Kefalonia, the largest of the Greek Ionian Islands, is famously beautiful. Kefalonia is also famously — and unfortunately — very busy. But, while the masses descend in summer, a trip in fall promises a quieter taste of island life. The sunsets (and rises) are just as spectacular, the temperatures are still balmy and the beer is still ice cold — and best of all, you might just find that you have the beach to yourself (bar a few locals).
Nestled away in a secluded corner of Kefalonia’s hilly southwest coast (very handily just a 15-minute drive from the dinky airport), Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa is the ideal spot to bask in those last few rays of sun. The hotel opened in the summer of 2023 and, as the only Relais & Châteaux property in the Ionian and a member of Mr & Mrs Smith, proudly brought a new level of high-end but deliberately understated luxury to an island more typically known for its cheap and undeniably cheerful package vacations.
Designed by co-owner Maike Gruna (who launched the property alongside her husband Spyro, whose family originates from Kefalonia), the resort was built around an existing olive grove (as covers much of Kefalonia) with its collection of low-lying, terracotta-roofed buildings deftly merged into a thriving Meditteranean garden. In the team’s bid to preserve this pretty natural landscape, the existing trees were carefully uprooted during the building process before being successfully re-instated once the project was complete. This attention to detail epitomizes Eliamos’ indulgent yet considerate ethos.
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STAY
Eliamos has just 12 villas smattered about its grounds – nine one-, two- and three-bedroom accommodations sit within the main resort site, with the remaining three set slightly apart for a touch more privacy. While those nine villas are relatively close together (the resort sweetly describes itself as a village), there’s no sense of prying eyes, with smart placement of trees, shrubbery and material throws ensuring the utmost discretion.
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As the owner of an international design firm, Gruna rightfully took responsibility for the resort’s interiors and has created an earthy, natural look with a contemporary edge: think poured concrete, raffia details and bleached wooden furnishings.
Each villa has its own saltwater pool (some large enough to swim, others more of a dunking pool) and sublime outdoor terrace complete with a BBQ and plenty of sun-basking spots. Most have views right down to the ocean below, but if not, you get to overlook ancient olive groves and lush Mediterranean gardens. It genuinely gets a bit hard to drag yourself away to the resort’s main pool area.
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DINE
All meals at Eliamos are served at its chic, open-air restaurant (unless you’re making use of the round-the-clock room service, of course). Breakfasts were a real highlight in my eyes: unlike most five-star resorts, there’s no buffet option – instead, there’s a page after page of delicious (and surprisingly healthy) treats to choose from. Start with a sharing plate of the ‘pita’ (a rotating savory pie wrapped up in buttery layers of filo pastry; the herby cheese numbers were my favorite), before chowing down on a big plate of wholewheat pancakes with fruit.
Evenings are a refined affair with an a la carte offering representing the best of local ingredients and flavors – the enormous bowls of pasta laden with fresh seafood are especially good. There’s a great list of wines to go with, too; consider skipping the more well-known producers in favor of a Kefalonian bottle – the island is known for its characterful citrussy whites.
If you really fancy pushing the boat out, Eliamos’s head chef Socrates Malinganis can put on a real culinary show with a number of specialty dining experiences including a set menu chef’s table and a BBQ under the stars.
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RELAX
Fitness is a big focus here – there’s an open-to-all Pilates class every morning at 8.30am sharp, as well as the option for private sessions (there are two grueling Reformer beds for the more hardcore guests). The gym itself is decked out out with chic wooden equipment (no clanging metal plates here, thank you) and the open-air setup grants views out across the ocean.
Eliamos’ petite spa has two treatment rooms and a menu of relaxation-focused facials and massages – the signature massage is a real tonic after a long flight. However, the real sense of relaxation here is the slow way of life that descends the minute you arrive. Hours melt seamlessly, with just about zero external pressures to do anything but lounge by the pool or, if you’re feeling especially crazy, make the 15-minute stroll down to the beach. It’s blissful.
From $695 per night. Contact reservations@eliamos.com, +30 267 117 1100, eliamos.com, mrandmrssmith.co.uk
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