Canaves Ena
Whitewashed romance
Oia's doorstep
Near a peaceful village church on Santorini’s popular northern tip, Canaves Ena is a laid-back boutique bolthole with bleached-white rooms, a relaxed poolside restaurant and a buzzy swim-up bar. Days here are spent lazing by the Aegean-surveying pool, feasting on fava, seafood and cherry tomatoes, and making the most of the additional facilities at the hotel's sister property, Canaves Oia Suites, which boasts a spellbinding spa and ambitious gourmet restaurant.
Facilities
Rooms
Eighteen.
Checkout
11am. Earliest check-in, 3pm. Both are flexible, subject to availability.
More Details
Rates include an a la carte breakfast; guests can also order pastries, fresh fruit and juices and Greek-style omelettes to enjoy at the restaurant or on their own terrace.
Also
Santorini produces prized aromatic wines from its volcanic soil; book a spot on the private tasting terrace to sample local vintages and a tempting platter of Greek cheeses at sunset.
Hotel Closed
From November to 1 April each year.
Free Internet Access
Laundry
Pool
On-Site Restaurant
Room Service
At the Hotel
Free WiFi throughout. In rooms: flatscreen TV, iPod dock, minibar, tea and coffee-making facilities, bespoke toiletries.
Our Favourite Rooms
Adapted from the existing caves, rooms take their design cues from Santorini’s clean, whitewashed aesthetic; some have antique wooden furniture, bespoke Italian sofas, carved headboards or decorative mirrors. Top marks go to the Honeymoon Suite, for its meandering, river-like plunge pool, reached by steps from the bathroom.
Poolside
Meandering into a rock-hewn cave, the hotel's infinity pool is small but blissfully shaded; get cosy at the swim-up bar with your fellow guests and order something artfully mixed and perfectly chilled.
Spa
None, but you can use the spa at Canaves Oia Suites, the hotel's blissful sister property, a short stroll away.
Packing Tips
No Santorini capsule wardrobe should be without glamorous shades and flat grippy sandals.
Children
Over-13s are welcome, but we suggest leaving the not-so-little Smiths at home, this is a made-for-romance hotel.
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
Tucked away beneath bougainvillea at one corner of the pool, the pergola-shaded table is a pleasant spot for breakfast.
Dress Code
Preppy cruise chic: pack white linens, nautical stripes and silky head scarves.
Hotel Restaurant
The island’s balmy climate calls for leisurely alfresco meals. The poolside restaurant serves pan-Mediterranean fare; expect risotto with beef ragout, lemon-scented grouper, and colourful halloumi and watermelon salad. Guests can also eat at sister hotel Canaves Oia Suite's ambitious restaurant, Petra, tucked away on its own intimate terrace with just three tables. Book ahead for chef Andreas Evangelatos’ set menu of authentic Santorinian recipes.
Hotel Bar
The poolside bar mixes mean cocktails, many of which are laced with Greece’s potent mastika liqueur. Ginger, mango and chili provide sweet, exotic notes; take your drink to one of the tables at the edge of the pool to watch the sun set behind Oia and its lights twinkling into the night.
Last Orders
Order snacks, Greek feasts and tipples until 11pm.
Room Service
Staff will happily set up a candlelit table on your terrace: just call for your pick of the restaurant menus during opening hours.
Planes
Santorini airport is well served in the summer from European destinations, with direct flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick. Connecting flights from Athens take about 45 minutes. There are limited taxis on the island, so it’s best to organise transfers in advance. The hotel can arrange private transfers for up to four people for €110 each way. If there are more than four of you, the charge is €20 for each additional guest.
Automobiles
The hotel is a half-hour drive from the airport and the port; take the twisting ‘high road’ if you want to see views on both sides, or the ‘low road’ to follow the coast. Once you arrive in Oia, park for free at the town hall or post office.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
Set out on foot to explore Oia’s maze-like streets. Just steps from the hotel, the marble-lined pedestrian area stretches out to the very tip of the island, a prime spot for watching sunsets if you don’t mind the crowds that flock there from all over the island. Spend an afternoon browsing the upmarket boutiques and designer jewellers wedged between souvenir-touting stalls, and leave some space in your luggage for the spoils. Atlantis Books (+30 22860 72346) is a charming hobbit-hole of a bookshop; pick up letterpress prints, limited-edition Platos and novellas light enough to replace a postcard. The hotel’s knowledgeable staff will happily suggest interesting walks in the area or around the capital, as well as helicopter tours, diving excursions and horseback rides for the more adventurous. Experience the caldera in style with a private catamaran cruise to the nearby islands; Canaves’ sister company has eight waiting to whisk you away.
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. .
