Find your perfect beach orcity break in the latest crop of short-haul sunshine havens: meeting all budgets and styles, our pick of Mediterranean retreats go above and beyond
Words By Steven Short
This article was taken from the June/July 2024 issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.
Kéa, one of the Cyclades, has long been a weekend and
summer retreat for discerning Athenians, thanks to its
proximity to the Greek capital. Now luxury brand One&Only
are showcasing the island’s charms with a new design-forward,
all-villa retreat set in a postcard-pretty secluded bay. Each of
the 63 light-flooded villas has its own pool and takes full
advantage of gorgeous sea and cliff views. Billed as an
‘undiscovered Greek gem’, the resort has a beach club and
some of the best scuba diving in the country – if you love
shipwrecks, this is the place for you. On the heritage front, the
island has 360 churches and the ancient ruins of Karthea to
explore. It’s also known for bee-related products – bring the
flavour home with delicious thyme honey and honey sesame
bars (pasteli).
Villas from £1,505. oneandonlyresorts.com
For an adult-only Greek adventure with almost guaranteed
sunshine, check in at one of Cook’s Club Kolymbia’s 271 rustic-
chic rooms in Rhodes. Two pools plus a trio of beaches await
and, with water skiing, jet skis and water bikes for hire, it strikes a good balance between adventure and sheer relaxation. On the food front, three restaurants hero Greek or Italian à la carte
dining and Asian street food, and there are three bars to kick
back in, hand-crafted cocktail in hand. For immersion in the
island’s beauty, hit the trail to Kolymbia Rock – a gentle walk that
takes a little less than three hours but memories of the view once
you arrive will last a lifetime. With around 300 days of sunshine
and temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s into autumn, Rhodes
is a sunseeker’s paradise.
Doubles from £86. cooksclub.com
Unique architecture and culture, fantastic food, sun, sea, sand and
chilled cava are just a few of the things that make Barcelona an
evergreen city break. And it’s just added another reason to visit:
the five-star Grand Hotel Central. Located in the medieval Gothic
Quarter, with its cathedral and squares, narrow streets filled with
trendy bars and restaurants and artisans selling their wares, the
hotel has just opened following a top-to-toe refurb. Set in a 1926
building, the star attraction is the eighth-floor rooftop, where
you’ll find an infinity pool surrounded by Balinese daybeds that
you’ll probably only want to leave to grab a cocktail or a bite from
the adjoining La Terraza del Central Mediterranean bar and
restaurant. There’s sunrise yoga too for early birds. The hotel
offers 147 rooms and suites, an urban spa and its very own secret
garden to explore.
Doubles from £258. grandhotelcentral.com
This family-friendly resort, which opened this spring, is situated in Oia on the north-western tip of stylish Santorini. The five-star Domes Novos has 50 elegant suites and two private villas, whose design nods to the island’s volcanic geography, each with a private Zen pool in volcanic stone and amazing views of the Aegean sea. Dining here is at smart-casual Vatanee Restaurant, where chef Dionysis Anastopoulous has created a menu of innovative sharing mezes. The resort’s excellent Soma Spa also nods to its geography with volcanic-inspired and infused treatments, and there’s an impressive gym and indoor pool too. Those seeking exclusivity can use the Haute Living Selection, the brand’s personalised ‘hotel within a hotel’ concept where a concierge service curates your ideal stay with upgraded comforts and bespoke activities.
Doubles from £227. domesresorts.com
This belle époque hotel, once dubbed Le Petit Palais, has serious
style credentials – fashion legend Jeanne Lanvin would sketch
designs here and King Edward VII also swung by. Now Regina
Experimental has been tastefully updated by Dorothée Meilichzon
(who also created the looks of Grand Pigalle in Paris, and the UK’s
Cowley Manor). Rolling into its first full season, the colour scheme
across 72 rooms and suites is white, blue and green with stripes,
lending a nautical feel and nodding to its cliffside location in the
bay of Biarritz. All rooms have views over the ocean or the hotel’s
acclaimed golf course. An offshoot of Greg Marchand’s Frenchie
restaurant serves up Basque-inspired seafood, and the spa offers
Susanne Kaufmann’s skincare treatments. The pool is heated
April-October, while nearby Miramar beach is the spot to hone
your surfing skills.
Doubles from £216. reginaexperimental.com
As you might expect, there’s a serious boho vibe at this Ibiza newbie: rooms are cool white in keeping with local architecture, with wood and wicker accessories and unmissable views over the Balearic sea. Channelling the convivial spirit of the island, Hyde’s seven distinct bar and restaurant offerings include Mexican Cuyo, pool bar and grill Bungalow and star of the show Hyde Beach with live music, poolside bites and well made cocktails. The large concept carries on poolside too in the form of oversized daybeds surrounding one of the three pools. For the true Ibizan rock star experience, book the two-bed Headliner Suite, which comes with complimentary champagne on arrival and two sea-facing terraces. For those wishing to swap their dancing shoes for something more sensible, the hotel offers guided hikes to the surrounding mountains, and Old Town Ibiza is just a short ride away should a retail itch need scratching.
Doubles from £172. hydehotels.com
One thing guaranteed to improve every beach holiday is that
beach being private. Château de Théoule, which has just
opened on the Côte d’Azur 20 minutes from Cannes, fits the
bill perfectly in the shape of La Plage Blanche. The beach is a
vision of fine white sand and rippling blue sea complete with a
restaurant and lounge – as well as a private boat slip. The hotel
is made up of three buildings: the main château, which was
originally a soap factory dating back to 1630, a fisherman’s
house and an art deco villa. Rooms and suites are named after
herbs and flowers that speak to its cosmetic heritage: a red and
pink room is Fleur de Valériane, a green one is Fleur de Sauge.
The château also has a luxurious sea-facing spa offering skin
and body treatments including the signature Coquillages
d’Azur treatment, which features an intriguing hot sea shell
massage.
Doubles from £240. chateau-de-theoule.com
Palmižana’s one-of-a-kind Zori Timeless Hotel may be the very definition of boutique. Close to Hvar, it’s made quite the name for itself since it launched last year. With just four residences it’s the brainchild of the Tomlinović family, who took over the much-loved waterside Zori family restaurant here in 2006. What used to be an old pension are now sumptuous suites brought to life by Split- based design studio Visković&Visković – all warm terracotta walls, wooden cabinetry, pale stone floors and marble bathrooms. Suites come with spacious terraces framed by lush vegetation, hammocks and pools and/or hot tubs. All have views over Vinogradišće Bay, one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful. A stay includes a table within the specially reserved zone at the restaurant – where young, highly creative chef Siniša Jevresimov serves up reinterpretations of Dalmatian classics and local seafood – and access to a personalised concierge service.
Suites from £809. zori.hr
Destinations don’t come much more glamorous than Capri and
hotels here don’t come more steeped in history than Hotel La
Palma. Originally opened as Locanda Pagano in 1822, La Palma
– part of the upscale Oetker Collection – has been transformed
into a 50-room-and-suite dream with a pool deck and its very
own beach club. The jewel in the hotel’s elegant crown is La
Palma Suite, which can be configured into a two- or five-bed
suite with a huge terrace and comes with a dedicated host.
Food is big here, with Italian culinary star Gennaro Esposito
overseeing signature dishes like homemade cavatelli with
courgette and caciocavallo podilico cheese, while a rooftop bar
pays tribute to ‘timeless Capri’, serving vintage champagne
from chic trolleys. An elegant spot from which to visit classic
sights such as the Blue Grotto, where the Mediterranean glows
electric blue.
Doubles from £680. oetkercollection.com
One for history lovers, sophisticated Mamula Island is located in
Montenegro’s Boka Bay and is part of a World Heritage Site. The
setting is a meticulously restored 19th-century fort encircled by
brilliant blue sea and complete with a serviced beach. With their
imposing thick walls and exposed original frescos, the 32 rooms
and suites would be at home on the pages of The World of
Interiors. Each features bespoke furniture from weStudio, artworks
by local artists and products with a custom Mamula scent created
by Ananné. A sea view, of course, comes as standard, and many
rooms have a private terrace. At the heart of the island fort, the
pool deck offers guests a casual all-day restaurant and bar
alongside three pools – two circular and a freshwater lap pool –
with plenty of sunbeds and lounge furniture. Regional flavour is
showcased over six courses at fine-diner Kamena, while Pinea bar makes craft cocktails from homemade local infusions. A spa set in the fort tower rounds it all off.
Doubles from £365. mamulaisland.com
Prefer a little art with your sun, sea and sand? The artistic tone at
Bodrum’s latest opening – the newest on our list – is set by an
installation in the lobby especially created by Turkish-American
Refik Anadol. More of his works, along with others by
internationally acclaimed artist Bernar Venet, are dotted around
the hotel, curated by expert art adviser and Central Saint Martins
graduate Zeynep Utku, with more artistic collaborations planned.
Found on a private peninsula – a 20-minute boat ride from the
airport – accommodations at this sustainably designed, all-suite
or private-villa resort have been equally well thought out, with
chic minimalism dominating, along with panoramic views over the
sea. The resort itself has six pools and an impressive spa, spread
over 4,500sq m, with 20 treatment rooms offering holistic and
science-based treatments including balneotherapy, and
rejuvenating experiences such as ozone sauna, as well as a
hammam and tepidarium area. There are plenty of options for
eating and drinking, including outposts of upscale eateries Caviar
Kaspia and Beefbar along with an Italian concept restaurant
overseen by chef Alfredo Russo. A range of Turkish specialities are
on offer at the Twenty4 restaurant. Those with a sweet tooth will
appreciate the in-house chocolatier and ice cream parlour.
Families are well catered for, with a new Maxxi Land Children’s
Club, set to be the largest in Bodrum, catering to one-year-olds
through to teenagers with dedicated age-appropriate spaces and
adventure-based activities.
Doubles from £788. maxxroyal.com
If a fusion of traditional Andalucian craftsmanship and
contemporary Japanese living tickles your design taste buds,
Nobu’s newest offering in Seville is sure to satisfy. The interior
designers, dAAr Arquitectura, have cleverly melded the two,
making the most of the old bones of the pair of early 20th-
century buildings the hotel occupies, with pared-back styling
and uncluttered interiors. Poised in Plaza San Francisco, there
are just 25 rooms here – with lovely, high, moulded ceilings,
parquet flooring and marble accents – making this one of the
quieter of the new batch of openings. Located right in the heart
of Seville, the cathedral and Real Alcázar palace are just five
minutes away. As you’d expect from a Nobu hotel, food plays a pivotol role, with the signature restaurant serving Nobu
favourites including its much-revered miso black cod. There’s
wagyu beef too, plus an omakase tasting menu (though do be sure to leave the hotel at some point for excellent traditional
tapas in the local bars). A rooftop bar and plunge pool offer
welcome respite from the city’s high summer temperatures.
Doubles from £219. sevilla.nobuhotels.com
At the heart of Vestige Son Vell is an 18th-century Menorcan
manor house that has been lovingly restored by husband and wife
team Victor Madera and Maria Obdulia Fernandez. A trip here
feels like going to stay in the luxurious rustic farmhouse of friends
with impeccable taste – think sandstone walls, exposed beams,
terracotta tiled floors and well chosen furniture and accessories.
Rooms are located in the house and five ex-farm buildings spread
over a 73ha estate: an oasis of citrus trees, olive groves, organic
vegetable gardens and working farmland. The pool and laidback
bars are perfect for sunseekers, and the hotel also offers engaging
activities both on and off site designed to encourage deeper
insight into Menorcan culture: meet local artisans and learn the art
of jewellery, bag or shoe making, or spend time with a herbalist
who will help you create natural remedies and cosmetics. Other
options include cookery classes with chef Joan Bagur, yogalates,
wine tasting and outdoor cinema screenings. More intrepid
visitors can opt for an exclusive Jeep exploration tour along
private roads to hidden corners of the Balearic beauty.
Doubles from £255. vestigecollection.com
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