European resort with good food (NOT fine dining)

[70percentcocoa]

Hello,

I'm looking for inspiration for our next family holiday in September (and next year). We have a 3 year old and 9 month old so are looking for a resort with restaurants on site as are likely to have the flexibility to explore/have meals out etc. I've spent many hours searching but everywhere that I like the look of offers 'gastronomy' or fancy plates. We do like good food but would much rather delicious mezze, big fresh salads, grilled meat/fish, even good pizzas etc for a family holiday. Quality produce & fresh flavours over tiny fussy plates that don't fill you up and taste disappointing. Would be happy with buffet if it's good quality. Would want a half board/full board type situation.

Other info: While we would like the hotel to be family friendly we have no need for kids clubs etc as they won't be used. A playground or play area is a nice to have though. Preference for smaller hotels.

Does this place exist?

We stayed at Martinhal in June and were so disappointed with the food and feel we paid over the odds for it.

Thank you everyone!

Have a look at Anemos Luxury Grand. Great food options. Lots of fresh, organic food too.

We’ve just returned from this resort in Sardinia;

www.hotelmarinedda.com/en/

food was amazing - we went half board so breakfast and dinner included. Dinner options were table service restaurant, pizzeria or buffet. Buffet was amazing - fresh fish every day, huge selection of puddings, different foods on offer each day. Our 2 DD aged 7 and 10 loved the food too. Two swimming pools and right next to a beautiful beach.
we have also done Martinhal in the past and share your thoughts about the food - very expensive for what it is x

By resort do you mean hotel or an actual resort like a village/town?

Thank you very much everyone!

@Titasaducksarse Ah! I think I mean small resort? Or a hotel with a restaurant or two on site 😀

@Glitterheart thank you, this looks pretty good! Was it a large resort/hotel?

I've been looking at a place called Ekies which also might fit the brief...

It was fairly big, but didn’t feel it - had a village like feel and low rise on a sloping hill overlooking the sea. It was smaller than Martinhal for comparison

Just looked up Ekies - looks lovely!

The RH Silene Hotel in Castellon, Spain has an incredible buffet. Fresh, quality and flavoursome. It's the first time we've ever gone back to the same place on holiday with our 3 and 5 year olds. The half-board option is well worth it.

I've looked at Ekies several times, it looks exactly the kind of place that would suit us. The only negative for me is the 90 minute journey from the airport, fine if you are going for a full week or more, but we often go for less. Hence never actually booked it.

Try Mitsis resorts in Crete. We've been to Royal Mare and Cretan Village and the food was excellent.

Thanks again for some more brilliant suggestions - all added to our shortlist for next year. I think we'll give Ekies a shot this time around!

Amirandes in Crete, the buffet is amazing

Atlantico Mare in Cyprus. They have a la carte restaurants yes but also very very good Buffet. Also really good layout for little ones. Transfer from airport 30 mins.

Atrium platinum Rhodes was fantastic or portes lithos halkidiki or sunrise pearl protaras.

The Olympic Lagoon in Pafos was good. 2 or 3 a la carte restaurants and the buffet was gorgeous, different every night.

We went here in June and although it is quite big, because it is spread out it didn't feel it. They do buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner with a big range to choose from and was all nice, desserts were lovely. They had a couple of restaurants on site too that you could book as well as a gyros, pizza and burger stands open all afternoon for snacks and ice-cream too. There was about 13 pools with a few aimed at children with slides and shallow etc. only a short walk from the beach. Very clean, staff very helpful. Wouldnt hesitate in going back, we went with a 4yo and an 18 month old. We went with TUI

https://www.gouvespark.gr/the-resort-crete/facilities

Zafiro Can Picafort has multiple restaurant options on site. All Zafiro hotels are great and very family friendly

Ikos Dassia in Corfu - lots of relaxed restaurants including a fabulous buffet. Not cheap but worth it if you can get a good deal!

Watching. I was genuinely blown away by the food at Hillside Beach Club in Turkey - buffet about 1000% ahead of any other I’ve seen - but I wouldn’t really recommend it in summer with young kids as it’ll be baking, and they play very loud music at night unfortunately.

Sani in Greece