In a world of uncensored online reviews, where patrons’ judgments live forever, Manteo Resort is an undisputed winner. When it comes to the stuff that makes for a great resort — setting, service, comfort and food — Kelowna’s Manteo Resort is nearly without peer. Make no mistake, there are good reasons why visitors have voted it one of the best hotels in the world. Situated right on the water in the funky Mission District, with a pretty view of Kelowna across the lake, Manteo is an oasis of calm after a day of mountain biking, serious shopping, or wine touring. It turns its back on busy Lakeshore Drive, leaving only the gentle splashing of kids near the shore as they set the ducks quacking while watchful parents sip their drinks on the patio or boardwalk.
The tranquility of the shore is matched by the serenity of the well-appointed rooms. If the management doesn’t already have a sales shop for its pillows and mattresses, it should. The ratio of staff to guests is high and it shows in the attentiveness with which they meet the needs of visitors. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Wild Apple Restaurant and Lounge, a relaxing spot that spills onto the outdoor patio with fine views of the lake from almost every table.
World-renowned Chef Bernard Casavant has crafted a menu of “wine country cuisine” that pairs impeccable local produce (some of it from the resort’s own gardens) with a superb Okanagan-focused wine list. Chef Bernard invites everyone to join him nightly during the Fall Wine Festival for special two-course dinners and wine combinations for just $39. If you had only one day to spend in the Okanagan Valley, you could not do better than to spend it at Manteo Resort.
~ Barry Potyondi