Review: Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa

_Location: Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa is located in northeastern Crete above the sleepy fishing village of Plaka, home to a pebbled coast lined with traditional tavernas and quaint gift shops.

The property is set into a hillside overlooking Mirabello Bay and the historic island of Spinalonga. It is about an hour’s drive from Heraklion International airport.

_{First impressions:} Italian designer Gian Paolo Venier wanted Cayo to look different to other hotels in the region – and it certainly shows. Cretan influence is strong in the lobby, where you’ll find mosaic pillars and Greek vases set into the wall, but there are also modern light fixtures, rattan lanterns and bespoke, emerald-green sofas that look retro in style.

It feels as though Venier has cherry-picked his favourite materials from around the world – green marble from Brazil and black volcanic stone from Sumatra in the lobby’s Emerald Bar, and Indonesian bamboo and stone in the spa – giving the hotel an eclectic feel.

Cayo means pebble in Greek, so these feature prominently: in the hotel’s logo, in the shape of the basins in bathrooms, and set into the walls around the main staircase.

_{The facts:} Cayo opened in August 2020 after two years of construction. A total of 70 rooms and villas are spread across five buildings that rise up the hillside, set among manicured gardens of cacti, lavender and bougainvillea. The buildings are connected by a weaving set of stairs, or – the considerably easier option – a charming funicular.

Rooms are modern and minimalistic, with bespoke toiletries made from Cretan herbs and botanicals. Two large swimming pools dominate the main area of the resort, while Cayo also owns a private stretch of beach down in the bay. The hotel has four restaurants: buffet-based main restaurant Ambrosia; Sage & Thyme, for Mediterranean dining; Greek gourmet restaurant Kelari; and Stone Beach House by Cayo, which is located on the seafront.

Menus were created by Lefteris Lazarou, the first Greek chef to be awarded a Michelin star, so the standard is high, particularly at Kelari, where dishes include grilled grouper with smoked fava and 12-hour slow-cooked lamb.

There are also two bars: the aforementioned Emerald Bar and poolside spot Enastron, which is particularly appealing after dark when the pool twinkles with tiny lights. Cayo is big on locally sourced, seasonal produce and recently bought a patch of land in front of the hotel, where it grows pumpkins, aubergines, peppers, watermelons and tomatoes.

The hotel plans to add chickens and goats, and in time host traditional Cretan farm-to-table experiences for guests. This eco-minded approach continues throughout the property.

Accommodation uses a heat recovery system to recycle energy produced by air conditioning, and the building’s roofs are topped with shrubs and stones to keep room temperatures down. Other facilities include a boutique, gym and amphitheatre, while the spa features a sauna, hammam, whirlpool and beauty salon.

_Explore: Spinalonga is a 15-minute boat ride away. The island was used as a leper colony between 1903 and 1957 and offers a fascinating yet heartbreaking insight into what life was like for inhabitants during that time.

Don’t miss a visit to Elounda, home to waterfront bars, sandy beaches and ice cream shops. Nearby, the larger coastal town of Agios Nikolaos offers a network of more than 100 routes for hiking or cycling, and Mirabello Bay is great for watersports.

For those wishing to stay closer to home, Cayo hosts experiences such as olive oil and wine tasting.

_Wow: Not many hotels can boast that every room is sea-facing, and all but three at Cayo come with a private pool.