Açai Plant based Hotel

We had a fantastic trip, and the generous breakfast was a welcome change from an ordinary buffet. The meals were divine and child-friendly, too. The hotel is centrally located, within walking distance of the main landmarks, though it sits on a side street. Walking along the road leading to it in the dark with a child was tricky because there’s no pavement. It’s an excellent vegan-friendly boutique hotel. I highly recommend it, and hope they open more branches in other cities 😊

The staff really made us feel at home. They were kind, genuinely hospitable and gave brilliant service, exceeding what we expected. We also found the hotel easy to reach from the airport. Bus 51 costs EUR 3.50 per person and you can pay cash on board, but the buses are infrequent and unreliable. I’d recommend renting a car to explore the island. We stayed in the Seed Suite, which was spacious, clean and comfortable, with lots of storage, a clothes rack and plenty of hangers. It had a kettle, espresso machine, electric cooker, pan, bowls, cutlery and hairdryer. On the balcony there was a table, two chairs and a washing line. The hotel is a short walk from the nearest beach and is affordable for vegans. The food was delicious and different. Breakfast came as a generous platter each morning, with something savoury such as pie, chickpea tagine or seasoned vegetables, plus fresh fruit, bread, and little pots of butter, tahini and jam. There was dessert as well, including amazing filled crepes on our last day. We certainly never went hungry. When we had to leave for day trips before breakfast began at 8.15, the staff packed us huge bags of food. We just had to give them advance notice. Dinner had plenty of starters. My favourites were the crispy feta roll, grilled salad and Acai salad. There were five main courses plus a chef’s special, with vegan versions of Greek dishes, pasta, pumpkin steak and mushroom stew. It was all healthy, with no junk food or fake meat. There were three desserts to choose from, and the Acai cream was best. The one real drawback was the weak coffee at breakfast, but coffee pods were available in the room, so it wasn’t a big deal. For lunch nearby, I’d recommend ONO, a vegan and vegetarian café within walking distance. We also went to Kremasti, a village toward the airport about 15 minutes away by car, and had delicious vegan pita gyros for EUR 4 each at Kalagris Cafe Bar. The staff there were wonderful too.

The best part of our trip was the cooking class with the chefs and owner Giannis. We’re already planning to come back next year. We stayed in the luxurious Berry suite at Açai, which was lovely, spacious and spotless, and the mini pool was a real treat. The food was possibly the best vegan restaurant experience we’ve had. The staff were wonderful and very attentive. We absolutely loved our stay.

The cooking class with wine tasting was fun, delicious and a genuinely great experience. We’d happily recommend it, and the yoga classes are another extra on offer. Everyone working and living there was friendly and ready to help, and we felt very welcome. The newly opened Hotel Açaí is a small, family-run vegan boutique hotel, the second vegan hotel operated by a local family. It has 13 rooms and a restaurant serving breakfast, included with the room, brunch and an à la carte dinner menu. I’ll review the restaurant separately. Our room was modern, clean and functional, with new furniture and decorations. The bed was very comfortable. There was a couch and a kitchenette, though storage space was somewhat limited; a little more would help, even though there are a few other places to put things. Rooms have either street or sea views. The hotel has three floors: three suites with small whirlpools on the ground floor, and standard rooms on the first and second floors. Rooms aren’t cleaned every day, in keeping with the sustainability approach, but staff will clean whenever you ask. Towels are also available whenever needed. My one decor quibble was the use of some plastic plants. I understand they’re there for appearance, but I’d personally prefer different decorations. The location is good, on a hillside side street close to the beach and not far from the city. Taxis can come right to the hotel at any time, and the airport is about 25 minutes away. The only drawback is that the road toward town or the beach has no sidewalk, which seems common in Rhodes, so take care when walking.