7 Best Hotels in Kefalonia, Greece

This sprawling village-style resort crowns the scenic hills above Fiskardo, with a grand panorama of the coast and the best facilities on the island. Tennis courts, squash rooms, a pair of pools, a spa, and a private path down to Emblisi Beach mean you're rarely short of things to do—there's even a helicopter pad. Little about it warrants the suffix "nature resort," though island cruises, walks, horseback treks, and diving trips can all be arranged. It's more about the setting, with most apartments—sensibly furnished; shared pools in the executive suites—gazing out to sea and the general air that you've stumbled into some kind of wealthy seaside retirement home. Restaurant Votsalo is a treat, and serves some of the finest seafood in the area, backed up by views to match.

Run by mother and son Vaso and Theo, this pair of newly built two-bedroom villas are perfectly placed for Myrtos Beach and road trips to Fiskardo or Sami. They took six years to build, and it shows. The insides are welcoming, with cool tiled floors and decorative touches. They also come with everything you could need: a fully stocked kitchen (including breakfast supplies), BBQ, two bathrooms, laundry facilties, and a huge private pool and terrace. Surrounded by forests, with mountains bearing down to the north, it's a wonderfully secluded setting. Vaso even stocks the fridge with pots of her homemade pastitsada, though there's a decent grillhouse (The Black Sheep) in the village up the road. The villas are available all year.

The city's starring boutique hotel has lost none of its power to charm. A hip, all-white-with-nautical-trim lobby gives way to a bustling bar-cafe as you enter. Rooms are seductively minimalist, decked out in light, neutral tones and rope chairs with glass balconies and waterfront views for all but the unlucky few. A beacon of style in a city that traditionally errs on the functional side.

This sumptuous boutique stay in the village of Antipata, just outside Fiskado, consists of three stone cottages nestled around a walled garden bristling with lemon and lime trees. The buildings were half-ruined when genial owner Haris Tsimaras took over the land; he rebuilt them using reclaimed stone, adding a glass-fronted pool and plenty of design panache. Thick stone walls insulate the rooms from the heat of the day, hiding immaculately kept interiors. If you want your own space, a cozy duplex offers its own lofted balcony and terrace. Breakfasts are also a thing of beauty here, served on the lush garden terrace, usually with resident golden retreiver Mr. Benny snuffling in the background. A nicely wooded path (Cypress Trail) leads into town if you want to spend the shoe leather; otherwise it's an eight-minute drive. In 2019, North Point Houses opened just above Fiskardo's port, consisting of three villas gathered around a shared pool. Both are available year-round.

There probably isn't a better view found in all the Ionian islands than at this secluded, adults-only boutique hotel. An infinity pool surrounded by cabana beds gazing out over Petani Bay is pretty much the stuff of Instagram dreams. Gregarious owner John Iordanidis (often found holding court at the pool bar) has built an eye-catching stay, speckled with wildflowers and purple blossoms. Rooms are elegantly dressed with giant wooden ceiling fans, witty design flourishes, and kitchenettes. The location is also more than just set decoration. Staff can point to trails leading out over the hills; SUPs and kayaks can be rented to paddle down in the bay; and boat trips arranged to secret coves. Breakfast is a riot of Greek pastries and yogurt-filled bowls, topped off by, again, that view. A charming stay.

Despite its name, this is more a resort than a boutique, though its small size (just 32 rooms) means it's a world away from many of the noisy affairs you'll find on this stretch of coast. There's room to breathe here, with two pools, a gym, a spa, and a restaurant. The lure for many is its proximity to Makris Gialos beach, though the busy sands there can be suffocating in summer. Rooms are, on the whole, simple and functional, with many commanding sea views across the lush coast. A quiet escape on an all-too busy stretch of coast.

This charming mother-and-daughter-run B&B lies in the green heart of the Paliki. Its setting is a beautiful, flourishing garden filled with olive trees and fruit from which the many oils and jams that materialize at breakfast are made. It makes a wonderfully quiet spot to sit and while away the cool evenings. Rooms are eclectic but cozy, and all come with balconies or terraces. There is also a large pool to the rear, which is easily one of the deepest we've encountered on the island. Pick-up can be arranged from Lixiouri, though you really need a car to get around here.