The Annabelle, part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is a family run five star hotel on the Paphos seafront, known for its gardens, harbour location and easy Mediterranean pace.

The hotel works because everything feels close and natural, with gardens, pools, restaurants and the seafront all flowing into one another rather than feeling spread across a large resort. Days tend to start slowly at Fontana, move out through the gardens towards the pool, then drift towards the harbour or beach without needing much planning.

The tropical gardens give The Annabelle its character, especially around the main pool, where palms, waterfalls and shaded corners make it feel softer than many city seafront hotels. It has a classic resort rhythm, but the location keeps it connected to Paphos rather than cut off from it.

Staying

Rooms range from Inland View Rooms through to Sea View Rooms, Garden Studios and larger suites, so the choice depends mainly on how much outdoor space and sea outlook you want. Terrace Sea View Rooms and Panorama Sea View Rooms are strong options if the view matters, while Garden Studio Suites feel closer to the greenery and pool areas.

The suite categories add more space for longer stays, especially the Artemis Sea View Suite, Superior Sea View One Bedroom Suite and Alecos Sea View Suites. The Sea View Studio Suite with Private Pool is the standout if you want a more private base while still having the full hotel around you.

There are four restaurants and five bars, giving The Annabelle plenty of variety without losing its classic hotel feel. Fontana handles the Cypriot breakfast and relaxed dining, Mediterraneo brings a seafront setting for Mediterranean dishes, Amorosa is the more polished fine dining option, and Ouranos Rooftop Restaurant adds another layer above the gardens with broader, more contemporary flavours.

The bars help shape the day well, from drinks around the pool to the open air Grotto and the rooftop Ouranos Lounge & Bar. Antasia Beach Bar, a short walk away, adds a separate beachside option with Asian Mediterranean food and a livelier coastal mood when you want a change from the main hotel.

Experience

The main pool is one of the hotel’s defining spaces, with swim in caves, waterfalls and garden planting giving it a proper holiday feel rather than just a place to cool off. There are also additional outdoor pool areas, plus direct access towards the seafront when you want to move closer to the water.

Paphos is part of the experience here, not just a nearby town. You can spend the day between the gardens, pool and spa, then walk out to the harbour, castle, shops and tavernas without needing a car, which makes the stay feel easy from morning through evening.

Wellness

Ouranos Wellbeing Spa is adults only and brings together treatment rooms, sauna, steam room, rooftop indoor pool and a fitness centre. It gives the hotel a quieter upper level retreat, particularly useful when you want a break from the main pool and seafront.

Where

The hotel is directly on the Paphos seafront, a short walk from the harbour, medieval castle, shops, bars and archaeological sites, with Paphos Airport approximately 16 km away, making it one of the easiest luxury hotels in the city for combining pool time with proper access to the town.