And this is exactly what my partner and I blissfully experience on a recent lunch trip to the Meliá Phuket at Mai Khao. With its first resort hotel in Mallorca in the 1950s, and well over 100 hotels throughout Spain today, it is no surprise to see the strong Mediterranean influence throughout the Meliá property.
Time almost seems to slow down as we turn off from the main road and enter the bountiful grounds of the property, where we are greeted by genuinely friendly staff and escorted to the open, spacious and welcoming reception. Here we are served the in-house special Power Drink, a delightfully refreshing concoction consisting of ginger, goji berry, cinnamon and coconut sugar. It feels like a mini vacation almost immediately.
The affable Food and Beverage Director, Luc Jiguet, then affords us a brief tour of the property, where plush accommodation is generously enveloped in nature and greenery – a genuinely welcome and reassuring respite from the endless construction that is strangling the more central and southern parts of the island.
Meliá’s Mediterranean influence is clear in the design and décor of the buildings, which instantly transport you to Spain’s islands of Mallorca and Menorca. Having spent regular holidays in such locations growing up, the warm feeling of nostalgia this induces is delightful.
Next, we enter a charming area leading to the pool, where we are seated for lunch and instantly served the house special ginger mocktail, which is incredibly refreshing and extremely moreish.
The Mediterranean influence is once again evident throughout the menu, as a range of tantalising dishes sit alongside more familiar Southeast Asian offerings, making our selection a challenge as literally everything looks tempting!
On the recommendation of head chef Saiful, we opt for shrimp tacos and the artichoke dip. I am not typically a huge artichoke fan but this dish, mixed with a range of cheeses and served with crudités and freshly baked pita chips and crostini, is incredibly tasty and leaves me reevaluating my artichoke bias! The shrimp tacos are delicious too.
SUCCULENT
For main course we cannot but help order the Surf n’ Turf special. We are not disappointed when it arrives at our table and we eagerly tuck in. Succulent steak cooked to perfection complemented by the juicy prawns, sitting on a bed of exquisite, deep-fried potato wedges and asparagus. It is so good that when finished we consider ordering again, before sense sets in and we remember variety is the spice of life and order the playfully named Mai Khao Juicy Lucy Burger instead. Stuffed with gouda cheese and topped with fresh beetroot, rocket and house pickle, it is as good a burger as either of us have had in a long, long time.
Thankfully, we leave just about enough space for dessert. My partner opts for the Crema Catalana, a sweet (but not too sweet) ginger and orange custard topped with a sugar brûlée, which is eagerly consumed! Being a bona fide chocoholic, I select the Chocolate Almond Brownie, a dense, almost fudge-like brownie served with a quenelle of rum raisin gelato and handmade honeycomb. I am not exaggerating when I declare this to be one of the finest desserts I have ever experienced – genuinely 10 out of 10!
The entire experience at Meliá is a true delight and one that is easy to recommend. The food is great and the staff are warm and accommodating in an authentic way, keen to talk without being intrusive or appearing disingenuous. The location and design of the venue is fantastic and leaves one feeling relaxed and refreshed, perfect for an extended holiday or even just a time out at the weekend.
As we headed south into the traffic, construction and mass tourism, we agreed it very much felt like we had been on a mini vacation. Being able to enjoy an authentic Mediterranean experience without the cost or hassle of actually having to venture halfway across the world, Meliá is a spot we both agreed we will definitely be returning to soon.
GAIA Mediterranean Restaurant and Bar is situated at the Meliá Phuket Mai Khao. Open Daily 11am-11pm. Reservation: 076 563 550. https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailand/phuket/melia-phuket-mai-khao.