Photo by Heinz Troll

Nido, Mar-Bella Collection, Corfu: Blissful Rest & Relaxation

3 days ago

Let yourself be looked after

This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more

Nido, Mar-Bella Collection, Corfu: Blissful Rest & Relaxation

Photo by Heinz Troll

Perched on a forested cliff overlooking the sparkling Ionian Sea is Nido, a peaceful adults-only idyll by Mar-Bella Collection. The five-star hotel is a haven for those looking to relax, recover, and be totally pampered in luxurious seclusion.

Read the C&TH Guide to Responsible Tourism

Hotel Review: Nido by Mar-Bella Collection, Corfu

STAY

Photo by Heinz Troll

The first thing you notice when pulling up to Nido is the incredible smell. The elegant, high-ceilinged reception is perfumed with jasmine, and when you step outside into the balmy Corfu heat, the hotel’s artfully planted herbaceous beds provide wafts of sweet scents of lavender, rosemary and honeysuckle.

A white golf-cart transports you up the hill into which Nido is built (these are available to guests on demand given the sloping terrain), and the glimmering Ionian Sea unfolds before your eyes. All of the 67 suites have this incredible view, which also provides the backdrop for the restaurants, infinity pool, and even the treadmills in the on-site gym. Each suite comes equipped with either its own private pool, jacuzzi, or fully furnished veranda as well, plus the comfiest of beds to sink into. At night, the only sound is the hum of the island’s innumerable cicadas.

DO

Aerial shot of Nido hotel in Corfu beach

Photo by Heinz Troll

Nido is all about rest and relaxation, so basking in the infinity pool or paddling in the gentle azure sea that laps at the foot of the hotel are really all that are required – or wanted – for your stay.

However, if you can drag yourself from your sun lounger, there’s the wellness centre to experience, with a menu of spa treatments using Sothys skincare, from facials to massages – the latter was one of the best I’ve ever had. There’s also complimentary morning yoga twice a week on the hotel’s new yoga deck, complete with the same breathtaking views found everywhere at Nido.

For something more energetic, guests can rent kayaks and stand-up paddle boards to explore the sparkling coastline around Nido. Car hire is also available if you want to see more of the island: the Byzantine castle of Gardiki is just 15 minutes’ drive away, and the Korission Lagoon – complete with flocks of pink flamingos from November to March – is just a short hop on from there. The tiny hilltop village of Chlomos makes the perfect pitstop for an iced coffee, with incredible views over the mountains and coastline of southern Corfu.

Back at Nido, there’s also evening entertainment and cocktails at Aquavit pool bar, and Kafeneio, a traditionally inspired Greek cafe set in the serene courtyard of the hotel’s chapel, offering Greek coffee and sweets twice a week as well as hosting pop-up Greek nights throughout the season.

EAT

Two models eat at Apaggio restaurant at Nido

Photo by Heinz Troll

Delicious food is, of course, a perk of any Grecian odyssey, and Nido in Corfu is no exception. Its selection of restaurants take guests on a journey across the Mediterranean, with a firm focus on local ingredients.

San Giovanni offers sumptuous buffets for breakfast and dinner, featuring a selection of tempting dishes local to Greece, as well international favourites. Aquavit, overlooking the infinity pool, offers a menu of salads, light bites and local signature dishes to sample while relaxing under your parasol – an afternoon Aperol spritz is non-negotiable.

Finally, Apaggio offers the best fine dining experience from its al-fresco rooftop restaurant, with a menu created by Sotiris Evaggelou, one of Greece’s most sought-after chefs. Here, beloved Greek dishes are given a contemporary twist, and served with excellent local wines from the hotel’s extensive cellar. Every mouthful is accompanied first by that gorgeous Ionian view as the sun sets, and later by a canopy of twinkling stars.

FINAL WORD

The vibe throughout Nido is one of total serenity. It’s the ideal destination if you’re looking to rest and recuperate for a week in a beautiful location, and to be thoroughly looked after by the dedicated, personable team of staff. A hotel you’ll want to be rushing back to.