture but also reinforce an atmosphere of calm and understated Mediterranean hospitality. “We wanted a space that breathes, that reflects Ibiza’s white light, and supports the dining experience without stealing the spotlight. A place where beauty is sensed, more than observed,” says Tarruella.

La Gaia reveals itself without disguise. It is haute cuisine, yes, but also honest design. It is sophistication without pretence. And above all, it is Ibiza. Not the fleeting one, but the timeless one. The one that lingers in memory when everything else fades away.

Project: Ibiza Gran Hotel. La Gaia by Óscar Molina.
Location: Ibiza.
Interior design: Sandra Tarruella Interioristas.
Creative direction: Sandra Tarruella.
Project lead: Núria Martínez.
Collaborators: Laura Porta, Alex Vila.
Architect: Rafael Seguí.
Construction company: Cyros.
Photography: Salva López.
Completion: 2025.
Surface area: 408 m².
Furniture and lighting: Roche Bobois, Gallotti&Radice, Maxalto, BSB, La Metropolitana, Santa&Cole, Wastberg, Viabizzuno, Contain Studio, Pulpo, Marset,…

Sandra Tarruella

Recipient of the Casa Decor 2025 Honorary Award, Sandra Tarruella is one of the leading figures in contemporary Spanish interior design. With over 150 projects to her name and a unique sensitivity to light, materials and context, her work transforms spaces into inhabitable experiences with a distinct identity. Her studio—founded in 1992—has become a benchmark in interior design for hospitality, restaurants, retail and workspaces, marked by meticulous attention to detail, close collaboration with artisans, and a consistently contemporary perspective. Read biography.

Source: Sandra Tarrruella Interioristas.

Project by Sandra Tarruella