Food and drink
Few of the superlatives do a relatively unknown Zash food and wine process with any justice. Guiseppe Raciti was named Southern Italy’s best emerging chef in 2016, and Zash won a Michelin star in 2019 with his experimental take on Sicilian classics. It lets the ingredients do the talking, avoiding the foamy theater of some tasting menus in favor of dishes that are more substantial, but just as exciting. This trust is paying off. Zash, Sea, Shrubs, Caviar and Truffle menus are more than satisfying in the literal and artistic sense. Bread (always a good sunflower test) arrives on staggered platforms like Olympic champs – olive or aniseed balls and fennel paste along with delicious cannolis. Don’t miss the chef’s signature dish: Few crunchy eggs – A poached egg skillfully topped with a crunchy mixture of sweet Provolone Cheese and red berries. Earth’s menu is a carnivorous homage to Italian cooking, with cosmopolitan touches – the Maialino (roast pig with kabayaki sauce and green onions) is a particularly hearty option, as is the honey, milk, and straw pudding, a perfectly sweet conclusion – a set menu. The amazing level of Zash’s food continues on the lunch menu, which is also thrown into the cavernous space where the original millstone is still. Fancy Italians order bottles of red from the famous Sicilian estate, the Tasca d’Almerita, to go with their main ravioli and meat dishes. Breakfast is casual on the patio; Where fresh juices, fruit and granola keep the wellness crowd straight and tight — until traditional Sicilian cakes and pastries like apricot cake mislead them.
Resort
Directly below Palmento is a built-in spa that exudes bubbles and steam in true Etna style. The designers certainly captured a volcanic story—the darker lava rock remains, setting a sultry tone and sculpting a serene central pool. Steam escapes from the edgy sauna and angular glass partitioned Turkish bath, while heavy hues in towels drift from lymphatic massages in Sicilian citrus oils to relaxing beds where notes of orange blossom calm them.
Neighborhood
The dark mass of Mount Etna looms over Zach and the surrounding area, giving special energy and fertile soil where olive groves, fruit trees, cacti and more exotic banana trees vie for space. Guests can put on their walking shoes and explore Europe’s most active crater, then sail along the Ionian beaches on the same day. Day trips to Amalfi-style Taormina are recommended for those who haven’t yet navigated its cliff-top panoramas across the Mediterranean or its movie-star hotels, as well as excursions to roaming flea markets and gorgeous sloppy tlatories in nearby Catania. Take advantage of Zash’s wealth of regional knowledge, especially when it comes to the local wine scene and the best vineyards.
the service
Aside from the enormous restaurant and spa, the service sets this hotel apart from other rustic boutiques in Sicily. Despite the lofty dining standards and Gucci-clad guests, an upbeat team shuns any outlandish mannerisms, subtly approaching the polite but elegant line. Dressed in gracefully, the restaurant team immerses themselves in encyclopedic knowledge of Sicilian wine and cheers up a grumpy little kid at the same time.
for families
While certain areas of Zash feel distinctly grown up, the citrus groves are a paradise to hide and seek out the pond, the pool is open enough to keep one eye on the brood and the other on a glass of Donna Fugata, and a reasonable approach to timing makes the restaurant fair game, too. Cots are provided in the rooms and high chairs are provided in the restaurant. It’s worth noting that the compact nature of the hotel does not allow for discretion – young children and honeymooners may not always share the same holiday agendas.
Environmentally friendly effort
The hotel spreads a zero kilometer food philosophy, using herbs and citrus fruits from the garden, then researching local markets for the freshest ingredients. Towels are only washed if left on the floor, but one small change to raise the ecological level would be to refill bottles of bathroom products.
Accessibility for people with mobility disabilities
One room located on the ground floor, adapted for wheelchair users.
Hotel address: Zash Country Boutique Hotel, Provincial Road 2 I-II N60, 95018, Riposto, Sicily Italy
website: zash.it
phone number: +39 095 782 8932
Price starts from: £158
.