Getting to know Allegra Pomilio from Melisses Andros

A food and travel aficionado is the perfect hostess of a sophisticated home away from home where guests enjoy a wholesome experience!

Right on the fine line between a hotel, a retreat and a proper home, Melisses Andros is probably the island’s most unique place to stay. Nestled in the bay of Paleopoli, in the village of Aprovato, Melisses property offers a panoramic view to the sea and two different saltwater infinity pools, from where you can see the island of Ghiaros glimmering in the distance.

Completely isolated, with its private one hectare land on the sea, Mèlisses Andros is surrounded by a variety of fruit trees, along with local fresh herbs and spices. All around the house there is quietness and peace, complemented by the sounds of the waves slowly crashing against the rocks and sometimes that of little lambs and goats walking around freely. From Mèlisses, guests can see the clearest sky, completely dark at night, only brightened by a full moon and stars.

The indoor spaces are just as simple, natural and sophisticated. There is an open space kitchen-living room, where guests can enjoy meals and bond with each other. The old marble balcony has been repurposed into a beautiful kitchen counter, Thonet chairs and stools together with vintage objects from Italy and France embellish the room, along with antique furniture from some of the most refined Greek mansions.

Every wall of the house is adorned with unique pieces of art, from Mimmo Jodice to Armin Linke, including old botanical prints and vintage photos of Greece in the old days. The light and fresh tones of the house create a soothing and relaxing atmosphere, perfect for unwinding.

Getting to know Allegra Pomiglio, the hostess of Melisses Andros

But what about Melisses’s mastermind? Allegra Pomilio been working in the hospitality and gastronomy field for many years and had always been looking for a way to combine them in a way that felt most personal.

Mèlisses is a project of food and hospitality I started in 2018. I am Italian, but I have always been deeply connected to Greece, a country so dear to me, a second home to my family and today, it is also the abode of my life’s passions. I consider Mèlisses not a hotel or even a b&b, but truly a home from home in Andros. We loved Andros immediately for its authentic appeal and outstanding scenarios. It is an island still very Greek, with many incredible beaches, springs and hiking trails, but also elegant villages and delicious food”, Allegra says.

As for the process of making Melisses in what it is today she notes: “The whole house is furnished with Greek and Italian antiques. The exteriors completely respect the local flora and fauna of the island, creating a continuous connection with the surroundings, almost disappearing from human sight and crowned by the crystal clear waters laying just below us. Every morning we serve breakfast at our old oak table where our guests start the day sharing a meal and gazing at the view from our open space living room”.

But how exactly did she get there? “Food is a crucial element for me, a passion I have developed over the years after my major in graphic design, I studied at Alain Ducasse Academy and worked side by side with Mimi and Oddur Thorisson for two years in France, hosting cooking workshops, classes and food styling/photography sessions in the Mèdoc countryside. I also created my very own website where I share recipes and stories about my everyday life in Italy and Greece but also culinary and photography adventures around the world.

And what about the retreats? “Every year I collaborate with chefs, photographers, stylists, and bloggers to curate unique gatherings; from the New York Times’ dessert columnist to the CNT’s most-awarded photographer, or Vogue’s top florists in the world. I like to underline and enhance the beauty of Andros every-time from a different perspective. Every gathering is highly curated and unique, to discover the island and its surroundings and to live an authentic Greek experience by the sea”.

Photo Credits: Renèe Kemps