All about Zolotas Beach, one of the Athenian Riviera’s best-kept secrets, which has been reimagined by Rianna + Nina for a season of sunset dinners by the sea.
Even those who think they know Athens well may not know Zolotas Beach. Hidden within Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, this discreet stretch of coastline has long remained one of the Riviera’s quieter pleasures, known mostly to hotel guests and those in the know. This summer, it steps into the spotlight with a new identity, reimagined through a collaboration with Athens-born designer Rianna, founder of RIANNA + NINA. The result feels less like a restaurant launch and more like a deeply personal summer story unfolding by the sea.
From June 18, Zolotas Beach transforms into an intimate open-air dining destination every Thursday through Monday, welcoming just 20 to 30 guests each evening. Set directly on the waterfront, with the sun slipping behind the horizon and the sound of the sea replacing the usual restaurant soundtrack, it promises one of the most atmospheric dining experiences on the Athenian Riviera this season.
A Menu Inspired by Childhood Summers at Astir
For Rianna, the collaboration begins with memory. Born into a family of hoteliers, she spent her childhood summers at the original Astir Palace, swimming at Zolotas Beach and gathering around long family lunches overlooking the water. Those moments now serve as the inspiration for a menu developed alongside Chef Thodoris Papanikolaou, built around Greek traditions, seasonal ingredients and cooking over an open-flame parrilla.
The dishes feel intentionally personal. Charcoal-grilled pita arrives with sea salt, fresh oregano and tarama, a simple but unmistakably Greek beginning. N-Tacos celebrate the sweetness and abundance of summer tomatoes, while lamb kontosouvli recalls family holidays spent with her grandmother. One of the menu’s most emotional dishes is kakavia, the traditional fisherman’s soup that Rianna remembers from childhood summers, prepared only when the catch of the day was considered exceptional. Dessert follows the same nostalgic thread. Ravani, a classic Sunday favourite in her family home, is reinterpreted here with roasted pineapple and coconut ice cream. Alongside the food, Mediterranean wines and Riviera-inspired cocktails bring together citrus, herbs and subtle smoky notes that pair naturally with the fire-led cooking and the setting itself.
Rianna’s Riviera in Colour and Craft
The transformation extends far beyond the menu. Known for her distinctive use of textiles and her ability to tell stories through colour and craftsmanship, Rianna has designed bespoke decorative elements exclusively for Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens.
Blue-and-white stripes, hand-drawn motifs, colourful Mediterranean references, vintage rugs, handcrafted tableware and custom textiles create a setting that feels joyful, elegant and unmistakably Greek. Nothing feels staged. Instead, the space captures the spirit of a Riviera summer house collected over generations, where every object seems to carry a memory.
Guests who fall in love with the aesthetic can take part of it home. A selection of exclusive Rianna-designed pieces, including beach towels, placemats and bespoke tableware, will be available through the hotel’s spa boutique throughout the season. With only a handful of tables available each evening, Zolotas Beach is likely to become one of the summer’s most sought-after reservations. Not because it is difficult to access, but because it offers something increasingly rare: a genuine sense of place.
A hidden beach. A beautiful table by the water. Food rooted in memory. And one of the most iconic corners of the Athenian Riviera seen through entirely new eyes.
TheHotelTrotter.com is curated by greek journalist and fanatic hotel lover Eleni Stasinopoulou. With the eye of a fashion and lifestyle editor, Eleni hopes to inspire all connoisseurs of traveling, focusing on stylish hotel moments around the globe.
