The Danai

Style

Glittering Greek glamour

Setting

By the Sithonia sea shore

A former family holiday-home that’s been carefully expanded over the decades, The Danai in Halkidiki is a classic Greek summer stay. WIth its private beach, serene spa, four restaurants, plenty of childcare and first-class service, it’s the sort of place you won’t want to leave for your entire trip. Add in traditional cooking classes, vast vineyards, and a sprawling wine cellar filled with over 1,700 bottles of sommelier-selected blends, and we’re pretty sure it’ll be more than just the little Smiths staying entertained.

Facilities

Rooms

56 suites and villas.

Checkout

11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 2pm.

More Details

Rates usually include a buffet breakfast.

Also

Most common areas aren’t wheelchair accessible, and the hotel isn’t ideal for guests who have trouble with steps.

Hotel Closed

From 13 October 2024 to 1 May 2025.

Fitness Center

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pet Friendly

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

Spa, gym, beach (with sun loungers available for an additional cost), watersports, classes, kids club, free WiFi throughout. Every room has a flatscreen TV, DVD player, Bose WiFi music system, Nespresso machine, minibar, Bulgari bath products, air-conditioning, tea- and coffee-making kit, and black-out curtains.

Our Favourite Rooms

The Panorama Two-Bedroom Suite is a star pick, with its large, airy living room and bright bedrooms. The size of the suite means it's perfect for families, and there’s a terrace for alfresco dining and sunbathing with sea views, too.

Poolside

Flanked by day-beds and palm trees, the large swimming pool has ever-attentive staff on hand to brings drinks to lounging guests. Children are welcome, too.

Spa

The indoor pool at Danai Spa is a great spot for rainy days. You’ll also find a sauna and steam room, and a full menu of spa and beauty delights in the five treatment rooms (many are also available in your own hotel room, too). Don’t miss the Cleopatra room with its golden bath tub. It’s quite something.

Packing Tips

All the normal holiday garb will be useful at the Danai, and the atmosphere is mostly informal. Bring a few smarter outfits for evenings out, and flat sandals for exploring the glorious beaches.

Also

Ask for a tour of the cellar – it’s packed with 1,700 labels and inherited from the owners’ collection. Allow 45 minutes down there with the knowledgeable sommelier (tasting sessions are also available, and all bottles can be bought).

Children

The Danai is super child-friendly. There are kids' activities, a crèche, and lots of family-orientated restaurants on-site.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Grab a table with a view at the Anithos and watch the sun go down. For extra special meals, the incredible wine cellar seats up to eight for private dinners or you can dine on the beach.

Dress Code

The kid-friendly restaurants are mostly informal; Squirrel is slightly smarter.

Hotel Restaurant

The Danai's four restaurants give you a range of meal-time options. The most up-market of the three is Squirrel, where chef Vasilis Mouratidis serves up gourmet French flavours. For a particularly memorable evening, opt for the tasting menu here or at Noble House, where the hotel's impressive wine collection is paired with delectable dishes and cooking classes. For dining en famille, Andromeda and Anithos are both decidedly child-friendly from the welcoming service to the well-thought-out menus. Anithos serves the most traditional Greek cuisine, and the relaxed Andromeda restaurant has an ever-changing menu of international dishes.

Hotel Bar

The laid-back Philosophy bar serves snacks and cocktails all day in a space that feels as cosy as a living room. With the superlative sea views, you’ll feel like you’re out island-hopping without ever leaving the mainland. Children are welcome, and even have their own bar menu.

Last Orders

The day begins with breakfast in the Pavillion between 8am and 11am, and the bar closes after the last guest has gone to bed.

Room Service

Plenty of grown-up and kid-friendly dishes from the Andromeda and Anithos menus can be delivered to your room, day or night.

Planes

Touchdown at Thessaloniki’s airport, just under an hour’s drive away, with direct flights from across Europe. Transfers to and from SKG Thessaloniki airport are priced as follows: €170 per way in a three-person Mercedes E class vehicle; €350 per way for a three-person Mercedes S class vehicle and €320 per way for a six-person Mercedes Viano minivan.

Automobiles

If you’re planning on adventuring around the coast and forests of Halkidiki, renting a car’s a good idea. Free self-parking and valet are both available onsite.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

The private beach is, as you’d expect in this part of the world, a pretty great place to spend the day swimming and sunbathing. It's also great for little Smiths, as the waves are very gentle and there are lifeguards on dut). It’s terrifically well organised: you can get stuck into your sandcastle/book/nap/wave jumping and let the hotel’s beach boys (and girls) fetch your towels, lay out your lounger, and so on. Water sports include canoeing, wind surfing, scuba diving, water skiiing and snorkelling, and water aerobics classes are available on request in both the swimming pool and the sea. Or you can scoot along on a Seabob or hire out the hotel's private yacht. If you’d rather stay on dry land, perhaps hit the hotel’s tennis courts. The outdoor playground, with swings and a slide, is a highlight for families. When the sun isn't shining, cooking lessons from the chefs can be arranged, as can Greek, French, German and English lessons for adults and children. Feeling artistic? Painting and dancing instructors are standing by – just schedule a class. Personal trainers are on hand to help you keep up your fitness regime.

Mountain bikes and trail maps are available for more adventurous types: the dirt roads of Mount Itamos are a must for extreme-sports fans. A 20-minute drive away is Karidi beach, with its giant rocky outcrops and forrested backdrop. From Vourvourou, you’re also well placed to catch a charter boat from Ormos Panagias to Unesco World Heritage Site, Mount Athos (it’s home to some more than a thousand monks, and women and children are forbidden, but Athos Sea Cruises pass by several monasteries from the water).

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .