The Setting
Just a 10-minute drive from Chania’s lively harbor, Metohi feels worlds away. You arrive to stillness: trees heavy with fruit, birdsong and the sense of having entered a place gently out of step with the rest of the world.
Wild jasmine climbs over centuries-old stone walls, and every path leads to a pocket of calm: a tiled courtyard, a shaded pergola, a fountain trickling somewhere in the distance. Surrounded by orchards and open fields, the estate offers privacy without isolation.
A Family Story
Metohi Kindelis reflects layers of history and of care for the land. Built in the late 1500s as a Venetian summer villa, it became a working farm under Ottoman rule, with simple stone cottages for the laborers. The Kindelis family acquired the estate in 1912 and has tended it ever since.
In the 1970s, Manolis Kindelis returned to Crete, pioneered organic farming on the island and eventually turned the old olive press into the first guesthouse.
Today, Metohi is run by his niece, Danai Kindeli, who came back to her roots after years in Madrid. She has also lived in France, Belgium and Germany, so her outlook is truly international, and we very much liked the way she takes care of her guests. Pretty unique. In other words:
The Farm
One of Crete’s first organic farms, Metohi now grows more than 25 kinds of fruit, including tropical and subtropical species, from avocados to lychees.
What did we love most? You don’t just see the farm; you taste it. The morning fruit comes straight from the trees, herbs are snipped fresh for tea, and bird-of-paradise flowers from the garden find their way to the table. What a treat!
The Guesthouses
The three spacious apartments, Danae, Kyriakos and Kynthia, are self-contained retreats, each with its own garden and private saltwater pool (closed from November to March). They differ slightly in mood but share a philosophy: quiet, natural luxury with thoughtful details that make the spaces feel lived-in. We certainly felt as if we were in our own vacation home.
Traditional Venetian-Cretan architecture has been gently restored, with terracotta floors, soft earth tones, and plenty of natural light. The kitchens are well equipped, and if you’re in the mood to cook, Danai can put together a basket of just-harvested ingredients and a bottle from her well-chosen list of Greek wines (one of her many passions).
Breakfast
When you arrive, the fridge is already stocked with freshly baked bread, eggs, homemade preserves, local cheese and honey, and whatever fruit the garden has in season. So while you make breakfast yourself, everything is ready to go. During our stay, we enjoyed perfectly ripe avocados, juicy strawberries and fragrant loquats. For an extra charge, the basket can be refilled daily.
The Experience
There’s no front desk and no set schedule. Danai’s presence is light but intuitive; everything is warm, personal and quietly intentional. Despite the nearby road (you may occasionally hear passing cars), nature’s sounds win out: birdsong, rustling leaves, the occasional meow of the resident cats.
Although the apartments offer complete privacy, Metohi is still a family home. Some guests never cross paths with anyone; others might glimpse Danai’s mother watering the flowers, her uncle practicing qigong in the garden or the family gathered for a meal on the terrace. It’s a rare and beautiful thing to stay somewhere where local life isn’t staged for guests but is simply part of the day.
Further Afield
Once inside Metohi Kindelis, we felt more like retreating than exploring, but Chania’s old town, the beaches and the mountain villages are all within easy reach. Danai will point you to secret beaches in the south, help book a massage or recommend a quiet taverna off the beaten path. There’s beauty beyond the gate, but we felt no pressure to seek it out.
Who It’s For
Ideal for couples, solo travelers and anyone in need of a gentle reset. One apartment has a second bedroom with bunk beds for children, but the overall atmosphere is peaceful and grown-up: a place for long books, slow swims and quiet stargazing.
Prices
Apartments from about 330 euros per night.
Booking & Contact
Metohi Kindelis
Perivolia
Chania, Crete
Greece
