Rooms

Rooms are divided between the original Main Hotel and the adjacent Captain’s Mansion – there are plans to connect them with a bridge. Andrew scoured antique markets for maps, silverware, and lamps. All technology is cleverly concealed to preserve the period mood. Thoughtful details abound - lightweight beach towels, a well-edited selection of travel books and Turkish delight at turndown.

Each of the Main Hotel rooms leading off the galleria is inspired by a trade route that once supplied The Old Markets. The Ottoman Room, features a spectacular hammam-style bathroom and has a domed brick ceiling converted from an original baker’s oven. It’s charming, but better for shorter stays. The Venetian Room references Symi’s sponge trade, with period antiques and paintings of Venice. The Arabian Room, shot through with purple and navy silks, has carved bedheads and an open-plan bathroom, stocked with organic Korres toiletries.

At the top of the galleria, it’s worth paying the premium for The Symi Suite, with its delicate stencilling on the soaring ceilings. The 2-metre square bed is extra high, so you can gaze at the view. It was a joy to fling open all 5 shutters in the morning. Apart from occasional rumblings from the nearby bars, mostly we were stirred by the soothing sounds of ship horns, fluttering sails, and church bells.

The Captain’s Mansion is nestled next door to the original hotel and centres on a courtyard garden with magnificent pink bougainvillea.

The vast Aegean Suite is ideal for families, with a stunning double-height lounge and a balcony looking down onto Symi harbour. There's a mezzanine double bedroom, and two singles in separate areas of the lounge. Honeymooners might prefer the hideaway Ouranos Suite, perched at the top of the building, with a light-filled lounge and a bedroom with harbour-view balcony. The Nimos, Chondros and Stroggilos Rooms have whitewashed walls and white bedspreads, with duck-egg blue armchairs and cushions. Their bathrooms combine exposed stonework with transparent glass washbasins and slick modern rain-showers – how refreshing.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Radio
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

Andrew's background as a professional chef means eating at the hotel is a special event. Lazy mornings start with brunch classics like eggs Benedict and bacon panini, all made to order. Healthier options like homemade granola with Greek yoghurt, local honey, and artfully presented fruit are equally delicious. The peach and yoghurt smoothies are addictive.

Since our last visit, Andrew's culinary passion has led to the opening of Symi's first fine-dining restaurant, AGORA. The chef at the helm is Chris Sidiropoulos, who trained in the likes of The Ritz and Hide and was ranked in the Top 6 chefs in the UK. Now back in Greece, he's funnelled his skills into the 11-course tasting menu (pescatarian, veggie and shorter versions available) that draws inspiration from Greek and Mediterranean cuisine: sardine with smoked aubergine and harissa, cappelletti stuffed with peas and gruyere, fresh watermelon paired with sheep's yoghurt and basil, a selection of decadent petit-fours to finish. It all sounds tantalising, and we can't wait to try it.

Guests are also treated to an aperitivo on the terrace every evening, with spectacular views down onto Symi harbour. We enjoyed a well-chosen selection of Greek wines paired with delicious homemade Parmesan biscuits.

Beyond the hotel, Tholos Taverna is idyllically placed at the mouth of Yialos harbour, with tables right by the water. Tsati, along the waterfront, serves great mojitos and Marathouda has the best beach taverna, where hungry goats try to steal your zucchini fritters, deep-fried baby shrimps and tender calamari over the fence.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

Kids

Due to the historic nature of the hotel and steep steps, the property may be problematic for small children. Older children are welcome and the Aegean Suite offers spacious accommodation for a family of 4.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hotel overlooks the historic harbour and is in the heart of Symi, the main town on Symi island in the Dodecanese Islands, Greece. Symi Town is sometimes divided into Gialos (or Yialos, the harbourside part) and Chorio (or Horio, the upper town).

By Air
The nearest airport is Rhodes Diagoras Airport, serviced several times a day by domestic airlines from Athens, Thessaloniki and Crete. It’s a 45-minute flight from Athens.

It’s often cheaper (and certainly quicker) to catch a charter flight direct to Rhodes (or Kos) from the UK and several other European countries. Most charter flights operate from May-October.

By Sea
From Rhodes airport, it’s a 20-minute taxi (or bus) ride to the harbour. Boats leave from different harbours, so be sure to check in advance. Dodekanisos Seaways operates high-speed hydrofoils to Symi once or twice a day; the journey takes about 1 hour.

The slower (and cheaper) ANES ferries take 1hour 40 minutes – but often stop at Panormitis Monastery in southern Symi first, making it a much longer journey.

There is also an erratic and painfully slow ferry service from the port of Piraeus in Athens, which takes around 19 hours. A ferry from Piraeus to Rhodes takes 12-18 hours.

By Car
Car hire is not necessary. There are very few roads on Symi, and parking is very limited in the harbour (Yialos) and village (Chorio), which are mostly pedestrianised. Some beaches are accessible by footpaths, but even most far-flung bays are accessible by water taxi. You can also rent your own motorboat (just past the clock-tower, near where the ferries dock). A ‘driver’ costs extra.

Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.