Please note our writers visited these hotels prior to the coronavirus pandemic
Home of the healthy Cretan Diet and cradle of the Minoan civilisation, Greece’s largest – and Greeks would say friendliest – island is perfectly suited to the boutique hotel experience. Hospitable Cretans love receiving guests, so you can expect a hearty welcome – along with a glass of raki – in a string of independent hotels stretched between the peaceful seaside resort of Makrigialos in the East, to Chania’s bustling Venetian harbour in the West. Here’s our pick of the best boutique hotels in Crete, including the top places to stay for 14th-century Cretan cloisters, private infinity pools, antique furnishings, panoramic views, eclectic art collections, excellent service and trendy bars in locations including Rethymnon, Chania and Sissi.
Kapsaliana Village Hotel
Crete, Greece
This beautifully renovated cluster of stone village houses, surrounded by mature gardens and wild countryside in the mountains, once belonged to Arkadi monastery and has been lovingly restored by its owners. There are 22 houses linked by a labyrinth of stone-paved lanes with plenty of original features (huge olive grindstones, high wood-beamed ceilings) and some spectacular design features. Upper-floor rooms have terraces (some very large) and most have sea views; rooms on lower floors are spacious but with smaller windows. Breakfast and dinner are both served on the leafy raised terrace, offering mostly organic food inspired by Cretan tradition. A good-sized pool and three large rooms displaying the hotel’s impressive collection of antiques completes the picture.
From
£
157
per night
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• The best hotels in Crete
Porto Veneziano
Chania, Crete, Greece
Entered directly from a cobbled walkway fronting the Venetian harbour, this impeccably smart hotel, which is popular with couples, is a canny blend of modern and cosy, with gleaming tiled floors and cream walls, but also plenty of comfortable seating areas in reception and lots of thoughtful touches, including a machine to polish shoes. With staff employed all year round, service has a professional edge that is sometimes lacking in Crete’s resort hotels. Facilities are limited to a breakfast room with striking views over the harbour and a snack bar, but the hotel is close to Chania’s Venetian shipyards and a 15-minute walk from a sandy strip of beach. All 57 rooms have small balconies with city or sea-views.
From
£
98
per night
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Samaria Hotel
Chania, Crete, Greece
Samaria is situated along shop-lined streets near Chania’s covered market; the Old Venetian Harbour and tangle of shopping streets are just under half a mile’s walk. Vagelis Stylianidis’ (the architect responsible for Crete’s Daios Cove resort) sober, grey rendered façade gives this hotel a discreet presence along noisy Kidonias street, which continues to the spacious reception where a genteel hush reigns: think comfortable chairs, Tinos marble floors, low lighting and potted plants. The reception leads out to a pretty, bamboo-walled outdoor pool and the hotel’s cosy bistro-style restaurant serving Greek and international dishes. The rooms are spread across six floors and most have balconies with city views (some top floor rooms have distant sea views).
From
£
106
per night
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Legacy Gastro Suites
Heraklion, Crete, Greece
The look at this cosy, gastronomy-themed, five-star on Heraklion’s main square is English cottage-style cosy combined with 1950s décor: think bookcases full of novels, rugs on floors, plush upholstered sofas, solid pewter coloured lamps, walnut veneer furniture and wine, gold and mustard colour schemes. The small reception leads to the wine bar-style restaurant with black-and-white floor tiles, high ceilings and tall shelves lined with drinks and Greek food specialities (and a ladder to reach them). They use only Greek products sourced from the region where they were produced. Each of the 12 suites are themed on locally-born artists (artist El Greco, writer Kazantazkis and poet Kornaros), with floor-to-ceiling windows offering dizzying views of the streets below or sea beyond.
From
£
69
per night
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Monastery Estate Retreat
Chania, Crete, Greece
Expect rustic luxury and near total isolation in this rural hotel, which is surrounded by olive groves and hiking paths in the tiny village of Moni. The four apartments, hidden behind high garden gates that ensure privacy, have been renovated with deep respect for the original stone buildings. Open stonework, large eucalyptus beams, bare stone floors, antique styling and plenty of modern touches make them feel like a cross between a Spanish finca and traditional Cretan home. Spacious, open plan kitchens are well equipped and all rooms have large courtyards with outside lounging areas, whirlpool baths and marvellous views of the surrounding Lefka Ori mountains. Breakfast is brought each morning and there’s a small room service menu.
From
£
82
per night
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• The best Greek island hotels
White River Cottages
Crete, Greece
This small hamlet of authentically restored square stone cottages is located along a rural lane dotted with olive groves and carob trees, close to Makrigialos’ sheltered sandy beaches. Expect rustic charm with a good dose of comfort. To set the scene: a winding path lined with shrubs and sweet-smelling flowers leads into the secret heart of the hobbit-like complex, which clusters around an attractive pool (plenty of trees for shade) and a partially covered communal area. Most areas have glorious views over the olive groves to a glimpse of the shimmering sea beyond. There are 13 stone cottages in three categories which all have terraces and self-catering facilities.
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Castello Boutique Resort & Spa
Sissi, Crete, Greece
There’s a real sense of calm when you leave the bustling streets of Sissi and enter this small-scale property, surrounded by tall hedges and close to a church. A cool, dimly-lit reception area opens onto a long bar overlooking a good-sized pool and surrounded by carefully tended lawns with plenty of sunbeds. The chic little Callista spa has a heated pool and a water-style bed. There are 48 rooms on three floors; some have a private pool and others have whirlpool baths. Décor is similar in each room: chunky wooden furnishings, tiled floors, full-sized mirrors and so on. Honeymooners should choose the Penthouse Suite with its outdoor whirlpool tub.
From
£
146
per night
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• The best hotels in Greece
Scala de Faro
Chania, Crete, Greece
There are nine rooms in this chic hotel, which enjoys a stunning location fronting the Venetian harbour. It’s also close to the shop- and café-lined streets of Chania’s old town. Behind the sober façade, rooms are enchanting, with carved panels along bed frames and back-lit walls (created according to an original geometric Venetian design) casting a romantically diffused glow. Classic Rooms are on the small side (fine if you’re out all day sightseeing) but best for space are the open plan Presidential Suites. The small breakfast room also overlooks the harbour (get there early to get a table near the window for the best views), and helpful staff can recommend great sights and gourmet restaurants.
From
£
168
per night
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This article was originally published by Telegraph.co.uk. Read the original article here.