Pacha Ibiza 20 Years Ago: Residencies and DJs

Two decades ago, in the summer of 2005, Pacha Ibiza was already a living legend. While some of the island’s other clubs went bigger, louder, or stranger, Pacha thrived by being glamorous, musically credible, and endlessly versatile. Housed in a converted whitewashed farmhouse on the edge of Ibiza Town, with its cherries logo glowing above the door, the club was the ultimate blend of VIP sparkle and underground spirit. And that season’s line-up proved it: seven nights of heavyweight residencies, each night programmed like a festival in its own right.

Walking into Pacha in 2005 meant stepping into a maze of rooms: the main dancefloor with its low ceiling and central DJ booth; the Global Room hosting hip-hop and funk; the funky side rooms and rooftop terrace where partygoers caught their breath under the stars. What really set it apart, though, was the way the VIP balcony wrapped around the dancefloor. Celebrities and club-kids danced practically shoulder-to-shoulder, creating that unique Pacha energy: equal parts hedonism and high society.

So what did a week at Pacha look like in 2005? Let’s go day by day.

Monday - Release Yourself with Roger Sanchez

Kicking off the week, Mondays belonged to Roger Sanchez and his Release Yourself residency. The New Yorker’s soulful, vocal-driven sets made Mondays surprisingly popular with the island’s locals, who packed the floor week after week. Sanchez typically played marathon sets, mixing gospel-tinged house, funky basslines, and plenty of hands-in-the-air moments. It wasn’t a night loaded with guests or gimmicks - just Roger in command from start to finish - and that was exactly why people loved it.

Tuesday - Defected in the House

If Mondays were smooth and soulful, Tuesdays brought the funk in full force. Defected Records had just moved from the smaller El Divino to Pacha in 2005, and the upgrade fit perfectly. From June through September, Defected in the House transformed Tuesdays into a soulful house paradise. Residents included Junior Jack & Kid Crème, Sandy Rivera, Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez, Dimitri from Paris, and Martin Solveig. The guest list read like a who’s who of house royalty - Bob Sinclar, DJ Gregory, Chus, Miguel Migs, Danny Krivit, and more all stopped by. Throw in live performances from acts like Reel People and you had a night that felt both polished and organic, the perfect marriage of Pacha’s glamour and Defected’s house music heart.

Wednesday - Subliminal Sessions with Erick Morillo

By midweek, things got wild. Erick Morillo’s Subliminal Sessions were among the most notorious nights on the island, and 2005 was no exception. Morillo was joined by co-residents Seb Fontaine, Steve Angello, and Harry Romero, plus an endless parade of guests. Highlights included Timo Maas at the opening, Darren Emerson in July, and a back-to-back set from Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso that foreshadowed the rise of the Swedish House Mafia.

Subliminal was as much about the party as the music: champagne spraying, late-morning afterparties, and even cameos from P. Diddy, who jumped on the mic to hype the crowd. It was glamorous chaos in true Pacha style.

Thursday - Ministry, Yoshitoshi & F*** Me I’m Famous

Thursday was a mixed bag, and that was part of its charm. On alternating weeks, Pacha handed the reins to Ministry of Sound or Deep Dish’s Yoshitoshi label. Ministry nights featured eclectic line-ups with names like Groove Armada and breakbeat duo Evil Nine, while Yoshitoshi brought Deep Dish and their progressive house allies. Meanwhile, David and Cathy Guetta’s F*** Me I’m Famous was establishing itself as one of Pacha’s most in-demand nights, pulling in celebrities, models, and big-room house fans for unapologetically glamorous parties. Thursdays showed off Pacha’s versatility: one week underground credibility, the next week champagne-fuelled mayhem.

Friday - Pure Pacha with Pete Tong

Fridays belonged to Pete Tong, who hosted Pure Pacha, a night designed to blend classy music with a celebrity-studded vibe. The opening party alone featured Carl Cox, John Digweed, Wally López, and Nic Fanciulli alongside Tong - a line-up most clubs would kill to have over an entire season. Throughout the summer, guests like Sasha, Felix da Housecat, and live act Bodyrockers kept Fridays eclectic and stylish.

Tong also used the night to spotlight rising stars, with Spanish DJ Wally López appearing four times in support of his Perceptions of Pacha compilation. Pure Pacha perfectly embodied the club’s ethos: fashion, fun, and forward-thinking music all under one roof.

Saturday - Def Mix with David Morales

If there was ever a night for house music purists, it was Saturday. For years, David Morales had hosted the legendary Def Mix parties at Pacha, and 2005 continued the tradition. The opener featured Morales alongside Frankie Knuckles, a historic pairing of two house icons. Over the season, guests included Satoshi Tomiie, Danny Rampling, Pete Heller, and Hernán Cattáneo, all delivering soulful, uplifting sets. One standout night celebrated Morales’ birthday in August - a reminder that Def Mix felt less like a residency and more like a family gathering. Saturdays were classy, vocal, and emotional: the spiritual heart of Pacha.

Sunday - Everybody with Sander Kleinenberg

Sundays were always tricky in Ibiza, dominated by Space’s famous We Love marathon. But in 2005 Pacha made a bold play with Sander Kleinenberg’s Everybody residency. The Dutch DJ brought progressive and electro sounds, plus guests like Lee Burridge and Tom Stephan, aiming to lure serious clubbers who wanted something deeper than just another big-room blowout. Attendance could be hit-or-miss, but for those who went, Sundays were all about trippy visuals, long builds, and underground credibility in Pacha’s glamorous setting.

One-Off Highlights

On top of the weekly schedule, 2005 delivered some unforgettable one-offs. Danny Tenaglia played two marathon sets at Pacha, part of a series of Renaissance parties that season - a huge treat, since he rarely appeared on the island. Pacha’s own Flower Power nights also returned for a handful of dates, transforming the club into a psychedelic time machine of 60s and 70s classics. Meanwhile, the Global Room hosted live performances from Kelis and Dizzee Rascal, proof that Pacha wasn’t afraid to cross genres.

Why 2005 Still Matters

Looking back, 2005 captures Pacha at a sweet spot: still a family-run club with deep local roots, but also a global brand expanding to places like New York. Inside, it was intimate enough to feel special, yet big enough to host superstar DJs seven nights a week. Culturally, it defined what many now think of as “Ibiza style” - the mingling of underground music, international celebrities, and carefree hedonism, all under one roof. 2005 represents an era when Ibiza was at its glamorous, unmissable peak.

Two cherries, one farmhouse, seven nights of music - twenty years on, Pacha 2005 still shines as a season when every night felt like history in the making.