The original 3-bedroom house is ideal for families wanting a peaceful rural holiday retreat; it sleeps 4-6 and the silence is blissful. The 2-bedroom Ionian house spans two floors and has a stunning lap pool with long views across olive groves and down to the coast. Behind it sits a 1-bedroom cottage, a romantic bolthole hidden away from view, ideal for a couple, or as an add-on. A gorgeous new 2-bedroom house (Butterfly) shares a similar aesthetic, with an airy indoor-outdoor vibe, terraces for dining and chilling, an infinity pool and masses of space. Close by is the chic village of Fiskardo and a few excellent unspoilt beaches: two are within walking distance, and Myrtos, frequently cited as one of the most beautiful in Greece, is a 30-minute drive away. Sail, snorkel, scuba dive or just unwind. If hiking's more your thing, head for the hills and walk amongst dramatic mountain scenery. Return home for glass of wine on your private terrace then cook or walk to excellent local tavernas.
Highs
- Gloriously peaceful and private location, with the upmarket fishing village of Fiskardo just a 5-minute drive or 30-minute walk away
- The loving restoration. Marcus oversaw the tasteful exterior and interior makeover of the houses, and the result is an understated but stylish blend of old and new
- Well-equipped kitchens mean self-catering is a pleasure
- Tavernas, shops and beaches are within walking distance so you don't have to drive everywhere, although you'll probably want a hire car for sightseeing and occasional food shopping
- Property manager Maria is lovely, full of local insight and on hand when needed
Lows
- The Ionian House isn't ideal for young kids, as there are gaps in the fences on the balconies, and the staircase is open-sided
- The 1-bedroom Ionian Cottage (if taken on its own) doesn't have use of a pool
- The 2-bedroom Ionian House comes with two double bedrooms (no twins), so less suitable for families
- Shops and restaurants in Fiskardo are quite expensive compared to the rest of the island, but the tavernas in the hamlet are reasonable
- Boutique Cottages
- 4 houses for 2-6
- Self-catering; taverna nearby
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
The Original House (3br)
The original and most family-friendly house is a light and airy space, with elevated views from the terrace and pool over olive groves to the sea. You enter into an open-plan kitchen and living room, with white-and-grey flecked marble floors and a whitewashed wooden pitched ceiling. There's a built-in sofa, eclectic artworks and lovely old trinkets and collectibles, including mantel clocks. Soft lighting makes it very atmospheric after dark.
The master bedroom has exposed stone walls with built-in shelves, a white wrought-iron double bed and French doors opening onto a small balcony with views across the fields towards the sea. The other bedroom (double or twin) is rather basic though nice, with one exposed stone wall. An extension provides a third double bedroom with ensuite shower room and corner patio. The family white-and-grey marble bathroom has a big walk-in rain shower.
The open-plan kitchen is fully equipped with a cooker, big fridge/freezer with an ice maker, kettle, toaster, microwave and oven, espresso machine and dishwasher, plus a wealth of crockery. There's a table in the kitchen, but you'll probably want to dine alfresco in the lovely outdoor eating space with a long wooden table. It’s a fine spot for breakfast, with the sea merging into the sky in the distance, and you also get sublime sunsets.
Ionian House (2+1br)
Just along the lane, the middle sibling combines a 2-bedroom house with a separate 1-bedroom cottage (available separately or together; both have private access).
The main house feels homely and lived-in: woven rugs, floor cushions and oversized clay pot plants made us feel like we were staying at a friend's chic pad. Exposed stone walls, wooden shutters and concrete surfaces give the cottage a rustic feel, but bright linens and modern tech (including underfloor heating for the cooler months) add a dash of contemporary. We loved it here.
There are two spacious double bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master has a full ensuite with a quirky layout, while the second bedroom only has a shower and basin - the toilet is downstairs. Each bedroom has its own peaceful balcony, too, for taking in that dreamy view. The mattress was quite firm, as often in Greece, but it wasn't an issue for us.
The living room has a comfy sofa facing out to the distant sea, and the wooden doors open to the terrace. The kitchen comes fully equipped - better than my own home - with an American-style fridge-freezer, an oven, dishwasher, a professional coffee machine and plenty of crockery. There were also a few sweet treats and cooking essentials on the side. There's a chunky wooden table indoors, but we chose to eat on the covered terrace to soak in our scenery.
The lovely lap pool belongs to this house, with cool curved sunloungers on one side and a newly planted garden on the other. A lane runs along the front, but hardly anyone passes by (these are the only houses along it). From here you gaze out at olive groves which drop down to the sea on the horizon.
Behind the house is a cosy 1-bedroom Cottage. Set back from the lane with a private stairway for access, the cottage lacks the views of the houses but has added privacy. Inside there's a bright double bedroom and ensuite shower bathroom. The kitchen is outside under a bamboo veranda, shading a spacious alfresco dining table and terrace. This would work equally well for a cosied-up couple (if you don't mind the lack of pool or indoor kitchen); or as an add-on to the 2-bedroom House for grandparents or friends.
Butterfly House (2br)
The newest addition to the stable is this spacious, stylish 2 bedroom cottage. It has a lovely indoor-outdoor flow, with an open-plan living-dining-kitchen area and three sets of French windows opening onto a bamboo-shaded eating-chilling space above the pool. You could happily spend your holiday right here. There are dry stone walls and inbuilt daybeds, herbs growing in painted amphoras, a barbeque, and views rolling past low olive groves to a strip of blue sea.
Step inside the rustic stone house to find smooth polished cement floors, white walls, high wooden eaves and an artful mix of recycled and new furnishings. The kitchen comes with all the usuals, including a double-fronted fridge-freezer, ice machine, espresso machine and juicer. In the living area is a Bluetooth sound system, a wood-burning stove, a coffee table from salvaged roof beams, and two wide stone-built sofas (which could work as extra beds if you don't mind the lack of privacy).
As for the two bedrooms themselves, both are comfy doubles with ensuite bathrooms, air-con and ceiling fans. The master suite is particularly generous, with an extra-wide bed, French doors opening directly onto the terrace, and a handmade cement bath with separate walk-in shower. Seriously spoiling. The second bedroom is smaller, with a double bed (twin beds may be available on request) and a Med-inspired outdoor covered shower and washbasin.
Best Time to go
If you're here in summer, the nearest beach is lovely Dafnoudi, a 20-minute walk from the end of the lane across fields and along a woodland path. Near Fiskardo you’ll find the pretty pebble beach of Emblisi (a 30-minute walk), while Kefalonia’s most stunning beach, Myrtos, set below dramatic cliffs that plummet down to the coast, lies 20km away
Our Top Tips
The nearest place to eat out is To Petrino in the village - they serve a nice selection of Greek mezze plus barbecued meat and fish dishes. For brunch head to Picnic in Magganos and try their delicious Eggs Benedict. Opposite this is a popular restaurant called Alia's Yard, which does good local food and has sea views, or in Fiskardo, highly recommended tavernas are Vasso’s and Tassia’s, both overlooking the harbour and serving fresh (though not cheap) seafood.
Location
The Fiskardo Cottages are set in Markandonata, a peaceful hamlet built into a west-facing hillside, overlooking the Ionian Sea and close to the northern tip of Kefalonia. The fishing village of Fiskardo lies a 5-minute drive away.
By Air
Fly into Kefalonia (58km - served by charter flights from the UK throughout the summer), or Athens then get a connecting flight.
From The Airport
You can take a taxi - approx €90 - but we'd recommend hiring a car. It is not essential because tavernas, minimarkets and 2 beaches are all within walking distance, but you'd probably want one for food shopping and sightseeing. Note that taxis are expensive on Kefalonia.
By Car
For car hire see our car rental recommendations. For an idea of distances, the airport is 5km south of the island's capital, Argostoli, and Fiskardo is 45km north, at the top of the island.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Kefalonia Argostoli airport 58.0 km EFL
Other:
- Beach 2.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km