Olea All Suite Hotel Raises The Bar For Discreet Luxury And Fine Dining On Zakynthos

You have noticed the impression on Instagram. The countless pictures of a freightliner’s rusted hull beached inside of a sandy cove imprisoned by sapphire water. The wrecked ship on the Ionian Island of Zakynthos is referred to as the MV Panagiotis. Carrying contraband cigarettes, the boat ran aground in a bout of negative weather conditions in the early 1980s while fleeing the Greek Navy. Right now, Navagio seashore is 1 of the most photographed places in Greece, becoming a viral feeling on Instagram. As a result, overtourism and congestion have plagued sections of this wild rugged island. However, perched on a hill earlier mentioned the cacophony of Tsilivi Seashore sits a sanctuary of refinement, Olea All Suite Resort.

Olea All Suite Resort is a gem of sophistication, not just on Zakynthos but in the whole chain of Ionian Islands. With its design-forward ambience, considerable wellness facilities, and fantastic meals and wine program, it is the ideal vacation spot for a luxurious grownups-only (and small children more than 12) getaway.

If you are not common with the Ionian Islands, you’re not alone. Most Americans head straight for the Cyclades Islands in Greece. When the two island groups are attractive, there are some crucial variations that make the Ionian Islands, and especially Zakynthos, a exclusive and worthwhile place.

First, the Ionian Islands attribute lush landscapes in distinction to the stark white buildings and rocky terrain of the Cyclades. The islands are included in pine forests, olive groves, and vineyards, and the hillsides are dotted with charming villages and cities.

One more essential difference is the seashores. Though the Cyclades are identified for their beautiful, white-sand beach locations, the Ionian Islands have a much more varied selection of shorelines, from rocky coves to lengthy stretches of sand. The drinking water bordering the Ionians, having said that, is of the deepest jewel-toned blue uncovered wherever in the world. If you’re vulnerable to drooling around pictures of the Caribbean or South Pacific Seas, the Ionians, emphatically, produce.

Zakynthos features many of Greece’s very best shorelines and clearest waters. In fact, the organic environment is a key driver of tourism. Nonetheless, Olea All Suite Resort has gone out of its way to create an organic and natural architectural landscape that nearly rivals Mom Mother nature. Nearly.

The hotel’s hillside place enables for a series of tiered swimming pools to tumble toward the horizon. In truth, the cascading drinking water attributes are the initially attribute you are going to notice soon after examining in and touring the grounds. At least, they were for me when I frequented last summer season.

Surrounded by gnarled olive trees and flowering lavender bushes, the h2o blends seamlessly into the extensive blue backdrop of the Ionian Sea and swirls around the daytime restaurant and bar or “restobar” Cocoon. The sculptural infinity pool is a stunning feat of layout featured prominently on the hotel’s web page for excellent explanation: it’s the sort of graphic you save on Insta, Pinterest, or TikTok underneath #travelgoals, and it appears as fantastic in authentic daily life as on social media.

In simple fact, many of the property’s 93 suites aspect beds, loungers, and included decks with immediate entry to the h2o. Get hot? Bounce in. Just woke up and need to have a quick swim? Leap in. No will need to reserve a chair on a deck considerably away from your guest area. Extra suites with ocean sights have personal dipping pools. Space selection, of training course, arrives down to desire. Each and every suite carries the overarching aesthetic of natural minimalism into its bedding, home furnishings, and décor. Delicate colors of the earth, sand, clay, and flax aspect in the linens and textiles, preserving you calm and grounded.

For friends who prioritize wellness (which is basically anyone currently), Olea has a array of actions and facilities for calming and rejuvenating. The hotel’s spa is the fantastic spot to unwind right after a day navigating the island’s curvy roadways to considerably flung beaches in a stick shift, notably for Us citizens applied to automatics. With a wide variety of therapies from massages, facials, to complete-system treatment plans moreover day-to-day yoga classes, it’s effortless to stay limber. For yoga lessons, nevertheless, be guaranteed to make a reservation, even in advance of arriving on the home, as class sizes are compact and guide up quickly.

When I appreciate a great pool and deep tissue massage, the hotel stood out for its remarkable foods and beverage method centered on fresh Mediterranean ingredients.

Olea All Suite Hotel presents numerous eating ideas. Omikron serves a day-to-day breakfast and meal buffet. I usually skip breakfast when I journey (and never try to eat at buffets for dinner), even though the generous exhibit seemed pleasing from bowls of thick Greek yogurt, local honeycomb, ripe fruits, and other morning specialties.

For lunch, I trapped to Cocoon Restobar in the vicinity of the pool. The setting evokes a bohemian beach front lounge replete with a sandy ground for barefoot eating. Specified the captive audience, poolside eating is normally an afterthought at resorts. Cocoon, having said that, turns out fresh salads and vegetable dishes, grilled seafood, fantastic smoothies and cocktails, all complemented by a regional wine record, significantly of it highlighting the grapes of the island.

Two of the ideal foods of my total two months in the Ionians ended up appreciated at Olea All Suite Resort. During summer season nights, Cocoon turns into Pacifico by Nikkei. This common Athenian restaurant serves Peruvian-Japanese fusion dishes in the tradition of Nikkei cuisine, or Peruvian elements formed by Japanese techniques. Consider fish ceviche, quinoa, aji amarillo peppers, soba noodles, and sashimi. With the assist of the basic manager, we sampled a assortment of dishes such as a delicately spiced tiradito, truffle and miso marinated duck breast, and a abundant nigiri foie gras that I can still style right now by wondering about it. While a diehard enthusiast of Greek salads, following 12 days of raw peppers and brick-dimension blocks of feta, I welcomed a night time of Nikkei-design and style meals.

On the 2nd evening, I visited Circulation Dine & Wine, the hotel’s flagship restaurant established on a west-dealing with sunset deck overlooking the mountains and valley. With “wine” in the restaurant identify, I assumed correctly the multi-training course meal would occur with wine pairings (while optional). I appreciated the beverage director’s curiosity in showcasing some of the island’s uncommon wines. Rare to an American, anyway. Grapes like Avgoustiatis, Skiadopoulos, Savvatiano, and Goustolidi virtually under no circumstances make their way throughout the Atlantic to the US, so for wine fanatics, tasting in situ is frequently the only solution.

The menu at Move brings together the knowledge and creativity of Greek chef Michalis Nourloglou with his collaborator Stefanos Rizos. Dishes stand for reliable Greek flavors via higher-brow ideas and distinct attractive plating. Move might be the finest dining solution in all of Zakynthos, and thankfully, one that emphasizes organic and natural, local, and sustainable components more than the usual 5-star vacation resort nonsense of flying in luxury substances like Maine lobster. Hopefully more vacationers will explore Circulation Dine & Wine—the venue accepts reservations from outside attendees.

The food items and placing at Olea All Suite Hotel demands the best get of willpower — to pull one’s self absent from. It would be easy to expend an total holiday getaway on the residence, but would be a shame to pass up out on the island’s all-natural magnificence and option for journey. From the mesmerizing blue waters of hidden coves, to the good beaches, amazing sunset bars, and intimate spouse and children eating places down dim filth roads in mountain villages. The finest answer: reserve twice the number of times you supposed, and you’ll nevertheless discover it is not more than enough.