Olivia Bennett checks into Olea All Suite Hotel and finds a modern, minimalist gem.
The wild, rugged Greek island of Zakynthos is known for its party scene, but at Olea All Suite Hotel, that vibe couldn’t feel further removed. Away from the noisy bars, Olea is a hillside hideaway cocooned in a fragrant landscape of ancient olive trees, lavender and rosemary. Perched above the quaint village of Tsilivi on the north-eastern side of the island, it is the ideal location for a serene stay.
An unmistakable sense of calmness and stillness descends upon arrival. The design-led hotel’s chic lobby is a soothing mix of blanched wood and water. I spot a cat languidly slinking across the floor, a precursor for my state to come over the next three days.
Olea’s aesthetic is an elegant medley of brushed concrete, blanched wood, stone and rattan furniture. It’s rustic minimalism at its finest. Water is a constant theme, meandering throughout the resort, linking rooms and sunbeds. The main infinity pool is Olea’s beating heart, rippling out to smaller tiered pools that cascade downwards, offering private paradises, even with the hotel operating at near full capacity.
Ninety-three suites are peppered throughout the hotel, many of which are surrounded by water so you can take a dip before breakfast. Swim-up suites are centred around the main pool, while the exclusive executive suites are tucked away further up the hillside, complete with vast terraces and private plunge pools for basking, reading and reviving. The aesthetic of these suites is an extension of the wider hotel. It’s unmistakably Mediterranean, sleek and subdued, with muted tones and textiles making for a grounding space.
The dining offerings are a masterclass in elevated local flavours. Daily breakfast in Omikron serves up fresh fruit and local yoghurt generously drizzled with local pine honey, spinach pie, and kalitsounia biscuits. Swap your classic avocado toast for something more authentic, such as Strapastsada, a Greek dish of scrambled eggs swirled with tomato, fresh oregano and feta. For dinner, the restaurant hosts a relaxed buffet, allowing guests to sample a variety of traditional treats.
There’s a rather impressive dessert selection you’ll want to save room for too. Cocoon, in the centre of the resort, is more than your typical beach bar. It is a bohemian restaurant by day, serving standout dishes, such as pork gyros, enormous salads, crispy calamari on a bed of tarama, and lusciously plump shrimp on a creamy fava dip. The extensive menu means guests won’t get bored, no matter how long they stay. By night, this space becomes Flame, with a meat-centric menu cooked over fire. Grilled mastelo cheese skewers smothered with local honey is a must-order. Steak lovers will delight at the various cuts, elegantly paired with refined sides, such as charred carrots laden with harissa and almonds on a silky yoghurt base.
For a truly special dinner with mesmeric mountain views, head to FLOW Dine & Wine. This is Olea’s flagship fine dining restaurant, led by celebrated chef Michalis Nouroglou. Expect stellar dishes, such as fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with crayfish tartare and olive oil, and poached seabass studded with hazelnuts on a creamy artichok puree. Throughout, local wines from all over Greece are proudly paired.
You can sample from the vines of Crete, Santorini, the Peloponnese and more. At the Royal Spa, restorative treatments are carried out in cool, dimly lit rooms, providing welcome respite from the heat. I enjoyed the Ice Queen, a cooling facial involving a decadent double cleanse, reassuringly gritty exfoliation, and a tingly mask, coupled with a mollifying scalp, arm and chest massage. The blissful ritual was supercharged by local Aegeo Spas products, which use grape, olive oil, avocado and lavender to plump, soften and hydrate sun-parched complexions.
Post-treatment, I unwound further by the al fresco pool, sipping herbal tea while watching the swifts and butterflies skimming the olive groves. From the hotel, you can glimpse the Ionian sea in the distance, but if truth be told, that was the closest I got to the beach. I was far too content with my daily ritual of sunlounger, eat, pool, repeat. A marker of a truly restorative retreat.
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