Patter Places — Ammos Hotel

A low-key beachside hotel with everything you need and nothing more: friendly service, simple rooms, and really great design. 

Ammos is an understated and elegant place to stay, located just outside of central Chania, overlooking the Cretan Sea. Its unexpected chicness is evident as you turn in – up an un-signposted path – off the main coastal road. Owner Nikos Tsepetis is a daily presence, his innate sense of style and sensitivity to detail is what makes everything feel so effortless and straightforward, far more personal than a typical hotel.

With 33 rooms, a pool, simple elevated food and a beach front location, it’s very easy to spend a week here. Ammos hits a sweet spot of being family-friendly without compromising on design credentials. There is always space for everyone at the hotel, and guests exist on their own schedules. An outing to the local supermarket makes good use of your in-room kitchenette, freeing up some of the budget for some evening meals in Chania. Designed by Greek architect Elisa Manolas, the hotel reception, bar and dining room is an open and interconnected space, ideal for making plans for the week, and sampling the post-modern breakfast platter filled with exceptional pastries — all fresh from the Ammos-owned local bakery Red Jane.

Some of the best days here are spent by the pool, with walks down the beach, and snorkelling adventures in the shallows. As the sun sets, an evening swim home from the headland is a rewarding precursor to dinner on the terrace, or a rooftop aperitif.

Ammos have carefully curated an excellent list of things to do nearby; including ancient ceramic art, mountains to hike and restaurants to visit. Patter favourites were Maiami for dinner, the Botanical Gardens for a hike, and Kouzina E.P.E. for lunch.

Room rates start at 150 euros per night. For more information, visit ammoshotel.com or contact Nikos Tsepetis at info@ammoshotel.com.