A Beautiful Traditional Greek Mill (The Mill Hotel (Kakopetria, Cyprus))

Member Name: Praskipark

Product:	The Mill Hotel (Kakopetria, Cyprus)
Date:	24/06/09 (159 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic situation, old world charm and good food

Disadvantages: A bit off the Beaten Track - will need a car

We came across this hotel quite by accident. It was while we were heading for the village of Troodos and decided that it was time to stop as the evening was closing in and we hadn't found any suitable accommodation. The road left would have taken us into Troodos but we took the right turning to Kyperounda and followed the hilly road down the mountain. If you take the left turn at the bridge you will enter the village of Kakopetria. This is where the Mill Hotel is situated and what an unusual sight it is.

Built into the mountain this building is an awesome sight when looking up to the top floor. The building has been renovated as originally the old Mill stopped working in the 1950's as milling became expensive and imported flour became available. This led to the mill closing down and eventually it fell into disrepair until it was bought by private owners. In 1979 work started on the derelict building to renovate it back to its beautiful Greek traditional style.

The wonderful piece of architecture is made from traditional stone and wood. It consists of three floors which house the hotel, restaurant and souveneir shops.

Reception and Checking In
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The reception area is on the second floor and consists of a lobby and large seating area where you can chill out with a drink. This area always reminds me of a private library like you see in old films where there is a log fire and cosy armchairs dotted around. It is a very pleasant room and as soon as you enter you feel welcomed and very cosy.

Checking in is very simple - you just hand over your passport and when the receptionist has taken the name and passport number you are then given it back and you can go up to your room or stay back a while to have a glass of wine in the lobby to get the feel of the hotel.

Reservations can be made on line but on this occassion we were able to reserve a room straight away without booking in advance.

Our Room
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The room we stayed in was very pretty in a simple way. The colours were of a sandalwood colour with one open rough stone wall and beautiful stone floors. We had a double bed which was extremely comfortable with fresh linen changed everyday. The bed and other furniture in the room which consisted of a set of drawers, small table with an art noveau style reading lamp, bed side table, two very comfortable old style chairs and wardrobe were of a dark colour which I think was dark oak. The window frame was wooden with a lace curtain and a heavier silk curtain in a deeper shade of sandalwood tied back, so you could see the most spectacular views of the mountains and village below. Talk about room with a view! This was spectacular.

A telephone and television are available for use. The television has local TV channels and also satelite TV with over a hundred channels. Internet connection is also available in every room although the connection speed isn't lightning. A mini bar was well stocked with beer, mineral water, orange and apple juice and a selection of spirits.

My son's room was of a similar design but with more open stone walls and a single bed. He also had a wonderful view from his small window.

Although the building looks large from the outside there are only 13 rooms altogether.

Bathroom
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Our bathroom was very modern with a startling white corner shaped jacuzzi bath and shower. White and blue marble tiles gave the room a sense of harmony and immediately when sitting in the bath I felt totally relaxed. Two large heated towel rails adorned the wall with white soft towels placed strategically. We were very lucky to have two free standing washbasins with a full length mirror mounted behind so you could see every blemish, wrinkle and if you had cellulite or not. Quite frightening really! Granite surfaces were available at the side of the wash basins to put your bits and bobs on. Everything was spotlessly clean and all the taps gleamed. The floor was tiled in a powder blue shade and the tiles were wonderfully cool for your tired feet after being out for a trek in the hills. I can't fault this bathroom at all - it was luxurious..

Lounge areas
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It isn't very often I spend time in a lounge area of a hotel but I wanted a nosy around the hotel and by accident I came across a selection of magazines so I decided to put my feet up for a couple of hours while the boys were outside playing snowballs. I have to say that the lounge area is very relaxing and has a traditional country feel to the room. Solid oak beams are exposed which I love as it reminds me of my country cottage when I lived in Cumbria. Bits of stone walls were also exposed which I think is very traditional but eye catching. The carpet was a deep shade of green which wasn't to my particular taste but it was kind of soothing in a away. The sofas and seats were elegant with their stripey gold and maroon silky covers which matched the long, wide and sumptious tie back curtains. French windows opened out on to a large balcony where you could stand and take in the fresh air and exquisite views of the Troodos mountains. Absolutely breathtaking.

Other views from the restaurant are exceptional also. This is a very large restaurant with seating on the terrace outside overlooking the valley and mountains or seating inside. The restaurant opens in the winter and is very popular with locals and visitors. I have to say I haven't seen anything quite like the inside of this restaurant. It is full of rustic traditional charm with a sloping beamed ceiling and tiled floor. There is an enormous fireplace which was roaring away when we visited - a perfect spot for sitting in front of to take the mountain chill away. The bar is long and made of solid oak. All tables and chairs have been crafted in traditional style with white tablecloths and red smaller cloths draped over the undercloth.

The staff are very welcoming and a happy bunch. The atmosphere was very relaxed with a chirpy feel inside and outside the restaurant.

The menu is extensive and caters for all members of the family whether they are vegetarians or not. Children are welcome and always made a fuss of. The Mill restaurant is known for its fresh trout which is grilled whole and accompanied by a home made garlic and lemon sauce. A platter of chips and a huge bowl of salad is served with the trout. My husband chose this for lunch the next day after our arrival as he loves fish. He said it was cooked to perfection. The fish meat flaked gently away from the bones and the taste was delicate.

My son chose a bowl of home-made vegetable soup followed by a Village salad and I went for steak cooked in a mushroom sauce. The sauce was wonderful - smooth and really tasted of mushrooms - you know that sort of nutty flavour. Delicious. As it was quite a cool day but sunny we decided to have a couple of beers each and coffee to finish off the meal. The food was very appetising and I can see why this would be a popular restaurant for residents and non-residents. The views alone are worth stopping by for even if you only have a drink and a salad.

As we were moving on after lunch and only stayed the one night we didn't look into what was happening in the village but I believe it is home to many craftmakers. There are cafes and other restaurants there also so if you stayed longer in the hotel there would be plenty to do to keep you occupied and I believe you can hire mountain bikes from the hotel if you are feeling energetic.

I have to say we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Mill Hotel and found the building absolutely charming and so pleased we came across this beautiful Greek building.

I think Cyprus is quite an expensive island to stay on but this hotel only cost 60 euros per night for each room and they gave us a slight discount for the extra room for my son. Throughout the year they have special deals where they advertise three nights stay with full board and there are discounts for the winter months. So if you are ever trekking through the Troodos and need a bed for the night look The Mill up. You will be in for a treat - good food, comfortable beds, delightful rooms and amazing views. What more can you ask for?

Summary: A traditional Greek Touch high in the Mountains