Hotel: Canaves Epitome Santorini / Site Visit: May 2024 / Program: Virtuoso and others
Canaves Epitome is part of the Canaves Collection in Oia, Santorini and has 53 suites & villas. Located just outside Oia, this hotel offers stunning views of the Aegean Sea, making it an ideal location for those seeking a picturesque and serene getaway.
It is ideal for families with younger children, honeymoon or anniversary couples, family groups or group of friends travelling together. All rooms have balconies with amazing views to the sunset and the Aegean Sea. All Villas have their own private infinity pools or private plunge pools.
We visited this hotel during our trip to Santorini. We didn’t get the full hotel experience but we viewed two of their best suite/villa categories and experienced the dining options.
Virtuoso Benefits
Before we review the property, a quick note that the hotel can be booked under Virtuoso programme. Booking under the rate, you can receive the following benefits:
- Daily Complimentary breakfast for two
- $100 equivalent food & beverage credit
- Stays of 7+ nights will also receive an additional $200 Food & Beverage credit (for a total of $300 during stay)
- Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary upgrade subject to availability
- Welcome note from the GM and welcome amenity
Location: Canaves Epitome
Situated approximately a 15-minute walk or a 5-mins short drive from the heart of Oia town, the hotel is conveniently located for exploring the vibrant local shops, restaurants, and iconic views. The location is perfect if you want to be as close to Oia as possible but not IN the midst of the hustle and bustle of the town. It’s also convenient if you want to go to Ammoudi Bay which has a plethora of restaurants. More importantly, it is also the main dock where you can board several yachts for sunset trips around the island and day trips to other islands.
Given its location atop a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea, the hotel probably has one of the best sunsets than any other hotel in Oia town!
To enhance the guests’ convenience , Canaves Epitome offers complimentary shuttle bus services to and from Oia town, ensuring guests can easily access the town’s attractions without the hassle of transportation logistics. This is a huge plus point as cab/taxis are quite pricey on the island and public transport is not really an option.
The hotel also has a number of golf-carts to whisk you around the resort. This is quite handy for families or elderly guests as some part of the property are quite hilly.
Check-in / Lobby: Canaves Epitome
The check-in area is quite large with a long desk that has about four check-in counters. The area is minimalist as is the rest of the lobby area.
Beyond the check-in area the lobby opens up into a large living area which has a few nooks and corners with sofas and chaise lounges making for a nice relaxing spot. There’s a bar just by the corner.
The owner of Canaves Collection, Mark, is clearly huge fan of Assouline books, and so are we!
Accommodation
For a hotel with only 53 suites and villas, it sure does have quite a number of categories. It might be quite confusing on the website to understand how the eight-room/suite/villa categories differ and which one is the right category for you. But that’s where we come in and help guide you on the best category specifically for your needs.
Below is a quick summary before we review two different room categories.
Suites
- Deluxe Suite with Plunge Pool (45 sqm): This is the base category room (suite) but is quite generous in size at 45 square metres and includes a heated plunge pool! It’s not usual for a base room to include a heated plunge pool! These suites offer a blend of comfort and elegance, featuring a private plunge pool, a cozy seating area, and panoramic views. They are perfect for couples looking for a romantic retreat or a small family (can accommodate children) and who want the full Epitome experience without having to splurge on the villas
- Honeymoon Suite with Plunge Pool (45 sqm): This room is quite similar to the Deluxe Suite but is more tailored for newlyweds. It provides a romantic ambiance with a private plunge pool, a spacious terrace, and breathtaking sunset views. It includes special honeymoon touches
- Hideaway Pool Suite (55 sqm): This category is quite similar to the two above but has a larger room size (55 sqm) and includes a seating area next to the room. It’s not a true suite with a separate living room, which you get in the next category and higher. Hideaway basically means it has additional privacy!
Villas
- Hideaway Pool Villa (55 sqm) and Epitome Pool Villa (55 sqm): This category is probably my favourite for couples or a small family. This is a true villa with a separate living area, an amazing plunge pool and a fanstastic dining and seating area in the veranda. The two categories are similar with the hideaway being a bit more private than the Epitome Pool Villa
- One-Bedroom (45 sqm), two-bedroom (90sqm), three-bedroom (150 sqm) and five-bedroom Pool (320 sqm) Villa: Offering a mix of privacy and luxury, these villas include a separate bedroom, a private pool, and a sun deck. These are specifically great for large families or larger groups. Depending on the room category, these include a separate dining area and you have the option for a private chef dining experience or a barbeque experience. The villas combines privacy with luxury, perfect for a serene getaway.
Canaves Epitome: Hideaway Pool Villa
The hideaway pool villa is perfect for couples on a romantic break or honeymooners, as it’s tucked away in a corner with amazing views of the Sea. It is extremely spacious. Hence, we think it’s the best category suite/villa at this hotel for couples or a family with a toddler.
Just as you walk up the steps of this villa, you get to the top with expansive views of the Sea.
There’s a heated plunge pool right at the entrance of the doorway leading into the living room. Right next to the plunge pool is an extended seating area that includes a dining space. This villa is spacious not only inside but outdoors as well
Through the doors, there is a spacious living room with a large sofa that faces the sea. Once again very spacious and inviting space.
To the left is the king-size bed which once again faces the sea. Right behind the bed is the bathroom area. There’s plenty of storage in the cupboards here that is ideal for a longer stay at this villa.
The location of this villa is particularly good. It is private, you’re not too far away from the larger infinity pool and the gym is right by the corner. It’s slightly further away from the main lobby areas but that shouldn’t be an issue as there’s plenty of golf carts available should you need one to whisk you around.
Canaves Epitome: Two-Bedroom Pool Villa
This pool villa is huge and I mean huge! Whilst 90 sqm might not seem that large, it is two floors with a huge private pool overlooking the sea. Also note that the hotel is located just minutes away from Oia where space is a luxury! In that context, this villa is great for a small family with toddlers or kids. There’s so much space on the veranda that you can easily host a barbeque session or a private dinner.
As you get through the doors and up the steps, you’re immediately greeted by this long heated pool that overlooks the sea. There’s plenty of space around the pool to just lounge by and relax. The veranda has a large six-seater dining table which is perfect for either in-room breakfasts or private dinners.
Living Room
The villa has a small living room with a sofa set and TV. It’s not spacious in the context of the overall villa but I guess you’re meant to be lounging by the pool and not necessarily relaxing indoors!
Master Bedroom
To the left of the living room is the master bedroom. The room has a king-bed facing the large pool outside, and a bathroom right behind.
Second Bedroom
To get to the second room, we go down a flight of stairs. The downstairs or rather the basement is quite spacious. It has two double queen beds, ample storage space, a bathroom, and a separate bathtub. It doesn’t feel dark as with the large window behind the bed.
The lower floor also has a small nook with a sofa. This can be turned into a small bed if required.
We loved this two-bedroom pool villa and the stand out feature is the amazing pool!
Pool & Leisure Facilities
The hotel features two exquisite pools.
The main infinity pool offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Aegean Sea, creating a serene environment perfect for lounging and relaxation. This pool is located right next to the main lobby/living space of the hotel. It is surrounded by a number of loungers and more formal dining tables. It is a family-friendly pool although we hardly saw any kids at the pool when we were there.
Additionally, there’s a second pool specifically designed for guests seeking a more private and tranquil experience. Surrounded by lush landscaping, this offers a more secluded atmosphere. The pool overlooks the Aegean Sea and offers the most amazing sunsets in Santorini. There are several loungers by the pool with a couple of loungers a few feet in the pool. The poolside bar serves all-day drinks. Its everything you need!
It’s great having two infinity pool options in addition to the heated plunge pool or heated pool options in the suites and villas. This property is all suites and villas and all room categories have a pool.
Dining Options
The hotel has two main restaurants: Elements and Omnia.
Elements restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on Greek cuisine. They also have an extensive wine list. This restaurant is located at the main infinity pool near the entrance. It only serves two-tasting menus and is a great option for a fine-dining romantic evening but probably not one for families with kids or larger family groups.
The second restaurant Omnia, where we had lunch, is located around the second, larger infinity pool. It is focused on modern fusion and is a lot more casual. It’s open from 1pm onwards. This means you can have lunch in between your swim as well as a beautiful sunset dinner.
The food here was delicious and we’d want to come eat here again even if we weren’t staying at the hotel. We sat by the pool during the afternoon and only a handful of tables were occupied.
For food, we decided to have sharing platters and one main course. The portions were quite large and we couldn’t finish the meal between the two of us. We then ended up taking the main course as a takeaway. As much as we would have liked to get some desserts, we couldn’t make any more space for that.
As sharing platters we ordered fried potatoes in tomato sauce and cheese, Santorinian fava and broccolini in cheese. This was served with some breadsticks and dips. For the main course, we ordered a mushroom risotto.
The hotel also offers private dining options, allowing guests to savor a personalised meal in the privacy of their suite or villa. This is perfect for romantic dinners or special occasions.
Gym and Fitness Facilities
For fitness enthusiasts, the hotel provides well-equipped gym facilities. This is located next to the spa which we didn’t take a look at but looked quite good, at least from the outside. The gym had a mix of cardio, weights and mat for floor-based exercises. It could probably accommodate about 10-15 people without looking crowded.
It may not be the most amazing gym in a hotel but it looked adequate for the size of the property.
Family-Friendly Services
Canaves Epitome is more suitable for families with kids and slightly larger groups. The other two Canaves Collection properties, Canaves Ena and Canaves Oia Suites, are more focused on couples.
Whilst it does not have a dedicated kids’ club, the hotel can arrange a variety of kids’ activities to ensure younger guests are entertained. Additionally, nanny services are available upon request, allowing parents to enjoy some time alone while knowing their children are in good hands.
Things to do
If you’re visiting Santorini for the first time then you’ll probably have enough things to do for 1-2 nights. Beyond that, you might spend more time relaxing by the pool, reading a book or just destressing in your own way. The hotel has several experiences, although we did not get to try them apart from the yacht sailing.
- Several food-related experiences such as olive oil experience, a cocktail masterclass, wine tasting or private dining
- Yoga and wellness experiences
- Spa
- Sunset sailing and private yacht
One of our favourite activities in Santorini was the sunset sailing we did through Sunset Oia. Leaving a few photos below of our sunset yacht experience!
Conclusion
Given that we were in Santorini only for three nights we didn’t get a chance to fully experience this property. However, we wish to return one day and stay here. A lot is going for this hotel and it’s a stand-out in the Santorini luxury scene.
Let’s take a look to understand who this hotel is for and who it isn’t for.
Who is this hotel for?
- If you want to be as close to Oia as possible without being right in the dead centre of the hustle and bustle of this busy town centre
- Honeymooners or couples will particularly enjoy the hideaway pool villa or the one-bedroom villa
- Families with infants or kids will be suited at either the one-bedroom or two-bedroom pool villa
- There’s plenty of options for larger family groups or groups of friends
- If you want a resort-ish style of property but yet boutique and local
- Sunset lovers – for experiencing the best hotel sunset on the island
Who is this hotel not for?
- If you want the typical white-washed walls as seen on Instagram and the typical Calendera views, then this one isn’t for you
- If you want a much more secluded and private atmosphere with very little activity around you
How to Book?
If you wish to receive the same perks as us then, please fill out your details, and we will get back to you!