Syrou Melathron

Melathron Villa is beautifully kept, with classic elegance alongside modern comforts. Its prime spot gives direct access to the waterfront, yet it feels calm and secluded, which made it a lovely peaceful retreat by the sea. The staff were warm and genuinely hospitable from the moment we arrived, and readily accommodated our requests. Breakfast was simple but thoughtfully prepared and served with care. We left feeling refreshed and already looking forward to returning to Syros.

The staff were very polite and the location was great, but the room without a sea view wasn't what we expected. It was small, had nowhere to dry things or beach towels, and didn't get enough light or sun. Breakfast came in a rooftop garden with a nice view, but there wasn't much variety, and items were sometimes unavailable. Overall, it didn't feel worth the price of a four-star hotel.

The hotel's location in Ermoupoli, right by the sea, was superb. The upper terrace was lovely, but breakfast was very disappointing, with poor food and service. The set breakfast was meager and bad enough that I wouldn't want to stay there again. We had to ask for yoghurt and fruit, and the fruit came uncut and not ripe at all. There was no cappuccino offered. With such great food on the island, the hotel had no excuse for serving this. For somewhere calling itself a four-star hotel, it just wasn't acceptable. It's a shame, as otherwise we would have returned.

The location is excellent, the hotel itself is luxurious, and the staff were friendly and helpful, though the rooms weren't the issue. The breakfast policy seems to have changed this year, probably in July, and there's no longer a buffet. Yet Booking.com and other online comments still talk about the incredible buffet. I was extremely disappointed and annoyed after paying 180€ a night for five days in August at a four-star hotel. I expected at least some good food, but there wasn't even proper coffee, just watery filtered coffee. They have a large espresso machine behind the bar, but no longer use it. Breakfast was a 0 out of 5 for me. It was two tiny slices of cheese and ham, two small, apparently deep-frozen breads, two hard-boiled eggs, cake that tasted of chemicals, and store-bought jams. There was no variety, so I got bored after one day. Everything seemed store-bought despite the big kitchen. More than anything, I felt seriously misled. If the hotel changed its policy, it should update its Booking.com page instead of leaving old comments about a great buffet when there isn't one. That's completely misleading. For such an old, historic hotel, what a shame. The management should be ashamed.