Lesante Cape

Lesante Cape in Zakynthos, Greece, a Michelin Key One-Keys property, consistently receives high praise for its luxurious interpretation of a traditional Greek village, stunning Ionian Sea views, and exceptional service. Opened in May 2022, this 5-star resort offers a serene and sophisticated escape.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Lesante Cape is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as "wonderful," "superb," and "perfect." It has an overall experience rating of excellent, scoring 8.8/10 on one review site. Cleanliness, staff, comfort, and location consistently receive high scores (9.5-9.7 out of 10), while value for money is rated 8.4/10, reflecting its premium status.

2. Key Highlights

Guests particularly love Lesante Cape for several standout features:

• Design & Ambiance: The resort is designed to replicate a traditional Greek village, featuring a central square with a vineyard, taverna, shop, coffee shop, church, and museum, all blending traditional Ionian design with contemporary luxury.
• Location & Views: Its cliffside position offers breathtaking, uninterrupted views of the Ionian Sea, including spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
• Amenities: The resort boasts three infinity pools, including one with a swim-up bar and an adults-only option, along with a spacious spa, a state-of-the-art gym, and a private pebble beach. Many suites and villas also feature private pools.
• Service: The staff consistently receives accolades for being incredibly friendly, welcoming, attentive, and professional, often remembering guest preferences from the first interaction.

3. Room Quality

Lesante Cape offers 55 spacious suites and 10 villas, all featuring an elegant and sophisticated design. Rooms are described as light, modern, and in keeping with Greek charm, utilizing a palette of beige, cream, and white with natural materials like light wood, natural stone, straw, and linen. Most accommodations include indoor and outdoor spaces, with many boasting private terraces, sea views, and private pools. Standard amenities typically include a king-size bed, living area, his and hers sinks in the bathroom, a bath and shower, free Wi-Fi, television, coffee machine, and air conditioning. Some villas also come with a fully functioning kitchen, including an oven and washing machine. While generally praised for comfort and cleanliness, some minor criticisms include non-blackout blinds, loud external shutters, gurgling pool/AC noises, and a lack of bedside power outlets.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at Lesante Cape is highly regarded, with several on-site restaurants catering to various tastes.

• Elea Restaurant: Serves an extensive breakfast buffet on a lovely terrace, including hot options, fruits, yogurts, pastries, cereals, cheeses, cold meats, and sweet treats, with accommodations for dietary needs like milk alternatives. Elea also serves set-menu Mediterranean-inspired dinners for half-board guests.
• Novita Restaurant: Offers a smart-casual setting for lunch and dinner, serving provincial dishes with locally sourced ingredients, including freshly caught fish. It's also a popular spot to enjoy sunsets.
• Fiore Fine Dining: The resort's signature fine-dining restaurant provides an upscale gastronomic experience with panoramic sea and sunset views, focusing on high-end cuisine that blends international classics with local produce. While praised for its quality and romantic setting, some guests found the tasting menu portions to be on the smaller side.
• Taverna: A traditional Greek taverna is also part of the resort's village concept, offering authentic Greek cuisine.
• Overall Food Quality: Food is generally described as "really good" and "superb," often highlighting fresh ingredients and local touches. However, half-board options can be limiting for longer stays as the fixed menu at Elea repeats weekly and lacks à la carte choices.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Lesante Cape consistently receive outstanding reviews. Guests frequently describe the staff as "incredibly friendly," "welcoming," "attentive," and "professional." Specific examples of excellent service include seamless airport transfers, quick check-in processes via golf buggy, and staff remembering guest preferences from the first meal. The front office manager often provides a WhatsApp number for direct communication, and managers and chefs actively interact with guests. Many guests have expressed feeling a "genuine warmth" and that the staff "felt like family" by the end of their stay.

6. Location & Accessibility

Lesante Cape is situated on a peaceful cliffside spot in Akrotiri village, on the southeastern coast of Zakynthos. It boasts phenomenal views of the Ionian Sea and is conveniently located only a 15-20 minute drive from Zakynthos International Airport, with no aircraft noise at the hotel itself.

While a magnificent cliffside resort with its own private pebble beach, guests note that the beach is accessed via a long staircase and can be in the shade by mid-afternoon due to surrounding cliffs. For those prioritizing a sandy beach, the Blue Flag-awarded Tsilivi Beach is about 1.1 miles (1.2 km) or a 25-minute stroll away. The hotel can arrange various activities, including yacht tours to famous sites like Shipwreck Beach (Navagio), the Blue Caves, and Marathonisi Island. The island's capital, Zakynthos Town, is also accessible for historical attractions.

7. Value & Pricing

Lesante Cape is positioned as a high-end, luxury property, and its pricing reflects this. A top-end three-bedroom villa, for example, can cost around €3500 per night. While it is an expensive option, many guests feel it offers excellent value for money, scoring 9/10 in this category on some luxury travel reviews. Guests often highlight that the exceptional experience, stunning property, and high level of service justify the cost, making it a worthwhile luxury escape.

8. Common Complaints

Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, some recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:

• Dining Limitations: Portions at the fine dining restaurant, Fiore, were sometimes considered small. Additionally, the half-board meal plan at Elea features a fixed menu that repeats weekly with no à la carte option, which can be disappointing for longer stays.
• Spa and Activity Availability: There have been instances where spa massage slots and boat tours were fully booked, even for guests staying for several days, indicating high demand.
• Minor Room Issues: Some guests noted issues with non-blackout blinds, noisy external shutters, gurgling sounds from pools or air conditioning, and a lack of conveniently located bedside power outlets.
• Restaurant Atmosphere: At Elea, some guests found the preparation for breakfast starting before closing time for dinner, with associated clattering, detracted from the evening ambiance.
• Beach Access: While the hotel has a private pebble beach, its accessibility via a long staircase and being shaded by mid-afternoon might be a drawback for some.

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