1. The Gallery

Such is the elegant design and relaxed ambiance of The Gallery it felt impossible not to start with the lounge bar at Parklane Resort & Spa. A fine collection of exotic bottles in backlit display cases line the walls behind the bar. Floor to ceiling glass windows and chic furniture, tables and chairs lavishly spaced out across the marble floor inside, and a relaxing terrace outside with views of the lush gardens and the sea outside make deciding where to sit as hard as choosing your drink. We spent many evenings here but the first, and most special, was spent enjoying the warm evening air sipping Mount Gay Black Barrel rum on the rocks. The Gallery also has live piano music and a sushi bar.

2. Islands

Islands restaurant blends perfectly with the wonderfully considered and curated gardens, with beautiful water features (the restaurant stretches out across a tranquil pool of water on wooden decking) and intimate open-air alcoves for romantic and special event dining (enjoying an evening, any evening, along this stunning stretch of Cyprus coast definitely counts as a special event). We tried a variety of fish and seafood which Islands specialises in, along with most other offerings on the menu. The food, drink and the design all work together to make this a unique and pleasurable dining option.

2. Dafne

Settled just back from the sand is Dafne restaurant, probably our favourite of all the places to eat and drink. Not only is the setting sublime, think traditional and chic Cypriot décor, white lounge chair cushions, and the familiar combination of open air and indoor seating seamlessly meandering from one area to another, but the food is outstanding. The octopus and calamari were some of the best we’ve had anywhere. We enjoyed plenty of great daytime and evening meals here.

Rooms

The rooms at Parklane Resort & Spa are just as chic and elegant as the rest of the property. We stayed in a Lifestyle Suite, which was more like a luxury apartment than a hotel room. Our bedroom, main bathroom (we had a second along the corridor), and the bright open plan living space were all enormous, and stylish. As with the rest of the resort the rooms are contemporary, modern, touchscreen controls to toggle between different mood lighting in the bathroom for example, combined with traditional Cypriot style, with constant reminders that you’re on a stunning stretch of coastline with the Mediterranean Sea right outside.

The highlight of our room/ well-appointed apartment was, by far, the balcony offering up sweeping panoramic views across the hotel, the beach, and the shimmering blue sea. If we’d never left our accommodation and simply sat on that balcony for a week with room service, it would be hard to say it wasn’t a week well spent. You can see what we’re talking about in the pictures at the top and bottom of this page.

Explore

Limassol city is only a 25-minute drive away from Parklane Resort & Spa and it’s very much worth visiting. We’ve found some excellent shops and particularly restaurants there, plus it has a beautiful marina, a medieval castle and a delightful promenade that runs right along the shore.

While excursions to Limassol are great, you’ll probably never feel the need to venture further afield from the resort, it’s more an enticing option should you want to go adventuring. The lush gardens on site are perfect for an enjoyable stroll after an evening meal, and the Blue Flag beach itself at Parklane is a joy. Secluded, and never too busy during our stay, the beach was a tranquil oasis to feel the Cyprus heat, marvel at the waves and watch some truly spectacular sunsets. Parklane somehow manages to make you feel like you have the whole of Cyprus to yourself, a feeling we treasured and won’t forget.