Faris Hotel

A great base for trekking Taigetos, with clean, well-equipped rooms and access to scenic mountain spots by foot or dirt road. Goranoi sits below this hilltop location, so the views are lovely, and the night sky is a treat. The drive is worth it for the local food, but call ahead. It’s a cut above most mountain village stays around here.

I’ve been visiting Greece for 40 years, and the dinners at Faris are the tastiest meals I’ve had here, especially the Greek salad. I even doubled my stay. The wildflowers kept getting better, though there are very few now on the west side of the mountains. For walks, you can head out in any direction from the door for wide views and fields of flowers. I walked for two hours this morning without hearing a vehicle, just goat bells. The room is comfortable and clean, with everything I needed, lots of hot water, a large closet, and a balcony looking at the mountain. I’ve been having both breakfast and dinner here. The options are limited, but the food is very tasty and the portions are too big for me. The only minor snag is that WiFi doesn’t reach some rooms, though it works downstairs and in a sitting area by the stairs. I don’t see a reason to leave!

We ate better here than at much more famous places during our two weeks in the Peloponnese. The ingredients were excellent and the cooking was just as good. Add the incredible views and complete peace and quiet, and it’s easy to recommend.

The mountain road is remote and has plenty of bends, so keep that in mind. The signs are clear, though, and there’s hardly any other traffic. I had a wonderful few days here. It’s a convenient stop on a drive around the Peloponnese Peninsula, about 40mins from Sparta, 1hr from Mystras, and 1.5hrs from Momenvasia. The place is great for fresh air, mountain scenery, and stunning views, with comfortable accommodation, good affordable food, and wonderful service.