Anassa – with a name that means “queen” in archaic Greek, little wonder that the hotel is known as the “Queen of the Mediterranean.” And it does indeed reign, dignified and slightly elevated, located on a sensational private stretch of the coast between the small town of Polis and Latchi, a picturesque fishing hamlet.
Originally we only wanted to visit Designhotel Almyra – one of the three Thanos Hotels.
Although we tried to explain to dear Thanos, managing director of the Thanos Hotels, that we rather like boutique and design hotels, he insisted that we visit the “queen” among his hotels. The Anassa is nothing less than a member of the “Leading Hotels of the World.”
So, consumed by curiosity, we set out for the 5-star hotel on the Akamas peninsula on the northwest tip of Cyprus.
Hotel Anassa
Cyprus, island of the gods, looks back on 9,000 years of history. Besides cultural sites and many legends of Aphrodite, the island also beckons with its natural diversity.
The hotel is beautifully situated directly on the dark blue, shimmering Mediterranean, surrounded by unspoiled nature. In typical Mediterranean building style, it has white walls under clay tile roofs, wooden doors, and wooden shutters on the windows.
The scent of the colorful, deep pink oleander blossoms and of a variety of other botanical wonders creates a feeling of great ease, heightened when strolling through picturesque lanes to the main building as you are reminded of the island’s rich cultural heritage by Roman mosaics, antique Greek motifs, and evocative frescoes along the way.
As time wore on, I seemed to feel the spirit of Aphrodite invade me. She is the Greek goddess of beauty and love who, so legend has it, rose out of the sea here on the Cyprus coast. No wonder then!
The rooms and suites
The hotel operates a total of more than 166 extremely stylish rooms and suites. As it happens, you never notice its sheer size, because the entire resort is laid out in the style of a traditional terraced Byzantine village.
Each room’s interior is a fresh Mediterranean-style mix of chalk white walls, warm woods, fabrics in natural colors, and forged iron accents. Diverse accessories create strong color accents and contrasts.
Almost all rooms, incidentally, face the sea and come with wonderful views! Some of the suites even have a private pool or Jacuzzi!
Where Aphrodite and Adonis said good night
Special highlights of the house are two exclusive Adonis & Aphrodite Suites of 122 square meters each! Enter one of these sumptuous abodes, and you could swear you feel something in the air, like electricity. As curtains softly wave in the breeze, the imagination takes flight and you think of Aphrodite and Adonis turning in for the night. By now I really did feel a little like Aphrodite personified ;-) Too bad, then, that my Adonis was busy photographing the suite from all imaginable and unimaginable angles!
Well, never mind, back down to earth. The suite inside and out is simply overwhelming. Besides a romantic canopy bed, it has an opulently appointed living room, luxurious baths and on the terrace is a private Jacuzzi with a sweeping view of the sea and the Akamas peninsula.
Wow, there is no way to top this, you say to yourself. Oh…well…but what do you know! There just happens to be the palatial Anax Suite, “Anax” meaning “king” in ancient Greek. As it happened, it was already taken during our stay ;-)
The hotel restaurants
There is also no shortage of heavenly cuisine at the Anassa. Four restaurants, overseen by Executive Chef David Goodridge work their magic, turning seasonal and regional products into dishes fit for olympian gods.
Amphora is the main and family restaurant, where you can also enjoy a varied breakfast in the garden with a bonus spectacular view of the sea. In the evenings, they serve up a buffet loaded with locally inspired dishes.
The exclusive Helios Restaurant, inspired by the modern cuisine of the French Riviera, in the summer captivates with its idyllic garden and its wonderful olive trees; compact storm lanterns suspended from the trees help create a heavenly summer evening romantic mood.
And if you have a weakness for Asian experience and fusion cuisine you can let them spoil you in Basiliko.
In Pelagos, seafood lovers can enjoy fresh-caught fish and shellfish — straight from the sea, of course, not the nearby pools.
During our stay, we took in a Cypriot evening on the hotel’s own “village square.” It came with traditional foods, live music, and a barbecue. It created a very special atmosphere: authentic and enjoyable and with really fine food!
The Thalassa Spa
The Roman-style spa area comes with its own mystical aura. My imagination ran away with me again: would I turn into a beauty goddess by using the choice products based on the sea that they provide here? And what might they propose for my Adonis?
We had an extraordinarily pleasant stay at the Anassa. This hotel resort is not just a stylish venue for rest and relaxation. It is a colorful, authentic refuge and a picturesque stage for romance a la Aphrodite and Adonis.
Come and see for yourself!
Many thanks to…
Thanos Michaelides for the generous invitation! Thanos Hotels and Resorts is a family-owned enterprise, directed by Thanos and his sisters Natasha and Anna.
Many thanks also to Sabine van Ommen and Linn Villard for organizing and coordinating our visit!
Check out prices and availability on booking.com.
