Yfes

It’s hard to find enough words for this wonderful hotel. It has 10 rooms at the time I’m writing, tucked into a secluded bay on the west of the island. The rooms are a great size, with lots of thoughtful little touches that show the Yfēs team understand high-end hospitality. Most have private balconies, and some also have their own pools. They leave complimentary water and Coca-Cola or Coke Zero in the rooms and top it up daily. We also had a complimentary bottle of wine, which made us feel as though we’d arrived home. Breakfast is a real highlight: warm options, pastries, yoghurt, and possibly the best spinach and feta pies. Illyana helps with orders and coffee, and her smile is a lovely part of the morning. Her patience with the wind is inspiring! A wonderful gentleman met us at the boat with a complimentary transfer and shared some local knowledge on the drive. The hotel is remote, so you’ll likely need to rent a car to get around, and be comfortable driving steep hairpin bends. We ate at the on-site restaurant once and Ilias looked after us really well. He’s incredibly friendly and helpful. We chose the local taverna twice, though, because we didn’t feel the hotel food quite matched the hotel’s standard or price point. It would also have been helpful if the team had shown us a map and explained the island when we arrived. I’ve heard there are plans to add more rooms and another restaurant, gym, spa, and other facilities. For now, the food is the only small negative in an absolutely fabulous hotel. It won’t stay a secret for long, and we’d return in an instant.

The standout for me was the hotel team. Bad weather at sea made me miss my first night, and although I hadn’t asked for anything, they offered me an extra night on the house so I wouldn’t lose part of my stay. That kind of gesture is rare, and it reminded me why Greek hospitality is the best. Yfēs Hotel is built into the landscape with stone and wood, stylish and modern while still feeling true to the island. The sea views are stunning, the air is still, and the atmosphere is pure Cyclades. It’s small, intimate, calm, and beautifully designed. My room was spacious, spotless, and decorated with stone walls and warm wood, balancing comfort with local character. The service felt warm and genuine. Kythnos is a tiny, dry, rugged island of mountains, barely touched by tourism, just a short hop from Athens. It’s perfect if you want quiet. I was met at the port by a complimentary car that took me straight to the hotel, which was a treat. There’s direct access to the sea too, via a deck and platform just a few steps down, right at the water’s edge. A beautiful hotel and a perfect island escape. Thank you, Yfēs. I’ll be back.

The hotel fits so naturally into the island, and the rooms are wonderful, with very comfortable beds. The pool area is fantastic, and there’s a little hidden dock that’s perfect for a quiet swim in the sea. The employees were all so nice and helpful. The nearby beach is another big plus if you’re after a calm day by the water. It was the perfect vacation, and we didn’t want to leave the hotel. The place went beyond our expectations.

For peace and quiet, this is the best spot on the island, with access to the beach. Everything was spotless and breathtaking, and the staff were so friendly and accommodating, always going the extra mile with their service. Thank you, Ariadni, Elias and Eliana, for making our stay special.