The contemporary Mediterranean hotel will re-open in February 2020 following a €4 million transformation which will see the renovation of all rooms and suites, as well as Aeras Restaurant and public areas of the hotel.

November 2019: Almyra – one of the chicest and sleekest hotels in the Mediterranean and a member of Design Hotels will undergo an extensive renovation this winter. The hotel, which occupies eight acres of beautifully landscaped gardens at the heart of Paphos’ seafront, will be closed from 2nd December 2019 and will reopen in February 2020 to reveal its multi-million euro refurbishment.

These enhancements will be overseen by leading French designer Joëlle Pléot, who has been working with the group for many years. The new rooms and suites will be updated with custom-made furniture in Pléot’s signature sleek style. Think clean lines and varying shades of blue inspired by the Mediterranean Sea that surrounds the island. In keeping with Thanos Hotels and Resorts commitment to the community, local craftsmen artisans have been entrusted to create handmade oak and olive tree tables and accessories with other soft furnishings using silk and leather. In keeping with the nautical theme, artwork by local photographer Michalis Kouloumos depicting scenes from the seafront of Paphos will be placed in all bedrooms. In-room entertainment will be modernised, with the addition of Smart TV’s in every room. All of the bathrooms will be fitted with brand new luxurious Italian Carrara marble walk-in showers.
The hotel lobby will be refreshed with brand new bespoke furniture and lighting, injecting a lease of new life into the public spaces. Aeras Restaurant which overlooks the sea will also reveal a fresh new aesthetic, with fittings in shades of dark blue and a new atmospheric lighting system. This renovation follows a major makeover for Almyra which took place in 2017. Sister hotels Annabelle and Anassa also underwent refurbishments in 2018 and 2016 respectively – all of which propelled the hotels back onto the world’s travel hotlists. Almyra is a symbol of cool, contemporary Cyprus and offers a laidback and elegant take on Mediterranean luxury.

The resort is home to 187 chic and spacious rooms, five distinct restaurants, one of which – Notios, Almyra’s signature Japanese-Mediterranean fusion restaurant has just received the Top Notch Award at the Toques d’Or Awards 2019, and an award-winning Almyraspa, which recently won the Best Spa Award at the Madame Figaro Beauty Awards 2019.

Ever wonder where locals go out for an evening in Pafos? We asked Elena Michael, Sales Manager for Thanos Hotels and a Pafos resident, to describe a typical itinerary hitting her favourite spots. She and her friends like the Old Town district, which is very walkable and filled with character. ‘We’d start with a sunset cocktail at Muse’, the restaurant perched on a cliff overlooking Kato Pafos and the sea; they prefer to sit on the terrace to enjoy the panoramic view. Once the sun has set, they set out on foot for Michalos Kebab House just a few blocks away. ‘They have the best souvlakia in Cyprus—the place is very, very special and the food is amazing’! While she’s there, she’ll be sure to peek in the window of the Blue Iris Gallery next door to see what the current art exhibition is. Next they walk just a few blocks to Temple for after dinner drinks. Temple, which occupies an old house and its front garden, offers a relaxed atmosphere for enjoying a liqueur or aperitif. Finally, they head to Kennedy Square, a pedestrian plaza nearby that is ringed with bars and cafes. Elena likes Boulevard, a wine bar where she and her friends can sit on stools around a wine cask converted to a table, listen to music, and watch the people walking by. When it’s time to go home, they head to the cab stand just across the street from the plaza—another pleasant evening in Pafos comes to its end.

Limassol is the second most populous city in Cyprus and, at about 67 kilometres by road from Pafos, a good destination for a day trip. Start your visit in the Old Town section. At its centre is the castle, which houses the Medieval Museum of Cyprus and is a monument in its own right. The current edifice, built by the Ottomans in the 1590s, incorporates parts of earlier structures; take a tour and see layers of history, from the early Christian era to the Byzantine period and on to the periods of Frankish and Venetian rule. Richard the Lionheart married Benengaria of Navarre there in 1191. Climb to the rooftop and take in the panoramic view. The square surrounding the castle is lined with tavernas and includes the Carob Mill, a factory from 1900 that now houses a museum on the important export crop. Walk through the streets of the Old Town and discover the Central Market, the Grand Mosque, and numerous shops and cafes. Next head to the Old Port and see a blend of historic structures with decidedly modern additions. Stroll by the yacht-filled marina, peek into high-end shops, watch the fishing boats unload, or enjoy a meal in one of the sleek new restaurants lining the sea. Continue northeast on the seaside promenade, watching the ships come into the harbour, until you reach the Municipal Gardens. There, you can rest in the shade or visit the park’s zoo. It all makes for an enjoyable day on the town.