Panoramic beachfront views of the calm seas, an alluring azure infinity pool, and fresh vibrant Latin-Mediterranean cuisine. These are a few of our favourite things about Sol & Ora. Part of 1-Altitude Coast – 1-Group’s latest multi-concept lifestyle destination – it all feels like an enchanting Santorini holiday home. At sunrise, the floor-to-ceiling windows illuminate the coved-ceiling dining room with soft natural rays for that perfect brunch hour. Come sundown, the vibe takes a 180 transformation with daily evening fireworks without disrupting the sanctuary-like tranquillity all thanks to the warm light fixtures.
Literally translating to sun and shore, the all-day dining restaurant presents a melting pot of culinary influences from the Mediterranean and Europe where classics are reimagined with a modern approach. Meander along the Italian Riviera and you’ll find handmade pasta and risottos doused with heaps of seafood. Our favourite was the comforting squid and crab cavatelli pasta ($28) spiked with the added vibrance of Amalfi lemons.
Traipse across the Balkans to uncover the sweet savoury expression of Greek saganaki cheese ($23) drizzled with honey and a squeeze of lemon. The vegetables are also properly charred as seen from the Imam Bayildi ($18) where eggplant is first scorched and layered with a robust spiced tomato sauce and feta cheese. In Spain, the La Bomba ($18) is a hearty showcase of Spanish-style breaded potato and chicken encased in a deliciously moreish fried orb that is lifted with spicy tomato and aioli.
Then there was the Sardinian Porcetto ($45) a la roasted suckling pig that undergoes an intensive two-day brine and dry process right before the Josper blisters it. The result is crackling skin with perfectly seasoned succulent meat. Paired with burnt lettuce and a cinnamon-kissed apple pear sauce, it is a guilty pleasure dish best shared amongst a convivial group. To round it all off, consider having a go at the crisp fluffy Spanish churros ($16) or the creamy flaky Greek breakfast of Bougatsa ($14) for dessert.
This evocative retreat also has a weekend high tea that is affordably priced at just $28 per person. So grab a friend along for a joyful midday tête-à-tête with petite sweets such as bite-sized tartlets, lavender-glazed madeleines, macarons and canelé. And to balance the scales, there are also savoury morsels such as smoked salmon mini croissants, mushroom chipotle croquettes, truffle caviar mushroom quiche and of course, Parma ham-wrapped cantaloupes.