Dutch designer Nelleke Strijkers creates concept for newly relaunched Ibiza restaurant
House of WOW is a super stylish new restaurant venue and events space in Ibiza, relaunched for 2023 and already heralded by the media as one of the hottest new places to eat on the island. Located just outside Santa Gertrudis, House of WOW is a true hidden gem where Islanders can enjoy amazing cocktails and delicious food at reasonable prices, in a super-stylish setting.
The design for House of Wow was conceived by Dutch creative visionary Nelleke Strijkers who saw the potential in the empty industrial space 3 years ago. Nelleke was founder of Dutch concept store SPRMRT which sold a curated edit of fashion, art and design but also lots of classic vintage pieces. Nelleke also created a wholesale vintage furniture business – selling vintage was at the heart of her aesthetic and her own house has been featured in British and Dutch Vogue.
After a move to Ibiza 9 years ago she decided to focus her energies on the island, first with pop-up shops, and then with the derelict space that is now House of WOW. The restaurant Nelleke has created is a complete contrast to the usual Ibiza design look of rattan furniture, white walls and boho vibes and has a unique design sensibility – carefully sourced vintage pieces, a look of pure glamour, surprising touches and sustainability at its heart.
Nelleke explains, “I have been working with vintage for 21 years. I love it as it’s original, different and you can design a space without things looking the same, so you can really create your own look. When I entered the House of WOW space 3 years ago it was empty. There was just a roof, no bar or interiors, almost like an aircraft hangar – but I saw the potential with this blank canvas. “
The pandemic hit shortly after Nelleke found the restaurant and, locked down in Holland, she was forced to design the restaurant interior – sourcingvintage pieces from all over the world – remotely. She found benches designed by Philippe Starke for his SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, a statement golden bar on an auction site, which by a stroke of luck fitted the space perfectly but was too low so it was refashioned to fit, and a centre piece cabinet in the back of the restaurant which was brought on a Spanish marketplace site from small village in Northern Spain that was so big it took several goes to get it out of the village and shipped to Ibiza.
One large table and chairs came from a laboratory in Belgium who had been working for years on a cure for the virus. Nelleke says “Being locked down gave me the time to source really interesting pieces from far afield.”
Many of the vintage pieces were damaged and in need of a revamp, so Nelleke worked with innovative prize-winning Dutch company Cooloo (cooloo.nl) who design ecological coatings which transform waste streams into high-end coatings for furniture, interior projects and design applications. Concrete, leather left over from shoes and bags, jeans, cork and even shredded banknotes are recycled into beautiful upholstery, acoustic materials or complete interior make-overs. Tables and toilets were covered with black concrete, left over olive pits were used for chairs and recycled leather for cushions on the Bali Beds – all completely sustainable. House of WOW is the first business in Spain to work with the Coooo. “It’s a way of reinventing vintage pieces that have beautiful shape but are damaged”, Nelleke explains.
House of WOW also houses a fashion store, selling an eclectic mix of unique vintage finds such as beautiful Gaultier pieces from the 90s, Nelleke’s own designs and a curated edit of lesser-known brands (Nelleke was the first to sell Vetements and Acme Jeans in Amsterdam).
With a refreshingly relaxed philosophy of no minimum spend and an intimate home from home atmosphere, the restaurant is fast becoming a favourite for an al fresco dinner in the tropical garden space (with an events table for up to 26 people), or to be enjoyed in a private corner of the sexy and stylish warehouse-style interior, decorated with rich colours, vintage furnishings, lush plants and low-key lighting.
Also new this year at House of WOW is an indoor venue space for cultural events. There will be a series of exciting workshops, talks and one-off unique happenings for visitors to attend from the worlds of film, music, art, sex, photography, fashion, psychedelics, wellbeing and literature. Watch this space for information.
The restaurant and garden are perfect for large parties and late night dinners and can host up to 250. For 2023 the kitchen headed is up by Ibizencan Chef Cristina Duenas Gledson (formerly Hostel La Torre, Portofina, The Giri café, Atzaro, Boulder & Co and Pied a Terre London among others). Guests will be able to enjoy a delicious menu with the freshest flavours and a Balearic twist, created from seasonal, local and natural ingredients, complimented by local wines and delicious bespoke cocktails, all at great price points.
House of WOW will be open 11 months a year, in summer season six days a week, from 7pm to with a late-night kitchen open until 1.30am and a clubhouse space open until 3am. For more information visit the House of WOW website https://www.wow-ibiza.com/ or follow them on social media for the latest updates.