For all its greenery and white-sand shores, the Greek island of Zakynthos had suffered from a dearth of luxurious design-led resorts. Praise be, then, for the Olea All Suite Hotel’s arrival on a hillside near Tsilivi Beach.
Olea’s heart is a freeform, 4,000sq m pool whose calm waters provide a permanent air of tranquility. All around are 93 suites arranged in one or two-storey whitewashed blocks, along with gardens and various carob tree-shaded lounges.
Across all communal areas, the Athens and Stockholm-based architects Block722 have installed grilled wooden dividers and lots of lush vegetation to blur the indoor and outdoor worlds. Look out also for hanging rattan pod seats and bubble lights.
Soft-hued Mediterranean materials hold sway in each minimal, open-plan suite: think tiled stone floors or solid oak coffee tables. Bamboo fixtures add an additional dash of tropical-island exoticism, as do swim-up suites. Every unit features a modernist, square-frame terrace or balcony, some embellished by palms, plus abundant space and light.
Wellness is another focus, courtesy of a yoga pavilion, a fully-equipped gym and a spa whose essential oils draw on local herbs. So too do signature cocktails at a sunset pool bar, while three restaurants cover Greek, Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
Tsilivi
Zakynthos
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