We spent a long weekend in June and 3 days in a second visit mid July in Celini.

The hotel - perfect for those who do not wish to spent long hours to reach their destination - is situated on a hill a 5’ drive from the port of Marmari, a small town in the south-west of Evia island, with no particular interest. The ferry from the port of Rafina (very frequent at least during the high and pick season) is the easiest and fastest way (1h) to get to Marmari.

The moment we set foot in the hotel’s doorstep we felt happy and relaxed : the view from the reception/lounge/pool area to the golf of Marmari and Petalii islands and to the surrounding hills is magnificent.

The layout of the hotel, with the studios climbing on the slope of the hill guaranties privacy and an nice view from the rooms and terraces.

Ther rooms are simple yet comfortable , with quality bed, linen and pillows, a sofa that can be transformed in a single bed, a flat screen TV, a large closet, a bath with shower (there is a wall mounted hook for the shower head, which apparently was not the case when“DELondon’ stayed in the hotel) and a kitchenette. Bath robes and slippers are also provided.

The windows in the rooms are large and the feeling of the room full of light very pleasant. We could even have a view of the sea from our bed!

In our second stay we found that shades have been installed for the high windows – a much appreciated addition for the guests longing for a few more hours to sleep in the morning and a sign that the owners are willing to constantly improve things.

I have read the “DELondon” review and found it very helpful. Apparently the new owners have made several small improvements since last May, perhaps the most important being the price and quality of the breakfast:
The breakfast, included to the room rate, is no less than excellent. Nothing is missing: Apart from the continental breakfast staples there is fresh orange juice and fruits, eggs cooked “a la minute” by the chef, homemade apple-pie and jams, a variety of cheeses and cold cuts along with homemade breads and so on… A divine cheese/leek quiche and an absolutely delicious lemon tart made also their appearance during our second stay. I would rate it as a 5*+ breakfast.

The restaurant was open for lunch and dinner offering top quality dishes; not surprising, as the family who runs the hotel are also the owners of a very nice restaurant in the north suburbs of Athens, which we regularly visit. The sea food risotto was divine, the black rice risotto with shrimps and feta cheese and the roasted lamb shank with trahana (a Greek pasta) were delicious, to name only a few of the dishes we enjoyed during our stay. The prices are fair, given the quality of the food and the service provided.

There is a nice infinity pool with a small number of sun beds and umbrellas in front of the lounge and dining area but we chose the beach which is less than 5’ drive from Celini. With clear waters and not crowded – even in the pick of the season as we have been told, it was just perfect for us.

The wi-fi connection (pool/lounge area) works very well and one more positive element is the large parking lot, rarely found in small hotels.

Celini is a small gem situated in an little-known area of Greece, very close to Athens.The owners are paying attention to every detail, descretely acting like real hosts to their guests. It is certainly the ideal destination for people who appreciate an excellent value for money small hotel, with customer - oriented, friendly and professional service.

We will certainly be back again and again!

Really wonderful and luxurious suites . Must be visited by everyone
Thank u celini's group for those unforgetable vacations :)

We stayed for a week at Celini Suites right at the beginning of the season. To get to Evia the options are either the ferry from Rafina, which seems to operate at rather inconvenient times during weekdays, or driving from Athens via the new suspension bridge at Haldiki, which takes 3 hours on a good day, and includes a mixture of new motorway and old, pothole-inflicted roads.

According to Dimitra, the owners' daughter, the hotel changed hands recently and the new owners have been busy updating the decor of the rooms and improving other features. Unfortunately, workmen were much in evidence throughout our stay.

Reception leads through to a comfortable lounge area and the dining room with additional tables outside on the terrace. The infinity pool is a good size, although a bit too cool to use early in May. A small number of sun loungers are provided but many guests would probably make their way to a beach.

The rooms are well laid out on three levels, ensuring that there's plenty of privacy. We were at the end of a lower terrace, giving peace and quiet plus a wonderful view. The room was functional rather than luxurious, and in reality, a studio rather than a suite, but included plenty of hanging space around the bed, a basic kitchenette area, a small shower (handheld, unfortunately) room and a limited sitting area with a single sofabed. Air-con and a flatscreen TV are in every room, and a wi-fi connection is available around the pool area.

The hotel now offers all meals rather than just breakfast, which is sensible as the nearest taverna is at Figa beach, a 5 minute drive or a long walk. Judging by the meals we had during the week, the hotel could develop quite a reputation for its food. Highlights included an excellent vegetarian risotto with black rice and feta, a delicious green salad with parmesan and strawberries, and a grilled vegetable stack with halloumi. But we could envisage the domestic-sized kitchen and inexperienced staff struggling to cope with more than a handful of guests. Also, prices for food and drinks weren't made explicit as there was no menu or wne list yet. Breakfast is an extra 12 euro per person, which seems a bit expensive for a standard continental buffet, although that included homemade jams and freshly-squeezed orange juice.

One option is to self-cater, but given the limitations of the kitchenette (four small plates, four large plates, two cups and saucers, a handful of cutlery, two pans and an electric double ring), preparing even a simple meal would be somewhat masochistic. And the lack of coffee/tea making facilities and supplies is surprising.

Food wise, apart from the hotel itself, one place shone amidst rather typical taverna fare in and around Marmari: a new restaurant called 'Akrogiali', which was opened mid April by a couple of Athenians, and is situated at the end of the Marmari bay opposite where the ferries arrive. The decor is clean and simple but with a quirky touch, such as colanders, graters and the like being used for light fittings. The food is authentically Greek but with modern touches to bring it up to date.

So, overall, Celini was a delightful place to stay but there were a few niggles which need addressing and perhaps should have been anticipated before reopening. As it stands at present, we'd give it a 'very good' rating; with more attention to detail, it would be 'excellent'.

the hotel is located few kilometers from the marmari town but the wind is coming from the mountain and it was cool. we never switched on the air conditioning. the service is top. the breakfast is great.