Melia is the flagship fine dining restaurant of Lesante Blu Exclusive Beach Resort, located on the island of Zakynthos in Greece. The outdoor restaurant is located just next to the resort’s infinity pool. Breath-taking (sunset) views on the Ionian sea and the silhouette of Kefalonia island accompany a meal which excels in refined yet powerful Greek flavours. Chefs Vasilis Kranias’ & Nikos Ispiroudis’ cuisine blends Zakynthos’ history, local cooking traditions and modern fine dining techniques into an unforgettable dining experience.

Location

Melia Fine Dining restaurant is located inside Lesante Blu Exclusive Beach Resort on Zakynthos island. Zakynthos or “Zante” is considered as one of Greece’s most beautiful islands. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, including rocky and steep mountains, lush vegetation, arches and cliffs spilling into the ocean, and many beautiful beaches.

In this already incredible setting, Melia occupies one of the resort’s most beautiful locations. Right on the edge of Lesante Blu’s infinity pool, the tables all offer frontal and breath-taking views of the ocean. On the horizon, the silhouette of Kefalonia island forms an exotic backdrop which becomes truly magical during sunset.

The tables at Melia are set in and around a wooden, open air cabana which can be partially closed on colder nights. White linen covers the tables and beautiful wooden chairs with lush pillows offer a natural yet luxurious contrast. The ocean in front is the restaurant’s only and biggest artwork. It’s always impressive and adds a touch of natural excellence during the meal.

The Chef & the team

Executive Chefs Vasilis Kranias & Nikos Ispiroudis are in charge of the kitchen at Melia Fine Dining Restaurant. At Melia, Kranias and Nikos shaped a true signature cuisine by redefining authentic recipes of the Ionian kitchen. With their unique cooking style, they gained several awards such as the ‘Contemporary Greek Cuisine Award 2023’, a ‘FNL star’ and even the award for ‘Best Fine Dining Luxury Unique Experience in Southern Europe 2020’.

Dishes are paired with great wines chosen by Master of Wine Aristotelis Protopapas. The wine list features mainly European references and includes a great Greek selection. Make sure to sample some of these delicious wines coming from both the Greek mainland as the Greek islands. Service at Melia is elegant and discreet, yet swift and professional. The team makes sure that their guests (mainly couples) can enjoy their romantic dinner in all intimacy.

Gastronomy

Local culinary traditions and Greek preparations form the basis of chefs Vasilis Kranias & Nikos Ispiroudi’s kitchen. They offers their guests an innovative approach to Greek cuisine, respecting the Mediterranean flavours but incorporating the latest cooking and presentation techniques.

Ultra fresh and top-quality products from both the sea and the land are transformed into beautiful, refined dishes. There’s the Corfu-originated Pastitsada, for example. Normally this dish consists out of pasta topped with meat braised in a spicy tomato-based sauce. At Melia, Kranias & Nikos use rooster instead, and combines the bird with spetseriko herbs, dehydrated barrel aged feta and tentura liqueur.

Equally delicious is the “Cod bianco”, combined with potatoes, a gel of dashi, black garlic, parsley and a lemon sauce.

The degustation menu offers a walk through the modern Ionian kitchen with 8 to 10 culinary creations. Some of the highlights include the Zakynthian pie with water onion, prentza cheese and dill, or the succulent “Sofrito”, with veal, potato cream, 12 months aged graviera and summer truffle. A special mention goes to the freshly baked sourdough bread, served with different butters, olive oil and fleur de sel. It’s addictively delicious. Make sure to save some space for the desserts as well – refined yet full of flavour these sweet delicacies are the perfect end of the meal.

Guests at Melia Fine Dining can choose between an à la carte menu, a degustation menu, lobster menu or vegetarian degustation menu. The degustation menu is our recommandation and offers a great journey through the contemporary Greek cuisine.

Why go? 

Melia Fine Dining restaurant is not only blessed with a stunning location overlooking the Ionian Sea. The food, prepared by Executive Chefs Vasilis Kranias & Nikos Ispiroudis, is the real star here. Their generous, delicious and highly refined approach to the Greek cuisine results in dishes that excel in flavour and presentation. They bring together Greece’s culinary history and modern cooking, and that’s exactly the reason why you should go.