Hotel review: Domes Miramare, Corfu island, Greece

Domes Miramare’s Haute Living Selection features waterfront villas with private pools

Though the island is peppered with swish resorts, there remains a wildness to Corfu. Visit towards the end of tourist season, the coastline is frequently kissed by lightning. Even at the height of summer, when tranquil skies and sun are a near guarantee, there’s a sense of the untamed – ancient olive trees spilling over onto roads and weathered cliffs a staple of the landscape.

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The easy elegance of Domes Miramare, on the mainland-facing east, feels all the more impactful. A few years ago, the 113 room, suite and villa property was given an overhaul by influential designer Kristina Zanic, who introduced lashings of white and taupe. It has the effect of thrusting signature details into the spotlight: the 500-year-old olive tree that occupies the lounge, the hotel’s playful contemporary art collection or the sculptural marble reception desk.

It was the historically-important architect Charalambos Sfaellos who helmed the construction of the building, in the late 1960s for the Onassis family. Today, there’s still an air of the classic sort of resort glamour that name evokes. The lobby is one to waft through; the terrace a place to be seen; and the bar a spot to kick back with a cocktail while a live pianist tickles the ivories. So, while there’s no doubt that some “design hotels” can be a little earnest, Domes Miramare comfortably strikes a balance between the curated and the comfortable. Embracing the shoreline and with its own olive groves, the property may be austere in architectural style, but it’s also in gratifying dialogue with its surroundings.

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Rooms and suites are airy and composed, as well as generously sized. Although for those who want an added layer of privacy, the HRH Complex, part of the Haute Living Selection, offers two one-bed waterfront villas with private pools, lounge and a wellness area. It was built as a sequestered compound for the Emir of Qatar with a jetty for water transfers. A scoot over to Corfu Town by yacht can be easily organised by the resort.

There are a handful of bars across the resort, some of which serve sushi or finger food, but Makris – Domes Miramare’s signature restaurant – is where the bulk of the gastronomic action is. Here, Greek and Venetian classics are either not tinkered around with too much or given a nouveau slant. Either way, everything is done smashingly and there’s a cracking line in local wines that begs to be discovered. Do tap the expertise of the highly competent food and beverage team, who can wax lyrical about Greek wine and almost surely recommend something never tried before.