Arhontariki

We stayed one night as we were on our way to Ouranapoli from Thessaloniki. After the hustle and bustle of a noisy, cramped, graffiti-marked city, it was rather refreshing to arrive in this open, lush and hilly landscape. We were pleasantly surprised by the initial view of this place: a neo-Gothic and well-maintained building. It was early spring so the gardens hadn't been tended to. The owner met us as we arrived and greeted us warmly. She didn't speak English and our Greek was non-existent but she managed to provide us with some decent refreshment (good coffee and homemade biscuits) before leaving us to relax and enjoy her home. The area surrounding the hotel is quiet and perfect if you like hiking and mountainous views. We weren't far from the town of Polygyros. That was a rather quiet but nicely-maintained area and there were quite a few places to eat and drink although some businesses looked like they were shut for the quiet season. Back to our room. We chose to stay in the suite with the mountainous views and verandah. Once again, clean and nicely furnished. I imagined this is what a rich woman's bedroom might have looked like in colonial India. The bathroom consisted of a jacuzzi bath (big enough for two!) with built-in shower; toilet, washbasin and even a bidet - haven't seen one of those for an awful long time! Good-sized bath towels and hand towels were provided too. We weren't given any complimentary toiletries (except hand soap) so we had to use what we had. Unfortunately, the jacuzzi or bath tap didn't work so we filled bath using the shower head. It took a bit longer but the pressure was strong and water was very hot so it did the job. You could open the bathroom window to view the mountains but by time we had our bath it was dark and somewhat chilly. The bed was MASSIVE! It was firm and extra pillows provided. There weren't many covers but the room had electric blankets and a heater. We also had a mini-fridge in the room and we found a small bottle of sweet rose wine and two bottles of water for us, which was a nice touch. The host had left two wine glasses for us as well. We ventured down into the living room and helped ourselves to a cup of tea from the shared kitchen. The sofas are very comfortable and this space could easily fit 10 or so people at one time. There are three areas to sit and eat and there is a dining table on a separate verandah which I am sure would be put to good use during the summer season. There is also a verandah with smaller tables and chairs at the front of the house so even if the house was at full capacity, I am certain you could find some space away from others if that is what is required. The breakfast was lovely: our host asked us what time we would like to eat and when we got to out table, lots of little treats were laid out. The main meal consisted of cheese and ham toasties, a goats cheese pie or pancake (we weren't quite sure but I enjoyed it nonetheless). We also had a large piece of spiced apple cake and orange and syrup sponge to eat too. Fresh slices of bread and boiled eggs were also provided, along with honey, date jam, butter, fresh orange juice and a bottle of water each. A hot drink was served once we were sat at the table. My partner found this house most relaxing and the more time we spent here, he found himself wanting to stay longer. Unfortunately we had already booked our next hotel or else we would have stayed another night. To sum up: Positives: well-furnished with carefully-chosen antique furniture and expensive items, such as the leather sofas. The host clearly has a passion for interior design and the house is impeccably clean. The views and fresh air are worth the trip. My partner went for a wander and came across wild tortoises! It's also very quiet even though it's situated near a main road. The hosts are discreet but most welcoming. They allowed us the run of their home and, in a way, we felt like we were at home. The outdoor space is key: the verandahs were well-furnished and tidy. Great views were had. Breakfast was plentiful and a good variety of items were had. We didn't have the hosts fussing or hovering over us: they disappeared after serving the food so we could enjoy the time to eat. Their little dog is so cute. That in itself is worth a visit! Points for improvement: Jacuzzi and bath need to be fixed as that was the main selling point for me booking the suite. It's low season at the moment so I'm sure that this is on their to-do list as no one else has mentioned it in their review. Garden needs to be tidied and maintained but again, it's low-season and I'm sure this will be rectified by the time the summer season starts. Lack of toiletries in the bathroom. Small thing, I know but it's those little things that do it for me. However, the host did provide us with wine, water and lovely refreshments upon arrival so that did make up for it. Some broken tiles on stairs. Bit dangerous if you are not looking where you are going. I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Northern Greece.