Azade Chania

Style

Pasha’s pad

Setting

Little Venice

Once the home of the American poet Charles Henri Ford and an Ottoman pasha that nobody can remember the name of, Azade Chania is a Venetian villa in the heart of the old harbour. It’s within the city’s original Venetian walls and right in front of the landmark lighthouse, though there’s not much need for staying vigil today (the Ottomans packed up in 1913). There are just nine suites, some with terracotta terraces for harbour appreciation. Ottoman relics include odas (or traditional second bedrooms, with wooden sofa-beds) in some of the suites and the vrisi fountain in the courtyard.

Facilities

Rooms

Nine, including seven suites.

Checkout

11am. Earliest check-in, 3pm.

More Details

Rates usually include breakfast.

Also

The Two-Bedroom Suite has an accessible bathroom, and there’s a lift in the building.

Free Internet Access

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

At the Hotel

Free WiFi throughout, yoga, courtyard. In rooms: Smart TV, Nespresso coffee machine and kettle, wine cooler, air-conditioning and Myrro bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

The One-Bedroom Suites have USPs ranging from a restored 19th-century ceiling to an authentic Ottoman attic – take your pick.

Packing Tips

The sight of the lighthouse may bring out your inner Captain Bird’s Eye, but draw the line at epaulettes.

Also

There’s no spa, but treatments can be arranged in your room (or on your terrace if you’re feeling showy).

Children

Extra beds cost €50 a night.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Keeping watch for invaders (while pretending it’s several centuries ago) out on the terrace.

Dress Code

Walk like an Egyptian (or Venetian, or Ottoman).

Hotel Restaurant

Breakfasts of hyper-fresh, homemade Cretan dishes can be served in the dining room, courtyard or your room – these include morning-appropriate salads, cheese and honey pies, and the island’s answer to Cornish pasties (kalitsounia). After breakfast, guests can order snacks, salads and Crete’s famous cheese rusks for adults, as well as drinks and a dessert of the day.

Last Orders

Breakfast hours are between 8am and 10.30am.

Room Service

The room-service menu can be ordered from between 8am and 11pm.

Planes

The drive time from Chania Airport is half an hour; hotel-arranged transfers cost from €30 each way.

Automobiles

You won’t need wheels to get around town, but if you’re hoping to see more of the island, a set will come in handy. There’s a public car park 300 metres away from the hotel.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Chania’s Venetian lighthouse is the old town’s most iconic sight and you’ll barely have to leave the hotel to see it. Along with the 14th-century harbour, the city has narrow streets, restaurants at the water’s edge and various Venetian, Egyptian and Ottoman influences to uncover. For more antiquity, head to the 13th-century cathedral. Other activities on the island include minotaur-hunting day-trips to the Palace of Knossos and visits to Eleutherna, but don’t expect the drive times to be swift – Crete is the fifth-biggest island in the Mediterranean. The concierge can arrange outings to olive-oil mills, monasteries, wineries and sleepy villages.

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. .