As I walked into the Almyra Hotel’s signature Kyma Suite, I broke into a huge smile.
Situated in a beautiful seafront position, the spacious, open-plan suite is extremely stylish, in line with the hotel’s cutting-edge image of contemporary luxury. It really was a pleasure to be there.
The suite opens to a private terrace with a sofa and dining table, and a king-size ‘day bed’ on the lawn adds an extra touch of extravagance.
Lying there late at night under the light of the moon, listening to the waves, it felt like paradise and was the perfect weekend getaway from Nicosia, which seemed a million miles away.
Earlier in the evening, drinks had been enjoyed on the sofa of the suite’s candle-lit, private roof terrace, which provided panoramic views of Paphos harbour.
The hotel sits in eight acres of landscaped gardens. Meaning ‘taste of the sea’, Almyra offers 189 rooms and suites, with custom-designed furniture and state-of-the-art amenities.
According to my guide, the rooms are “about comfort, contemporary feel and convenience.”
Following an extensive two-year renovation of the Paphos Beach Hotel – the town’s first seaside hotel, which opened in 1972 – the Almyra was launched in June 2003. It is the hipper, younger sister of the world-renowned Anassa and Annabelle and offers the ultimate in ‘resort chic.’
Paris’ famous interior designer Joelle Pleot – whose previous projects include Coco Chanel showrooms and Karl Lagerfeld’s private home – was brought in as a special consultant and it shows, with the Almyra proud to be the only Cypriot hotel to be a member of the prestigious Design Hotels of the World.
The hotel allows guests the advantage of being right on the water and also within walking distance of shops and restaurants while golf courses are only a short trip away.
Of the four freshwater swimming pools, two really stood out for me. The infinity pool at the relaxing Spa offered breathtaking views of the Mediterranean, while the main pool area, framed by grey slate, columns and beautiful bougainvillea, was the perfect place for soaking up the sun.
Four restaurants present an array of Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Notios is Almyra’s al fresco, a la carte restaurant. Facing the sea, it prides itself on fusing the purity of Japanese food with local flavours and offers Almyra’s trademark ‘Zen Meze’. The Executive Chef has produced a series of menus (ranging from five to nine courses), which he calls ‘Omakase,’ meaning trust the chef in Japanese. These can also be arranged for private dining on the roof terraces of the Kyma Suites.
If you prefer to eat closer to the sea, then the Ouzeri is the perfect place. This is a traditional beachside restaurant focusing on simple Greek and Cypriot dishes, as well as barbeques.
Walking past the following evening, the place was beautifully lit up and looked simply stunning.
As my stay at the Almyra came to an end, I wished that I could turn back time and start the weekend all over again. This was a place I wanted to spend more time in. In fact, you wouldn’t be normal if you couldn’t enjoy yourself here.
Driving back to Nicosia, I was already looking forward to my next visit.
Highly recommended.
THANOS HOTELS
Thanos Hotels is a Cypriot company with a reputation for excellence. It began hotel operations in Famagusta in 1972, before moving to Paphos in 1974, where it took over the Paphos Beach Hotel the following year.
Thanos Hotels is a family-run company comprising of the three five-star luxury hotels, Anassa, Almyra and Annabelle.
Each hotel is individual in style, but all share the commitment to make every guest feel at home.
