Phaea Cretan Malia, A Member of Design Hotels

Spread through Mediterranean gardens beside the sea on Crete's northeast coast, Phāea Cretan Malia is a 204 room member of Design Hotels that brings Cretan craft, food and family life together in a wonderfully established coastal setting.

The gardens tell you a great deal about the hotel. Palms, pines, herbs and flowering plants surround low rise buildings and shaded paths, giving the place the character of a small Mediterranean village that has matured naturally over time. Beyond them lies the beach, so the sea remains close without overwhelming everything else that makes the setting special.

Crete runs through the design in thoughtful ways. Cretan marble, chestnut wood and rattan sit alongside handcrafted furniture, earthy terracotta and sea blue tones, while botanical murals by Greek artists bring another layer of local character. It is a handsome hotel, but its identity comes as much from craftsmanship and landscape as from interiors.

Rooms & Suites

The 204 rooms, bungalows and suites are scattered through the grounds, giving the accommodation very different relationships with the gardens, pools and sea. Signature Rooms and garden bungalows draw greenery onto their balconies and terraces, while pool categories put the water immediately outside and the sea front accommodation moves closest to the beach.

Families have particularly good options, including spacious bungalows and one bedroom suites, while couples may gravitate towards the Junior Suite Sea Front or Beach Front Bungalow for their position. Whichever category you choose, generous outdoor space and the use of natural Cretan materials keep the rooms firmly connected to the wider hotel.

Dining

Food is one of the strongest reasons to choose Phāea Cretan Malia. Mouries celebrates Cretan cooking over an open fire, with produce drawn from the hotel's organic kitchen garden, while Almyra brings Italian flavours to the beachfront and Mezze looks east across the Mediterranean for its Levant inspired dishes. Mediterraneo completes a collection broad enough to give each evening its own character.

The most memorable table may be at Bostani. The Phāea Farmers Feast begins in the garden, where guests gather seasonal ingredients before sharing a meal beneath the stars. It captures the hotel's approach beautifully, connecting what is grown on Crete with the traditions of its kitchen and turning dinner into something genuinely rooted in the island.

Experience

Three outdoor pools, including a dedicated children's pool, sit among the gardens, while the private beach brings days naturally towards the sea. Tennis, cycling, hiking, canoeing and windsurfing provide plenty of scope for more active hours, with cooking classes and cultural experiences offering another route into Cretan life.

Children are very much part of the picture here. The kids' club combines indoor and outdoor play with gardening, cooking, crafts, nature activities and storytelling inspired by Crete, giving younger guests something far more engaging than a conventional playroom. It makes Phāea Cretan Malia particularly convincing for families who still want their hotel to have a strong sense of place.

Wellness

Wellness moves between the spa and gardens, with massages, facials and body treatments complemented by fitness sessions and quieter moments outdoors. Yoga and meditation fit especially naturally into the surroundings, and the combination of mature gardens, open air spaces and the sea gives the whole hotel an inherently restorative quality.

Where

Phāea Cretan Malia occupies a beachfront setting on Crete's northeast coast, with the ancient Minoan Palace of Malia close by and a fascinating stretch of the island extending in both directions. It is a particularly good base for discovering eastern Crete, although the gardens, beach and excellent food make days spent entirely within the hotel every bit as rewarding.

Media