This Mediterranean Holiday Is Perfect For Foodies
We love Greece, and we love Greek food – which is why The Mar-Bella Collection, with its Greek Chefs Abroad event, is an experience we couldn’t pass up. Located on the island of Corfu, the group’s MarBella and Nido hotels will allow you to take in the local surroundings while relaxing in fabulous comfort. For some R&R and amazing dining, it’s hard to match. Here’s one writer’s experience.
The Location
The Mar-Bella Collection is located on the southeastern coast of Corfu, with both a beautiful view of the sea and lush greenery to wake up to each morning. The group comprises of two hotels next to each other, the larger and family-friendly MarBella, and the adults-only Nido. It’s the latter, though, where the Greek Chefs Abroad event is held (with another site, Elix in Parga also playing host to the series).
Corfu is a perfect location for a foodie event with that lush greenery giving you an underlying of freshness and nature.
Corfu is a perfect location for a foodie event, with that lush greenery giving you an underlying of freshness and nature. Plus, the nearby Old Town is a place of heritage and history, making it easy to lose track of time strolling through its many streets- meaning you’ll work up an appetite quicker than you think.
First Impressions
On arrival at the resort, you’ll feel your travel fatigue fade very quickly as you enter the reception area. MarBella is large, with a plethora of restaurants to choose from during your stay (the seafront Deck Bar & Grill, French style Celeste and recently opened Kuzina being a few of the ones we ate at). While the Old Town and the rest of Corfu are lovely to travel around, the hotel itself has plenty to discover, from the winding path down to the beach to the small chapel not far from the reception area. As with any coastal stay, there’s a magnetic pull toward the sea, and the beaches at MarBella and Nido are a joy to relax on, whether you’re swimming, enjoying an ice cream or just taking in the view.
By comparison, Nido, being adults-only, is quieter than MarBella and is a real escape from the wider world. The private beach and rooftop pool, in addition to the suite rooms’ panoramic views of the Ionian sea, only add to the feeling. There are options for Deluxe Suites with a whirlpool or your own private pool, which really take you to the height of luxury.
Greek Chefs Abroad Series
The main event of our stay, of course, was the Greek Chefs Abroad event, which is a celebration of the best of Greek cuisine – and what an experience it is. The hotel invites various acclaimed Greek chefs from around the world to come and demonstrate their culinary expertise, creating a menu with a blend of Greek and the countries they currently work in.
Beginning in 2021, The Chefs Abroad series returns again for this year for volume IV, with a theme of “the culture of sharing.” The chef being honoured when this writer visited was Georges Athanassopoulos, the co-founder and head chef of Màloma in Brussels. With a eye for sustainability in cooking, his menu was a fusion of Greek and Belgian gastronomy using locally sourced ingredients, creating a incredible set of dishes.
First, we were treated to sharing plates consisting of parsley churros with smoked Greek yoghurt cream, coral puff bread beignet with tarama and oscietra caviar, plus peas and tagetes, with squid leaf. The starters meanwhile included egg yolk at 65c with bottarga powder, toasted brioche and sea lettuce algae, and Epirus oyster blanched in seawater and iced and seared on the barbecue.
For mains, we tucked into a confit goat ravioli, with brown miso, beetroot jus, parmesan whey, greens mousse, fried zucchini flower and mizithra cheese. There were varying opinions on our table over which was the best dish (which is very much a good thing!), but for me, the main was the standout.
Dessert was a classic olive oil ice cream and fig leaf yoghurt, along with peach in fig syrup and thyme ladyfinger biscuit.
The whole meal was accompanied by an array of delicious Greek wines, and was certainly a fine evening of dining on a terrace overlooking the sea that Nido stands above. Simply put, it was an amazing experience of culinary delights, with the dazzling moonlight making it even more incredible.
Simply put, it was an amazing experience of culinary delights, with the dazzling moonlight making it even more incredible.
If you’re interested in trying it for yourself, you’ll be glad to know that the Greek Chefs Abroad series has further events scheduled this year, including Greek-Austrian restaurateur Konstantin Filippou at Nido, along with Bangko- based Dimitrios Moudious and New York-based Nicholas Poulmentis at Pearl, Elix in Parga.
Chefs Abroad series aside, though, MarBella has a stellar range of different places to grab a bite, with the previously mentioned Deck Bar & Grill being a real highlight as you gaze into the ocean and delve into some delicious seafood. Other dining spots include La Terrazza, for more relaxed buffet dining, cocktail bar Eleonas and PanAsian restaurant Kum Kuat, offering something a little bit different from the rest of the hotel.
Nido meanwhile features Apaggio, curated by leading Greek chef Sotiris Evaggelou, as well as San Giovanni, which gives you that unbeatable ocean view. There’s also the laid-back Heritage Bar, for a perfect drink in style. The hotel kitchen staff numbers around 190, and we had the privilege during our stay of being able to watch some of them at work briefly, touring the Kuzina kitchen and sampling some of their incredible creations.
The Rooms
The rooms at both MarBella and Nido are top quality, with true five-star comforts. My room at MarBella really was luxe, perfect for catching up on sleep but also lounging around in between the activities and events that made up my stay (more on that later). There was a terrific view of the blue sea from the terrace, and opposite the front door was one of the hotel’s swimming pools. Everything about it left me feeling relaxed, and the service was excellent, too. There are a number of suites with private pools and private gardens, but wherever you stay you’ll certainly be well looked after.
The rooms at Nido, feel both secluded and spacious, and each suite has a really appealing design- there’s a definite “wow” moment when you walk into any of them. There can be a fair bit of walking up steps at Nido, but that height gives unmatched views of the sea, so you’ll be torn between wanting to stay in your serene and stylish room and heading down to the beach to take a dip.
Activities & Things To Do
The other great thing about The Mar-Bella Collection is how much there is to do- aside from eating of course. There’s a spa if you want to really relax and let all your stress go, as well as fitness activities for the exercise-minded.
This year, Nido is offering fitness and well-being classes with sports agency Oyogo London, giving you access to expert trainers as you take part in yoga, pilates and more, all with a view of the Ionian sea. It’s a refreshing way to start your morning and warm yourself up for the day ahead. Watersports are available to book, as are private boat cruises.
The boat trip we took was unforgettable, sailing up and down the coast and diving into the blue sea, with caves and more to explore. You can also take excursions on a sunset cruise up toward the Old Town for 750€ or Paxos and Antipaxos island for 2500€. The Old Town remains a highlight, and those familiar with the classic autobiographical book My Family and Other Animals will find much of Gerald Durrell’s legacy to discover. In short, there’s little that you won’t find to do at Corfu.
As picturesque as it is during the day in the blazing sun, Nido might just peak in the evening, with jazz and cocktails at the bar and amazing food service. There’s often a chance to see beautiful sunsets, and at the perfect time the moon at night can be entrancing (as we luckily got to witness).
Getting There
MarBella is located close to Corfu International Airport, around a half hour drive. There are taxi and bus services available from the airport, as well as car rental, and the journey is really quite pleasant as you head toward your getaway.
The Verdict
The Mar-Bella Collection is the place to go for a memorable stay, whichever hotel you choose to make your base. The highlights, of course, was The Greek Chefs Abroad Series – a truly unmissable experience that will stay with you long after your stay. Both MarBella and Nido offer a great way to experience Corfu in all its glory, especially given how close they are to the town. In short, there’s so much to take in and enjoy, you’ll want to come back again as soon as you’ve left.
How To Book
Rates start from €196 at Nido for Bed and Breakfast and €272 at MarBella on a Premium AI basis – working with all key tour operators and travel agents. For full information on rates for your stay and availability, visit the hotel’s official site here: www.marbella.gr
