This Hotel Will Make You Want To Book A Trip To The Greek Islands

The Greek Islands are known for their beauty, perfect beaches and incredible food, but if you really want to experience the best then Eliamos, located on the idyllic Kefalonia, offers an unmissable stay. A small “village” of villas, the hotel only opened for the first time last year, but has already established itself as one of the most impressive places to get away and become truly rejuvenated- with stunning views to boot. Here’s one writer’s experience of the destination.

The Location

Eliamos is not a very far from Kefalonia’s airport- but you wouldn’t think you so while you’re there. It’s on the south of the island, with a sea view that faces toward Zakynthos, another island, on one side, and Kefalonia’s majestic Mount Aenos on the other. The site is designed on a slope, allowing you to take in that view from each of the 12 villas, as well as the restaurant, gym and swimming pool. There’s a lot of flora to be found around the hotel grounds, giving you that calming feeling of being surrounded by nature, from flowers to lemon trees to various herbs that the kitchen staff will pick and use in their cooking.

The villas are so nice you might just forget the rest of the island is there.

Kefalonia itself is an island that’s rich with history, and one that has kept a lot of its identity and charm. It’s not overtly touristy or filled to the brim with resorts, leaving much of the countryside intact to explore. A tour around the island on our first full day their revealed much of its dazzling sites: the capital Argostoli, the town of Sami and its harbour, the looming and beautiful Mount Aenos and the centuries old castle of St George. Eliamos proves to be a perfect hub from which to visit these places, but the villas are so nice you might just forget the rest of the island is there.

What Sets It Apart?

Eliamos prides itself on a sense of retreat and creating a feeling of wellness- and it succeeds. It wants you to feel both relaxing solitude while in your luxurious villa, and to feel like a part of a community when you venture out for activities or food. The restaurant itself offers much of that feeling of togetherness, but the hotel also hosts events like BBQ nights under the stars, and cocktail dos where you can meet other guests and form new friendships.

There’s a true sense of experiencing the best of the best- this is a 5-star hotel after all, and from the private pool on your villa’s terrace to the amazing service while you dine, it 100% lives up to that promise.

It’s an ideal place for couples, groups of friends and families. The two-bedroom villa this writer stayed in was big enough that you could almost spend a week with another couple and not see them the whole time (not that you’d want to of course), and there’s ample space on the terrace to never feel cramped or crowded.

Furthermore, the hotel has a strong commitment to sustainability and eco-friendliness. The keycard for your room, for example, is wooden, and you’ll be given a refillable water bottle with the hotel wanting to help preserve the nature around it.

First Impressions

Departing the airport on the night of our arrival, our group heads under cover of darkness through Kefalonia’s winding roads on a drive that lasts only 15 minutes. From there, we’re shown to our villas by Iro, the hotel’s general manager, and there’s a pocket of time to take in the spellbinding interior before heading to a welcome meal and drinks at the restaurant. Our first taster of the hotel’s food menu – tomato fritters and a delicious chicken dish for me – is an amazing one, and before we head to bed we’re told by the owner, Spyro, that the morning sun will reveal the island’s true splendour.

Upon waking, the site indeed is transformed, with a view from my terrace that really is hard to beat. The sea is as blue as you could hope for, the temperature just the right amount of warm, and the mountain to the east only adds to the spectacle. I was tempted to jump into the pool there and then and just remain in it for my whole stay, but breakfast beckons and if there’s one thing you don’t want to miss at Eliamos, it’s the food.

The Villas

As mentioned, there are currently nine villas offering that awe-inspiring view, with three additional new villas just opened for this season which are located slightly away from the rest, allowing for even more seclusion and a view instead of some of Kefalonia’s countryside. Upon arriving at my villa for the first time, there was a bottle of Greek white wine and an assortment of fruit nibbles waiting for me. The main living room was nicely spacious, with sliding doors to the terrace and a swish Bang and Olufsen speaker, if you want to unwind with some music. Each room had a ceiling fan to cool you off from the blazing sun outside, and the bathrooms were really lovely, with an indoor and outdoor shower for both rooms. The bed was wonderfully comfy (I’ve slept in a fair few uncomfortable hotel beds), and it’s extremely easy to lie in in the mornings.

A lot of guests do spend much of the time in their villa or on the terrace, and aside from the cooling saltwater pool, there are also plenty of sunbeds to relax on, and an outdoor dining area and communal sofa – all private to you. If you get a spa treatment, you can opt to have it in-villa for an extra charge, and choosing to do it on the terrace, with the sea in the distance, is something I’d highly recommend. Altogether, the villas are truly blissful. The one-bedroom villa I briefly toured was no slouch either, offering basically the same experience. Whichever you stay in, you’ll truly feel on a retreat.

The Food

Enough hinting- it’s time to get down to the food, and as a proud member of Relais & Châteaux, the meals are where the hotel really shines. I’ve still not decided if the villa or the food is the best part of staying at Eliamos, as both are incredible. The menu is wide-ranging for whatever meal you sit down to: the breakfasts I had during my time included a really amazing scrambled eggs dish mixed with cheese and tomatoes, pancakes with blueberries and a traditional Greek yoghurt with honey and fruit. I also had a chance to have some souvlaki for lunch, and the feta cheese is so far beyond what you get in supermarkets in the UK, it’s silly.

The meals here are hard not to record and slyly pop on Instagram to show off to the world.

Dinner, though, is where you’re really treated to exquisite dining, and the food from head chef Sokratis and his team will make you stop to savour it with each dish. As old-hat as it sounds, I’ll confess I’m not one to normally snap a picture of whatever I’m eating, but the meals here are hard not to record and slyly pop on Instagram to show off to the world. We had several plates to share on our second evening, as I tasted my way through seabass with orange, octopus, lobster, tomato fritters and more.

The following night, we sat down for a Chef’s Table experience, as you go on a journey through Greece and its islands- via food and wine. From Crete, for example, was pita sfakiani, essentially pita with honey, while kakavia is a fish soup, originating from Peloponnese. Red mullet savoro, from the Ionian Islands, was another highlight, as was the dish from the mainland: black pork from Mount Olympus itself. The dessert galatopita, a milk custard pie, capped off an already incredible menu. Each dish was paired with a delicious wine, some of the best in Greece.

We also tried our hand at a cookery masterclass given to us by Sokratis, and while we didn’t quite emulate the previous night’s food with the same flair and panache, it did give us an up-close view of what makes the food at Eliamos dance on your tastebuds: the ingredients. Everything is fresh (and I mean fresh), with olive oil bought from a local producer and Greek yoghurt that tastes amazing on its own. We were able to make a Greek salad along with tomatoes stuffed with rice, or Gemista. Even Tzatziki, a very simple side to make, was fun to put together and eventually eat. All of this was done outside next to the restaurant, under the sun and with that unbeatable view.

Activities And Things To Do

The villas and restaurant can fill enough of your time themselves, but those aren’t all the hotel has up its sleeve. If you love to keep fit, wellness and prioritising your health are key at Eliamos, and along with using the communal pool, you can book yourself in for Pilates sessions. I had never tried Pilates before visiting, but I was informed by others who were more experienced in the exercise that the lesson was a cut above what most places will offer, and the gym itself feels really great to exercise in. It’s on a wooden deck located behind the restaurant, and as you exercise, you’re treated to, you guessed it, that wonderous view of the Ionian Sea. Workouts are much easier with glistening Mediterranean water in your line of sight instead of a blank wall in front of a treadmill.

I also tried my hand at a reformer pilates session, again top notch, and for further exercise we later took another tour of Kefalonia on electric bikes, provided by the hotel. It’s an enjoyable bike ride, and on the other end was a lovely beach. There’s another really great beach located only 10 minutes walk from the hotel, offering peace and quiet and a chance to swim in perfect, turquoise water. I didn’t see much wildlife in the sea itself, but its possible to spot turtles around the island, along with lizards and other creatures.

Workouts are much easier with glistening Mediterranean water in your line of sight instead of a blank wall in front of a treadmill.

The spa treatment, which I mentioned earlier, was also very high quality, with options to tailor your massage experience to you. With natural oils and the option of getting it done outside, it really heightens the luxury experience. There’s plenty of other things to do on the island, like hiking up the mountain or visiting the ancient castle, and we took a tour around the fantastic winery Orealis, tasting some of their wine and meat and cheese platters. The hotel will also help arrange private boat tours, cave exploring, turtle watching, dark sky viewing and more if you really want to get the most out of Kefalonia.

Getting There

It’s a really short ride from Kefalonia Airport, barely 15 minutes, but in that time you can take in a feel of Kefalonia’s local towns and communities. Eliamos offers free private parking to make things smooth, and as Kefalonia is fairly sizeable (the biggest of the Ionian Islands), it’s a good idea to rent a car to travel around it. The hotel does offer tours of the island in one of its cars, accompanied by the very knowledgeable Mr. Dennis.

The Verdict

For a trip away that offers a true sense of retreat, peace and relaxation, allowing you to experience some of the best of Greece, this hotel is one to book. It really was luxurious, and Kefalonia is such an inviting island it’s hard to go back home. The staff offer a service that indulges you but also leaves you to take in the sun and sea.