Mandala Bar & Restaurant — Restaurant in Zakynthos Municipality

This experience was not pleasant.

Check-in: There is no reception at all — guests are checked in at the bar like an afterthought. No passport was requested, which felt both unprofessional and unsafe. Cleanliness: The room was dirty from the start. There was sand left from previous guests. Restaurant practices: The restaurant tries to squeeze money out of guests in dishonest ways. They brought us water we never ordered and tried to charge for it. They also placed pre-starters on the table without asking, then added them to the bill. They said that these items are automatically included, no matter whether you want them or not. Breakfast: The breakfast was appalling — a poor-quality English breakfast served in an environment full of wasps and flies buzzing around the food. The sunbed incident (the absolute worst): Upon check-in we were told sunbeds cost €20 for two for the whole day. Nothing else was explained. The next day, we rented sunbeds from Roberto, who suddenly said we could not bring our own drinks. We asked politely about the general rules to either follow them or go to another beach. Instead of answering professionally, Roberto exploded. He became aggressive, gesturing wildly, accusing us of being “obliged” to spend €50+ at the restaurant. He did this loudly in front of other guests, publicly humiliating us and saying we had spent less than anyone else. He even told us that the only reason he didn’t “force” us to buy drinks on the first day was because of our nationality. This was not only unprofessional, but also offensive and discriminatory.

To be fair, we have no complaints about the other staff — they were polite, tried to apologize, and even offered us a free dinner to make up for the situation. But unfortunately, their efforts could not erase the humiliation and aggression we experienced from Roberto.

Overall, the service was shocking and unacceptable. Instead of a relaxing holiday, we experienced humiliation and aggression. We would strongly warn others to stay away...

We just had the most incredible dinner at Mandala, and it was, without a doubt, the highlight of our culinary journey on Zakynthos. From the moment we arrived, we were treated not just as customers, but as honored guests.

A special mention must go to the wonderful gentleman who greeted us. A bald, impeccably dressed man with a warm and beaming smile approached us and made us feel instantly welcome. His charm and professionalism were exceptional. He wasn't just a host; he was the heart of the restaurant's welcoming atmosphere. He personally showed us to a lovely table and ensured we were comfortable before we had even looked at the menu. His attentive and friendly nature truly set the tone for the entire evening.

Now, the food... absolutely sublime! We opted for a mix of traditional Greek dishes and some of their more innovative creations. Every single plate was a masterpiece of flavor and presentation. The ingredients were incredibly fresh, and you could taste the passion and skill in every bite. The grilled octopus was tender and smoky, and the moussaka was the best we've ever had – rich, creamy, and perfectly seasoned.

The ambiance is equally perfect – elegant yet relaxed, with a beautiful setting that makes for a truly romantic and special evening.

In summary, Mandala is a must-visit on the island. Exceptional food, a magical atmosphere, and service that goes above and beyond, exemplified by that fantastic bald host. Thank you for a memorable night. We will be dreaming of your food until...

The hotel is definitely worth staying at. We spent 4 nights there and overall had a pleasant experience. The staff were the highlight… incredibly friendly and helpful throughout our stay! The hotel is perfectly located right in front of the sea, and the food at the restaurant was very good.

If I had to point out some negatives, it would be around attention to detail, especially regarding cleanliness and comfort. While the rooms were spacious, the cleanliness was average. When we first walked in, there was visible dust on the floor. The mini fridge barely worked and made a constant noise, which was especially disturbing at night. It also didn’t contain any water or complimentary coffee or tea, which is standard in most hotels.

The bathroom was a bit of a letdown too. There were no basic amenities like ear buds or body lotion, and we noticed mould under the shower screen. When the housekeeping came to clean our room they did only the bare minimum. just changed the towels and emptied the bins. They didn’t vacuum or clean surfaces like the bathroom mirror.

Another downside was a flashing light outside our balcony that made it difficult to sit out and enjoy the space in the evening.

Overall, the hotel is beautiful and has a lot of potential, but it definitely needs some improvements in cleanliness and...