Kinsterna Hotel
Pebbles and porticos
Minutes from Monemvasia
Go in search of the Greece of old at Kinsterna Hotel, an ancient Byzantine estate, overlooking the fairytale rock city of Monemvasia. Located in the eastern Peloponnese, it stands surrounded by olive groves, vineyards and citrus trees. Rooms whisper of history, with stone fireplaces and atmospheric balconies, where residents of the age-old village once crushed grapes into wine. Today, this timeless tale continues with tastings in the private cellar and bread-making classes with the local baker. Outside, a snaking infinity pool adds the final splash of luxury. Did we mention the Aegean views?
Facilities
Rooms
52, including 19 suites and one pool villa.
Checkout
11am, but flexible for 30 per cent of a night’s rate. Earliest check-in, 3pm.
More Details
Rates include breakfast.
Free Internet Access
Laundry
Pet Friendly
On-Site Restaurant
Room Service
Spa
At the Hotel
Spa, hammam, gardens, library and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: flatscreen TV, DVD player, minibar, Coco-Mat beds and Aptivita bath products.
Our Favourite Rooms
We liked the original Ottoman fireplace and lace feature wall in Room 33, and the cosy colours of Room 34. The scent of mint reaches Room 15 from its private garden and terrace, and the view out to the citrus groves and the Aegean is impressive, too.
Poolside
Out among the citrus groves, there's an L-shaped infinity pool lined by sunloungers.
Spa
The hotel’s spa has a traditional Ottoman hammam, with water cabins, treatment rooms and Jacuzzis indoors and out. Treatments use time-tested local ingredients, such as olive oil, honey and grape extracts. In-room massages can also be arranged.
Packing Tips
Binoculars for checking out Monemvasia, the fairytale Greek town, that sits just across the Aegean, on a small island.
Also
Small pets are accommodated on request. Two Kinsterna Suites are adapted for wheelchair users.
Children
Cots for babies are free, as are beds for children under six when sharing a room with parents. Otherwise, rates vary between €50 and €80 a night, depending on the season. Babysitting with hotel staff costs €20 an hour (three hours’ notice required).
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
Suspended over the lilies and pebbles by the ancient cistern, flanked by columns and lit up at night.
Dress Code
Make like the cast of Mamma Mia! with cool, cream linens.
Hotel Restaurant
Aegean-view restaurant Mouries (Mulberries) dishes out traditional Greek delicacies – herb-encrusted grilled meats, pasta with mizythra cheese, fresh salads and platters piled high with local cheeses and meats. Taverna Linos is next to the old stone olive press and has a wood-fired oven. It’s open twice a week during the summer months; don’t skip the freshly baked bread.
Hotel Bar
Sip daiquiris – made with hand-picked fruit from the grounds – at the pool bar between 10am and 7pm from May to October. Seats at the Belvedere bar look out over the pool and the surrounding olive groves to the Aegean sea; settle in for an evening aperitif with a view anytime from mid-June to mid-September. Cosy Kinsterna Bar has an extensive cocktail menu, a sprawling terrace and, in cooler months, a crackling open fireplace.
Last Orders
You won’t go hungry here: breakfast is served from 8am to 11am, lunch is on offer all afternoon (from noon to 7pm) and dinner is served between 7pm and 11pm. Mouries is open daily from 8am to 11pm.
Room Service
Sandwiches, salads and burgers are available 24 hours a day, but there's a limited menu between 1am and 7am.
Planes
The closest airport is Kalamata, a three-hour drive from the hotel, where Easyjet flights from London Gatwick arrive; Athens is also close by, but it’s a good 200 miles away. EasyJet flies from London Gatwick, Berlin, Paris and Rome (www.easyjet.com); BA (www.ba.com) and Aegean Airlines (www.aegeanairlines.com) fly from London Heathrow.
Automobiles
From Athens, the drive will take around five hours: follow the national highways to Corinth, Tripoli and then Sparta, after which Monemvasia is clearly signposted.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
At the hotel, you can help out with grape crushing, personalise the label and name wine in your honour (the hotel will have it shipped to you once it’s ready). Bread is made in the outdoor stone oven every Saturday – take part with a local baker, and you’ll get to try some. The olive press is in action from late November until March, so guests can watch the estate's oil being made. But don't miss the chance to explore Monemvasia... nothing quite prepares you for the time-worn beauty of this storied town, whose old heart sits on a small island, linked to the mainland by a causeway and visible from Kinsterna across the Aegean. The tree-shaded main square and vine-draped bars, boutiques and restaurants, make for an unmissable day trip. Craving time on the beach? Nearby swathes include Gefiras, Pori and Ampelakia.
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. .
