Crete, GreeceChania
Elysia Boutique Hotel
Restored Venetian townhouse
Restored Venetian townhouse
An intimate townhouse stay in Chania, balancing spare modern interiors against centuries of exposed masonry.
What it’s good at
Notable
Minimalist interiors contrast exposed Ottoman stonework and preserved terracotta rainwater pipes.
Notable
Restored Ottoman walls and a thirteenth-century Venetian doorway frame the thirteen rooms.
Listed
Cretan breakfast and neighborhood knife-making heritage root Coutellerie in Chania's artisan quarter.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
centuries-old remnants have been artfully weaved into the minimalist design, from parts of an Ottoman-period wall and flooring to a fragment of a Venetian-era doorway.
In a lively part of town
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
The surrounding Machairadika quarter once belonged to Chania's knife-makers. Leather workshops still line the stone lanes toward the Venetian harbor.
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The rooms
Interiors stay spare and quiet. Windows look straight out across Old Town rooftops toward the Byzantine walls.
Restaurant
Coutellerie
The restaurant serves Cretan dishes beneath massive stone arches, and glass doors open past the green marble bar.
How it began
Restorers joined four adjoining historic buildings, integrating an original rainwater cistern into the finished complex.
Crete
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.